The bread and butter of LESA life is working with incredible volunteers to develop outstanding continuing legal education resources. Over the last few months we’ve been at it again, updating the Criminal Law Fundamentals publication with the invaluable help of volunteers Mona Duckett KC and Sarah Kondor of Dawson, Duckett, Garcia & Johnson.

Not only did Mona and Sarah generously share of their time and talent to make sure the publications’ contents were up to snuff but they also took a few more minutes out of their busy schedules to talk to us about the publication, their careers, and their top tips for the most important things lawyers can do to support their continuing professional development.

This dynamic duo, who, interestingly enough, both had careers as criminal defence lawyers in sight since childhood, brings a unique perspective to this update of Criminal Law Fundamentals – with Mona bringing a wealth of experience from over 40 years of practice and Sarah bringing the viewpoint of a recently called lawyer, understanding from experience what kind of information and resources new lawyers need to have easily accessible to jump in and get the job done.

When asked if there were any particularly useful gems hidden in the pages of Criminal Law Fundamentals, Sarah and Mona pointed to the “quick guide tables in the sentencing chapter that discuss common issues that arise in sentencing cases.” Here’s what they had to say generally about what makes this publication useful and who will benefit from accessing it:

The Fundamentals is a useful resource, particularly for junior lawyers, to gain a practical understanding of criminal procedure. A good lawyer must have a good grasp of how to conduct a file from file opening to file closing. The Fundamentals also flags seminal cases that discuss basic principles of criminal law. An effective advocate must master those basic principles and apply them to each case whether that’s at the bail, trial, or sentencing stage.

Junior lawyers will benefit the most from the Fundamentals, but more senior lawyers may also find going back to the basics helpful in solving complex problems. Creative litigation starts with basic principles, and it’s important to be reminded of the basic principles at play in any criminal file to ensure the accused’s procedural rights are protected to the fullest extent.

Having readily available resources like Criminal Law Fundamentals is one excellent way of staying up to date when practice questions arise, and we were curious about Mona and Sarah’s suggestions from personal experience about what else lawyers can do to support their continuing professional development to stay engaged and learning when practice is so busy and schedules fill so quickly. They both pointed to CanLII as being a fantastic free resource, with Mona noting that she likes reading decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada and provincial appeal courts to stay aware of the fascinating way that the law develops. Sarah noted that junior lawyers can end up with a lot of time waiting around court: “I often fill my waiting around time with reading provincial and superior court decisions published on CanLII. It’s helpful with what is my predominately Provincial Court practice to see how our province’s trial courts are interpreting and applying legislation and appellate court jurisprudence.”

Both Sarah and Mona also pointed to the benefits that one can reap by building relationships with other practitioners. As a lawyer in her first year of practice, Sarah told us how grateful she is to work alongside so many excellent lawyers (both within and outside of her office), each with their own unique practice styles, that she can learn from and draw on as she establishes her own practice and encounters tactical and ethical conundrums that must be worked through. One of Sarah’s motivations to get involved with LESA’s project to update the Criminal Law Fundamentals publication related directly to that idea of mentorship:

I am very lucky to work at the office I do – mentorship (particularly from Mona) has been fundamental to my articling experience and my first year of practice. It is an unfortunate reality that not everyone has easily accessible mentors. Having reliable resources for junior lawyers to refer to makes the criminal bar stronger, and a strong bar means better justice in the justice system.

Sarah also told us that volunteering to review and update a LESA resource was useful and enjoyable on a personal level:

I enjoyed digging into the nitty gritty of criminal procedure as we were updating these materials. It’s easy to forget that it’s really legislation and sometimes decades of jurisprudence that determine what may seem like everyday procedure in a criminal file. Sometimes those routine matters become non-routine, and having a grasp of the principles through the research required for these updates is very helpful.

We’re so very grateful for Sarah’s help with this project, and we’re glad her first foray into volunteering with LESA was an enjoyable, productive one. We’re also incredibly thankful for Mona’s support and involvement. Mona has been an outstanding LESA volunteer for many years, getting involved not only with our publications but also with our in-person programs, including the highly sought after, annual Intensive Advocacy program. When we asked her what motivates her to keep volunteering she also talked about how important mentorship and connection are:

Volunteering allows me to meet the other lawyers doing this important work and the young lawyers who aspire to the field. It is crucial that we build a strong and independent bar that is ethical and competent. I’m committed to doing that. LESA programs are well organized and run and allow me to feel that I’ve made a contribution.

We can’t say it enough, here at LESA we work with some incredible volunteers, and we’re so thankful for their contributions that benefit the legal profession across Alberta.

However you prefer to get involved and stay connected, we hope you find opportunities to connect with other practitioners and delve into some helpful resources. If you’re a criminal lawyer looking for ways to continue learning and connecting, here are a few opportunities for you to consider:

• Read | Criminal Law Fundamentals is available in hardcopy or online through the LESA Library
• Watch | Our next live, criminal law lunchtime webinar is coming up on October 31 – The Essentials of Disclosure in Criminal Law: Rights, Limits, and Best Practices. Registration includes access to the recording and materials in case your calendar is full.
• Stay Informed | Sign up to receive email notifications about LESA programs and resources directly related to your criminal law practice. To be notified when registration opens for the 2026 session of the annual Intensive Advocacy program, be sure to also subscribe to the LESA E-List.
• Get Involved | LESA fills hundreds of volunteer positions each year. If you’re interested in working on a resource, presenting a webinar, or joining the faculty for an in-person program, let us know by submitting a volunteer form online.