CLEBC - Courses On Demand

Mastering Civil Litigation 2026: Select Topics Edition

Course Date: June 8, 2026

Full Course Materials

Total: 10h 54min

Total Ethics: 2h

Chambers Practice
Day 1: Monday, June 8, 2026

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

Raymond Lee — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Justice Jacqueline D. Hughes — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Rebecca J. Robb — Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver

Pleading Your Case—Framing Your Claim or Defence for Hearing (9:05 – 10:00)

rules for proper pleadings
best practices for preparing your pleadings for a claim or a response
material fact or evidence?
when are particulars necessary
applications to strike pleadings—when should they be brought and what relief to seek

Chantelle Rajotte, KC — Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Attorney General, Vancouver
Gib van Ert, KC — Olthuis van Ert, Vancouver

Gathering Your Evidence to Prove or Defend the Claim—What Do You Need to Prove Your Case and What Tools Are at Your Disposal? (10:00 – 10:55)

witness interviews—when to do them and what to ask
efficient use of pre-trial discovery tools
admissions—facts and documents
proof charts—how are you going to prove each essential element of your claim or defence?

Jessica Lithwick — Sugden, McFee & Roos LLP, Vancouver
Una Radoja — McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (10:55 – 11:10)

Pre-Trial Applications and Preparing Effective Application Materials (11:10 – 12:05)

when and whether to bring an interlocutory application
pick up the phone! the importance of talking to opposing counsel before going to court
how to prepare effective application materials—give the court what it needs to find in your favour
drafting affidavit evidence—best practices to make sure you have the evidence you need in admissible form

Laura L. Bevan — Lawson Lundell LLP, Vancouver
Craig A.B. Ferris, KC — Lawson Lundell LLP, Vancouver

LUNCH (12:05 – 12:50) (on your own)

Effective Chambers Advocacy: Views from the Bench (12:50 – 1:45)

Chief Justice Ron A. Skolrood — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Justice Neena Sharma — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Justice Shannon Ramsay — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

Proceeding by Way of Petition Post-Cepuran (1:45 – 2:40)

comparing and contrasting the petition process from the civil action
appropriate and effective use of hybrid procedures including discovery and cross-examination on affidavits
when should a petition be referred to the trial list?

Alandra K. Harlingten — Lovett Westmacott, Victoria
Emily Lapper, KC — Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Attorney General, Vancouver

BREAK (2:40 – 2:55)

Is Your Case Ready for Trial? Checklists and Trial Management Processes (2:55 – 3:50)

do you have the evidence you need to prove your case and how are you going to get it admitted at trial?
should you have a TMC even if not required under the Rules?
trial logistics—what do you need to do to ensure your trial runs smoothly (and finishes on time!)

Justice Jacqueline Hughes — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Tam C. Boyar — MacKay Boyar Law Corporation, Vancouver

Access to Justice—Strategies for, and Counsel's Duties When, Engaging with Self-Represented Litigants (3:50 – 4:35)

access to justice is a team sport
duties of counsel to the court
ethical and professional responsibilities

Gurprit Bains — Beach Avenue Barristers, Vancouver
Jamie F. Maclaren, KC — Access Pro Bono Society of BC, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (4:35 – 4:40)

Justice Jacqueline D. Hughes — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Rebecca J. Robb — Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver

Trial Practice

Day 2: Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Course Introduction and Land Acknowledgement (8:45 – 8:50)

Raymond Lee — Program Lawyer, CLEBC, Vancouver
Justice Jacqueline D. Hughes — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Rebecca J. Robb — Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver

Effective Trial Advocacy: The View from the Bench (8:50 – 9:45)

Justice Matthew Kirchner — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Justice Julie K. Lamb — Supreme Court of BC, New Westminster
Justice Lauren Blake — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver

Summary Trial (9:45 – 10:50)

strategy relating to proceeding by summary trial versus trial
suitability
types of evidence that can be advanced on a summary trial
access to justice considerations

Heather Doi — Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson LLP, Vancouver
Owen J. James — Dennis Dawson James Aitken LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (10:50 – 11:05)

Opening Statements and Closing Submissions (11:05 – 12:05)

rules for a proper opening statement—setting the stage for your claim or defence
when should a defendant give their opening before the plaintiff's case?
effective closing submissions—assisting the court in arriving at the findings you are seeking in bringing or defending the claim

Gavin Cameron — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Peter R. Senkpiel, KC — Crabtree + Senkpiel Litigation LLP, West Vancouver

NETWORKING LUNCH (12:05 – 1:05) (provided to in-person registrants)

Agreements on Facts and Documents (1:05 – 2:05)

agreement statements of fact and admissions
use of discovery transcripts at trial—proper practice and strategic considerations for plaintiffs versus defendants
document agreements—admissibility and the purpose of which the document can be used
proper approach to common books of documents

Arpal Dosanjh — Gudmundseth Mickelson LLP, Vancouver
Michael D. Shirreff — Sugden McFee & Roos LLP, Vancouver

Viva Voce Evidence—Examination-in-Chief and Cross-Examination (2:05 – 3:05)

preparation method
technique
strategies

Claire E. Hunter, KC — Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver
John M. Rice, KC — Rice Parsons Leoni & Elliott LLP, Vancouver

BREAK (3:05– 3:20)

Dealing with Expert Reports and Cross-Examination of Experts (3:20 – 4:20)

threshold issues—admissibility under Mohan and the SCCR, qualifications, scope of opinion
topic areas to test expert evidence
preparation method
strategy

Justice Brook Greenberg — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Andrew I. Nathanson, KC — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Closing Remarks (4:20 – 4:25)

Justice Jacqueline D. Hughes — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Rebecca J. Robb — Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver