Practice Before the Registrar 2026


Course Date: June 19, 2026

Full Course Materials
Total: 3h 7min
Total Ethics: 1h
Course Agenda ▼

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (9:00 – 9:05)

Raymond Lee — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Greg Palm — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey

General Advice (9:05 – 9:20)

  • the importance of proper preparation
  • adherence to pre-hearing and filing requirements
  • effectively conducting a hearing before the Registrar

Registrar Meg Gaily — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Greg Palm — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey

N.B. In addition to the above, Registrar Gaily will be adding her Registrar's remarks to all of the session topics that follow.

Debt Collection Matters (9:20 – 9:50)

  • subpoenas to debtor
  • references under the Court Order Enforcement Act
  • hearings relating to garnishing orders

John C. Fiddick — DWF Group, Vancouver

Family Law References (9:50 – 10:20)

  • evaluating the utility and appropriateness of a reference
  • required filings, evidence, and pre-hearing preparation
  • conduct of the reference and post-hearing matters

Jessica Spelliscy — Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP, Kelowna

Settling Orders (10:20 – 10:30)

  • avenues to avoid a hearing
  • filing and service requirements
  • conduct of the hearing and entry of the order

Greg Palm — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey

BREAK (10:30 – 10:40)

Review of Bills Under the Legal Profession Act (10:40 – 11:15)

  • preliminary filing and pre-hearing requirements
  • marshalling evidence and preparing for the hearing
  • conduct of the hearing and certification of the result

Andrew P. Morrison — Shields Harney LLP, Vancouver

Passing of Accounts (11:15 – 11:45)

  • the application to the court and importance of the order
  • form and content of the accounts (including legal accounts)
  • preparation for and conduct of the reference

David A. Hunter — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey

Assessments of Costs (11:45 – 12:15)

  • preparing an effective bill of costs
  • narrowing issues and preparing evidence
  • preparation for and conduct of an assessment

Greg Palm — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey

Closing Remarks (12:15 – 12:20)

Greg Palm — Hamilton Duncan Law Corporation, Surrey