All lawyers in the Fraser Region practicing 6 years or less:  

You DO NOT WANT TO MISS this opportunity!  REGISTRATION IS LIMITED!

Partnering with a faculty roster of local judges and experienced counsel, we are pleased to formally announce the Surrey “Inns of Court" mentoring program that will be held over 6 evenings at Morgan Creek Golf Course Creekside Room commencing September 29, 2022 and continuing monthly until February 2, 2023.

The Surrey Inns of Court was established in the long standing inherited English tradition of our profession fostering meaningful and lasting mentoring relationships between junior lawyers and experienced counsel and judges, to promote professionalism and competence.   

All sessions will include discussions of topics relevant to newer counsel along with ample time to connect with senior colleagues and members of the bench over dinner and/or canapés. 

Cost for the entire series of 6 sessions is $350.00. Price includes:

• meals on four of the evenings and canapés for two evenings
• 12 hours of CPD credit (incl. 2 hours of ethics/practice management)
• SBA membership for the balance of 2022 

Participants are expected to attend all sessions where possible.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Session #1 - September 29, 2022 - General Practice

• Collegiality and Decorum
• Communications with other counsel/colleagues (ie professionalism/ high conflict situations) 
• Communications with the Court
• Working/ dealing with self-represented litigants (practice points/access to justice/ views from the bench)

Session #2 - October 20, 2022 - Expert Witnesses

• The expert's duty to the court, client's and counsel
• Ensuring a properly qualified expert – duty of the lawyer and dangers – case study of J.P. v. British Columbia (Children and Family Development) 2018 BCCA 325 and the role of the Court – White Burgess Langille Inman v. Abbott and Haliburton Co., 2015 SCC 23 ; R v. Scott, 2018 BCSC 1739
• Proper qualification of experts and the dangers of straying outside of permissible bounds
• Disclosure challenges and ethical obligations in family, civil and criminal matters
• Views from an expert

Session #3 - November 10, 2022 - Ethics & Integrity

• BC Code of Professional Conduct
• Conflicts of interest: clients and the court
• Ethical dilemmas: instructions from clients; instructions from other lawyers; navigating situations where you perceive a conflict, but the other side doesn't; and managing situations where your own self-interest doesn't align with your client's interest or your duty to the court

Session #4 - December 1, 2022 - Preparation & Presentation of Your Case

• The importance of knowing your case and development of a theory
• Drafting litigation documents and brining the theory to life including: correspondence with counsel and the court/ Pleadings, & Minutes of Settlement & Agreements
• Planning and organizing your case to convey the story effectively
• Preparing and presenting compelling oral and written arguments

Morgan Creek Menu for Dec 1 2022.pdf

Session #5 - January 12, 2023 - Advocacy Part 1

• Preparing and presenting an opening (live demonstration/ discussion)
• Preparing and presenting direct examination (live demonstration/discussion)

• Preparing and presenting cross examination (live demonstration/discussion)
• Preparing and presenting closing address (live demonstration/discussion)

* While this program is geared towards lawyers called six years or less, consideration will be given to others space permitting.  Enquiries should be directed to Cheryl Stanley or Mike Fortino.

* If cost is prohibitive, please contact Cheryl Stanley.

This session of the Inns of Court is sponsored by: 

If your firm is interesting in sponsoring the Inns of Court, please contact:

Cheryl Stanley or Gordon Kabanuk

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Firms under 10: $500.00

Firms over 10: $1000.00