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62627.01This paper provides practical tips that newer lawyers and students-at-law can employ and integrate in the early years of their litigation practice to ensure success as they grow in their legal career. The tips are intended to apply whether your litigation practice is before the courts of Alberta or before regulatory and administrative tribunals and boards. These materials were presented at LESA’s Practical Tips for a Successful Litigation Practice webinar on August 18, 2026.
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62580.01The roles and responsibilities carried out by legal support staff are integral to a successful law practice. This paper focuses on communication strategies that strengthen working relationships with lawyers and offer practical tips for using CanLII, including basic searches, filters, and MyCanLII features that help streamline case-pulling tasks. These materials were presented at LESA’s Effective Legal Support: Law Office Fundamentals webinar on May 13, 2026.
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62596.01Expert evidence plays an increasingly important role in modern civil litigation. In many disputes, the outcome may turn largely on the opinions offered by expert witnesses. This paper explores the governing framework for expert evidence, including the Mohan threshold requirements and the court’s gatekeeping role; common admissibility challenges such as relevance, necessity, qualifications, reliability, and independence. It also highlights practical strategies for raising objections efficiently in interlocutory settings and at trial, including when the challenge should be directed to admissibility versus weight. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Evidence Refresher program in Edmonton on April 23, 2026.
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62596.02The Alberta Rules of Court provide several mechanisms to facilitate efficient trial preparation and reduce the time and expense of proving facts. This paper explores the three key tools available to practitioners including notice to admit facts, the agreed statement of facts, and the agreed book of exhibits. It also includes practical guidance for counsel working with these tools. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Evidence Refresher program in Edmonton on April 23, 2026.
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62596.03The default rule for the introduction of evidence at trial is that it must be given in person by a witness present in the courtroom, and available for cross-examination by parties adverse in interest to the party calling that witness. However, there are occasions where evidence can go in in an alternate manner. This paper discusses some of the exceptions allowed by the Alberta Rules of Court. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Evidence Refresher program in Edmonton on April 23, 2026.
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62596.04At its core, impeachment is a cross-examination tool that is meant to assist the adjudicator to discharge the fact-finding function and decide between competing versions of events. There are methods to be followed when impeaching a witness and legal and ethical restrictions on when and how a witness can be impeached. Instead of affecting the witness’s credibility, nothing is more effective at discrediting counsel’s credibility as attempting to impeach and failing to do so or attempting to do so in a manner that offends the rules or restrictions. This paper explores credibility and reliability, forms of impeachment, and limits on impeachment. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Evidence Refresher program in Edmonton on April 23, 2026.
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62551.01This paper provides an in-depth review of civil litigation developments in Alberta over the past year. The most significant update was the introduction of NPP2025-02: Mandatory Litigation Plans in Civil (Non-Family) Cases. This paper provides insights to help you navigate these changes effectively. These materials were presented at LESA’s Rules of Court 2025: Year in Review webinar on December 2, 2025.
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62557.03Developing a strong civil litigation practice takes an understanding of common civil procedures and the Rules of Court, and competence in advocacy. This paper is specific to civil applications brought before the Alberta Court of King’s Bench on general applications, morning chambers, special chambers, and the commercial list. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Civil Litigation Strategies program in Edmonton on November 25, 2025.
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62557.02There is no stronger evidence than an admission from the opposing party. This paper explores a strategic approach to questioning on affidavits; conducting Part 5 discoveries; strategies for questioning in chief and in cross examination at trail; and impeachment and read-ins. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Civil Litigation Strategies program in Edmonton on November 25, 2025.
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62557.01This paper explores the technical and practical considerations and strategies to avoiding litigation delay, including the foundational rules, litigation plans, case management, case conferences, managing your client; and diarizing your file. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Civil Litigation Strategies program in Edmonton on November 25, 2025.
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62530.05Organization is key to being an effective lawyer. It is a crucial skill in the management of a busy practice. This paper explores the importance of file organization with helpful tips and examples. These materials are part of a collection presented at LESA’s Family Law Conference (Kananaskis) program in Kananaskis on October 24–25, 2025.
