SURREY INNS OF COURT 2026
Attention: All lawyers called 6 years and under!
Articling Students are welcome!
The Surrey Inns of Court is set to launch a FIFTH season!
Meeting regularly from September to February at Morgan Creek Golf Course Creekside Room (with two nights at the Surrey Courthouse) the IOC provides opportunity for junior lawyers to connect with senior counsel and judges over meals or canapés to discuss relevant topics of interest ie: legal ethics, practice management, expert witnesses, trial advocacy and professional responsibility.
Partnering with a faculty roster of local judges and experienced counsel, 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.
In addition to engaging topics, we offer the rare opportunity to practice direct and cross-examination skills at the court house with feedback from judges and senior counsel. While it may sound intimidating, the "practical" evening is always a highlight!
The IOC sessions build on previous topics and discussions. Accordingly, participants are expected to attend all sessions where possible.
As a result of generous sponsorship, we are able to offer the entire series of 8 sessions for $550.00. Price includes:
- meals on 6 of the evenings and canapés on 2 (practical sessions)
- 22 hours of CPD credit (including 2 hours of ethics/practice management)
- SBA membership for the balance of 2026
For those with a Legal Aid practice, bursaries of up to 50% may be available by emailing LABC directly.
*REGISTRATION PRIORITY IS FOR NEW ATTENDEES! If you have previously attended the IOC and wish to return (and we understand why you would want to!) please EMAIL Sonya Bertrand BEFORE registering. She will place you on a waitlist to ensure newcomers get the first opportunity to register.
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Session #1 - September 24, 2026- Roles & Responsibilities - Morgan Creek - Dinner
- Collegiality and Decorum
- Communications with other counsel/colleagues (ie professionalism/ high conflict situations)
- Communications with the Court (addressing the court, dealing with difficult judges etc)
- Working/ dealing with self-represented litigants (practice points/access to justice/ views from the bench)
- 3 hrs CPD credit including ethics/practice management
Session #2 - October 15, 2026 - Expert Witnesses - Morgan Creek - Dinner
Session #3 - November 5, 2026 - Ethics & Integrity - Morgan Creek - Dinner
We are pleased to welcome Justice S. David Frankel (Retired) who brings a wealth of experience as a former justice on the BC Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of BC, years as counsel with the Federal Department of Justice and Alternate Chair of the BC Review Board and senior defence counsel Marv Stern.
- the 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
- 3 hrs CPD credit incl. ethics/practice management
Session #4 - December 1, 2026 - Preparation & Presentation of Your Case - Morgan Creek - Dinner
- The importance of knowing your case and development of a theory
- Drafting litigation documents and bringing the theory to life including: correspondence with counsel and the court/ pleadings, & minutes of settlement & agreements
- Preparing and presenting compelling oral and written arguments
- 3 hrs CPD credit
Session #5 - January 7, 2027 - Advocacy Part 1 - Morgan Creek - Dinner
- Overview of courtroom etiquette
- Preparing and conducting direct examination
- Preparing and conducting cross examination
- Making and responding to objections
- 3 hrs CPD credit
Session #6 - January 21, 2027 - Advocacy Part 2 - Practical Session - Surrey Provincial Court - Canapés
- Conducting direct examinations
- Making and responding to objections
- 2 hrs CPD credit
Session #7 - February 4, 2027 - Advocacy Part 3 - Practical Session - Surrey Provincial Court - Canapés
- Conducting direct examinations
- Making and responding to objections
- 2 hrs CPD credit
Session #8 - February 25, 2027 - Practice in the 21st Century - Closing Dinner - Morgan Creek
- Artificial Intelligence (Gloria Ng)
- Trauma Informed Practice ( Shari Pearlman)
- Opportunity to revisit previously covered topics
- 3 hrs CPD credit
*Location of sessions and topics subject to change depending on size of the class, venue and guest availability.
The 2026 Inns of Court is generously sponsored by:
Diamond Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
If your firm, business or organization is interesting in sponsoring the Inns of Court, please contact:
Sonya Bertrand or Gordon Kabanuk
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
Diamond: $2000.00
Platinum: $1500.00
Gold: $1000.00
Silver: $ 500.00
Bronze: $ 250.00
Comments from previous participants:
“I attended the Surrey Inns of Court program during my first year of call and found it incredibly helpful. The program uses presentations and practical exercises to provide attendees with structured insight into a variety of helpful litigation topics, including how to conduct direct and cross-examination, preparing your case for trial, and tendering expert evidence. In addition to the structured learning, the program also provides attendees with the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with senior members of the Bar and members of the Bench over dinner. I learned so much through both aspects of this program that I would not have had the opportunity to learn otherwise, and I feel far more equipped to continue building my litigation practice than I did before. I highly recommend the program to any junior litigator looking for mentorship and guidance.”
“The Surrey Inns of Court Program provides a collegial and welcoming environment for junior lawyers to not only learn critical advocacy skills, but also provides the invaluable opportunity to network with senior lawyers and judges of the Surrey Bar.”
“What I enjoyed most of all was the informal table conversations, where we had opportunities to ask questions and hear from senior counsel and judges, and just get to know them on a more personal level. A lot of the learning for me happened during those table conversations.”