Employment Law 101 2026

Course Chairs
Courtney Burnett — KSW Lawyers, Surrey
Jaime H. Hoopes — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver

About the Course Chairs
Courtney Burnett is a Designated Paralegal at KSW Lawyers where she holds a broad civil litigation practice, with a particular focus on labour and employment law representing both employees and local businesses. She is well-versed in all aspects of the employment relationship, from contract drafting to severance package negotiations and everything in between.

In 2021, Courtney became the first employment paralegal in BC to be accepted to the Law Society of BC's Innovation Sandbox, an initiative that strives to improve access to justice and legal services in the province. As part of this initiative, Courtney is currently permitted to provide legal services, without direct supervision, in the areas of employment law, disability insurance law, civil litigation and residential tenancy matters, including providing legal advice, conducting negotiations, drafting legal documents, and appearing before the Provincial Court and various administrative tribunals. 

In her spare time, Courtney volunteers with the Amici Curiae Friendship Society, a not-for-profit organization that offers pro bono assistance with drafting legal forms for British Columbians. Courtney is also a part of Access Pro Bono's legal referral service program.

Jaime Hoopes practices in all areas of employment and labour law with a focus on human rights, litigation and administrative law. He advises and represents both public and private sector employers on labour, employment, and human rights matters. He has represented clients at all levels of court in BC, the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal along with a wide range of workplace-related administrative tribunals. 

Jaime concentrates on understanding his clients and their unique workplace dynamics, seeing his role as that of an advisor. He believes that by building strong relationships with his clients he can provide proactive advice and long-term and practical solutions to even the most difficult of problems. 

Jaime is a "jack of all trades" in workplace law and able to provide advice with respect to all manner of employment and labour disputes including wrongful dismissals, collective bargaining, unfair labour practice complaints, labour arbitrations, human rights complaints, bully and harassment, and discrimination claims as well as providing general advice on a variety of employment and labour related matters. Jaime also has a particular expertise in administrative law, regularly tackling complex judicial reviews of administrative decisions. 

Jaime began working at Harris as a summer student and became an associate in May 2016, after completing his articles with the firm. In 2018, Jaime was briefly seconded to work as a Labour Relations Consultant for a large post-secondary institution. He then practiced for several years at a large labour and employment boutique firm in Vancouver, BC before returning to Harris & Company LLP as a partner in 2026.

Faculty
Jordi T. Bailey — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
Scott Dallen — Ascent Employment Law Corporation, Vancouver
Dustin Horvat — Harris & Company LLP, Vancouver
Lia Moody (she/her) — HHBG Lawyers, Vancouver
Nazanin Panah (she/her) — Inlet Employment Law, Port Moody 
Darren Sall — KSW Lawyers, Surrey

Click here for full faculty bios

• considerations during the interview process 
• contracts and compliance 
• why consideration is the most important thing you've never heard of

• accommodation and human rights
• workplace injuries and return-to-work obligations
• the operation of the Employment Standards Act
• common law issues including vicarious liability and constructive dismissal

• Framework: the statutory minimum standards and common law reasonable notice that underlie every termination.
• Termination without cause: dismissal on notice or pay in lieu, and how reasonable notice is assessed.
• Termination with cause: when misconduct justifies dismissal, and the employer's burden to prove it.
• Constructive dismissal: when a unilateral change to the relationship amounts to a dismissal.
• Resignation: when a departure is clear, voluntary, and unequivocal.
• Abandonment: when conduct shows an intention to no longer be bound.