Explore practical strategies for drafting effective pleadings in key areas, such as insurance and fraud matters. Further explore considerations for costs and punitive damages, and provides tips for what to avoid when drafting pleadings. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program titled Civil Litigation Strategies on November 25, 2025. Total running time is 57 minutes.

This on-demand program supports lawyers in navigating civil litigation matters and covers topics including pleadings, chambers advocacy, less frequently used rules of court, strategic questioning and use of answers, strategic issues in major file litigation, overcoming litigation delay, and ADR considerations. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program titled Civil Litigation Strategies on November 25, 2025. Total running time of each presentation is between is 37 minutes to 58 minutes.

Explore the law of costs in Alberta through the dual lenses of Schedule C of the Alberta Rules of Court and the post-McCallister case law. Topics covered include a discussion of costs generally, settlement using court process, lump sum costs, percentage indemnity, security for costs, and tips for litigators. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program titled Costs on May 6, 2025.  Total running time is 1 hour, 13 minutes.

At times lawyers may not consider costs until the Court invites them to speak to the issue. Explore the law of costs in Alberta, including the post-McCallister landscape; consider strategic approaches to costs; and examine issues relating to reviews and assessments. Delve into practice-area specific considerations and best practices in general civil litigation, commercial litigation, family law, and wills and estates.. These on-demand programs were originally presented as an in-person program titled Costs on May 6, 2025. The total running time for each presentation ranges between 39 minutes to 1 hour, 13 minutes.

Explore costs in estate litigation, with topics including McAllister v City of Calgary, aftermath of McAllister, costs in estate litigation, costs against lawyers, costs strategies, recent history with party-party costs, and costs generally. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program titled The Next Level: Elevating Your Practice in Estate Litigation on April 25, 2024.  Total running time is 1 hour and 9 minutes.

In this panel discussion, the use of alternative dispute resolution processes in estate matters will be discussed. Topics include the mechanics of mediation, arbitration, and med-arb as estate dispute resolution tools. This presentation concludes with a general question and answer period. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program titled The Next Level: Elevating Your Practice in Estate Litigation on April 25, 2024.  Total running time is 1 hour and 38 minutes.

Concrete knowledge of the Rules of Court is critical for every litigator. Revisit the “must-know” rules, consider recent judicial treatment of select rules, and discover practical tips for running effective litigation files. Topics include pleadings and discovery, effective use of expert witnesses and the rules relating to experts in both the pre-trial and trial context, and service ex juris, jurisdiction applications, and the rules relating to jurisdiction.

Learn about summary trials and summary judgment (with members of the Court of Queen’s Bench, including when and how to use these tools effectively).

Join Justices from the Court of Appeal of Alberta and the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta to discuss the judiciary’s perspective on what you can do to better advocate for your clients when appearing before a court or tribunal remotely. This on-demand program was originally broadcasted as a webinar on November 18, 2020. Total running time is 1 hour.

Investigate the law of search and seizure. Discuss principles and leading cases relevant to this rapidly-changing area of criminal law. Examine the implications of the Charter, recent case law, and a wide variety of relevant, practical topics that consider the exclusion of evidence. This on-demand program was originally presented as an in-person program in June 2018. Total running time is 4 hours, 30 minutes.

This paper explores the law of costs in Alberta through the dual lenses of Schedule C of the Alberta Rules of Court and the post-McCallister case law. Topics covered include a discussion of costs generally, settlement using court process, treble costs for unproven fraud, the inflationary factor, multiples of tariff amounts, lump sum costs, percentage indemnity, and tips for litigators. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Costs program in Edmonton on May 6, 2025.

Current Issues Under the Rules of Court Justice Robert A. Graesser This paper discusses 4 sections from the Rules of Court: case litigation plans, mandatory pre-trial dispute resolution, dismissal for delay (“drop dead” provisions) and case management. Justice R.A. Graesser thoroughly reviews the relevant rules, canvasses the issues relating to those rules, reviews developments in case law, and makes suggestions for effectively navigating the rules. This is a must read paper for the most current perspective on these rules. Case Management Counsel Pilot Project in Edmonton Sandra L. Schulz, Q.C. This paper looks at the Case Management Counsel Pilot Project (CMCPP) in Edmonton by reviewing the experiences to date of the project. If you have questions about the CMCPP, this paper is for you. Managing Your Litigation under the New Alberta Rules of Court Justice Terrence F. McMahon Susan Borsic-Drummond Rule 4.1 establishes the principle that it is the responsibility of the parties to manage litigation. This article reviews the subsequent duties that flow from this foundational rule, including categorizing your case as standard or complex, agreeing on a litigation plan, participating in a dispute resolution process, and avoiding applications of dismissal for long delay under Rule 4.33 (the “drop dead” rule). It then discusses the use of case management judges and the Case Management Counsel Pilot Project. These papers were drawn from materials presented at the Case Management, Litigation Plans and the “Drop Dead” Rule seminar held in April 2012.