Jury Trials 2026

Course Chairs
Robert C. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Lisa J. Helps — Helps Law Corporation, Vancouver

About the Course Chairs
Called to the bar in 1978, Robert Brun, KC has a special interest in personal injury and workers' compensation law. He is also experienced in the fields of insurance and administrative law.

Before joining Harris & Brun as a founding partner in 1984, Robert practiced for five years with the Workers' Compensation Board of BC.

Robert is a knowledgeable and experienced practitioner in the field of workers' compensation as it relates to auto-accident injuries. He is a skilled trial lawyer who has conducted many trials and appeals in the BC Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Robert is a frequent guest lecturer at seminars for lawyers put on by CLEBC, the CBA, and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC.

Robert has served his profession as a president of CBABC in 2003–04 and three terms as a bencher of the Law Society of BC between 2005 and 2011. He has also served as a member of the Justice Review Task Force and the CBA National Task Force on Conflicts of Interest. In March 2010, Robert was elected to the position of second vice-president of the national CBA, and served as president in 2012–13.

Lisa Helps is a criminal defence lawyer with a major crime trial and appellate practice at Helps Law Corporation in Vancouver. Lisa was called to the bar in 2004 and has taught as an adjunct in SFU's Criminology program since 2016. In 2018 and 2021, she was elected and re-elected to the Provincial Council of the CBA. Lisa regularly lectures to detectives in the undercover program with the municipal integrated unit, has taught in the RCMP's search warrant course, and is a frequent ad hoc and auxiliary Crown counsel with Region 3, Fraser. Lisa co-chaired the Prosecution and Defence of Sexual Offences with Winston Sayson, KC for CLEBC in November 2018 and has been a presenter at numerous conferences—local, national and international—in the areas of advocacy and criminal law.

Lisa is a board member of Universal Limited and the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. Lisa is proud to have been a cast member of the Lawyer Show, a benefit for the Lawyer's Benevolent Fund and local theatre companies. Lisa has mentored hundreds of students in her career; she considers this her greatest achievement in practice.

Faculty
Justice Miriam A. Maisonville — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver
Thomas Arbogast, KC — TA Law, Vancouver
B. Keith Boland — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, Vancouver
Jennifer J.L. Brun, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Gavin Cameron — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver
Lyle G. Harris, KC — Harris & Brun Law Corporation, Vancouver
Chris Johnson, KC — Johnson Doyle Nelson & Anderson, Vancouver
Louise Kenworthy, KC — Crown Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General, New Westminster
Paul S. McMurray — Paul McMurray Law Corporation, Vancouver
Gloria M. Ng — Platform Litigation, Port Moody
Krista L. Simon — Hammerco Lawyers LLP, Vancouver
Marco von Antal — Holmes Stewart von Antal, Vancouver
Kevin B. Westell — Pender Litigation, Vancouver

Click here for full faculty bios

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Canadian Criminal Jury Instructions

The bench and bar's indispensable guide to criminal jury trial preparation

This book is essential for:  Judges and lawyers preparing for criminal jury trial instructions

Current to: September 1, 2024

You know how much work is involved in a criminal jury trial—research, case law analysis, the elements of the charge. Canadian Criminal Jury Instructions (CRIMJI) puts all of the legal research that goes into preparing a jury instruction to work for you. Guided by a cross-Canada editorial board, this authoritative resource provides you with over 150 model instructions on trial procedures, evidence, and major offences and defences. Each instruction gives you an outline of key components of the instruction, discusses relevant case law, and highlights alternatives and notes of caution.

With CRIMJI, you will be able to:

• save time drafting criminal jury instructions
  
• confidently suggest amendments or additions to a jury instruction
  
• understand the evidentiary foundation of a particular crime or defence
  
• explain evidence and law relevant to your case in plain language understandable to a jury

Buy today and be confident in preparing for your jury trial! View a sample from this book!

Highlights of the 2024 Update include:

• case law, legislation, and commentary brought current to approximately September 1, 2024
• new or revised Instructions, User Notes and endnotes to reflect recent changes to the law, including changes to:
  • Credibility of Witnesses—CRIMJI 4.12
  • Admission or Confession of the Accused—CRIMJI 4.20
  • After the Fact Conduct—CRIMJI 4.21
  • Hearsay Evidence—Prior Consistent Statements—Narrative—General—CRIMJI 4.86
  • Accessory After the Fact (ss. 23, 592)—CRIMJI 6.00
  • Assault (ss. 265, 266, 267, 268)—CRIMJI 6.08
  • Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance Causing Death/Bodily Harm (ss. 320.13, 320.2, 320.21)—CRIMJI 6.24
  • Operation of a Conveyance While Impaired Causing Death/Bodily Harm (ss. 320.14(1) (a), 320.14(2), 320.14(3))—CRIMJI 6.3
  • Operating a Conveyance Causing Death/Bodily Harm While "80 or Over"/"Drug per se Limit or Over"/Combined Alcohol and Drug Limit or Over (ss. 320.14(1)(b) to (d), 320.14(2) to (3), 320.2, 320.21)—CRIMJI 6.34A
  • Failure or Refusal to Comply with Demand after Being Involved in an Accident That Resulted in Death/Bodily Harm (ss. 320.15(1) to (3), 320.2, 320.21)—CRIMJI 6.34B
  • Manslaughter by Unlawful Act (ss. 222, 234, 236)—CRIMJI 6.39
  • Murder—Section 229(a)—CRIMJI 6.45
  • Sexual Assault (ss. 265, 271, 272, 273)—CRIMJI 6.66
  • Child Luring (s. 172.1)—CRIMJI 6.67D
  • Pointing a Firearm (s. 87(1))—CRIMJI 6.87
  • Intoxication—Alcohol/Drugs—CRIMJI 8.36
  • Provocation (s. 232)—CRIMJI 8.53
  • Unanimity—CRIMJI 9.05
  • Exhortation to a Hung Jury—CRIMJI 10.00
• updated gender-neutral language incorporated into all chapters. See "Gender Neutral Language" in the front matter for more information

• organize don't agonize
• how is preparation different than judge alone?
• civil: discovery, agreed statement of facts, and notices to admit
• criminal: the preliminary inquiry  

• civil jury selection
• criminal jury selection 
• common issues for civil and criminal counsel's role in proper preparation 
• empanelling the best jury for your side: tips and tricks

• selecting and preparing expert witnesses
• preparing for cross-examination on transcripts

• a crash course in voir dires
• preparation and leveraging your rulings with the jury

• opening address
• examination in chief
• cross-examination
• closing arguments
• instructions, warnings, and professional responsibilities

• managing potential issues with the bench, counsel, and the jury
• when it all goes wrong, how do you right the ship?
• professionalism and ethics 

• civil and criminal jury verdicts and fact finding
• jury instructions and counsel's role
• can you make a verdict "appeal proof"?
• best practices for counsel in jury trials