Small Claims Trial and Pre-Trial Conferences (20:XII) - Revision history

Nate Russell: 2026 update

2026-10-11T19:52:46Z

2026 update

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	* the judge may give a non-binding opinion regarding the probable outcome of the trial (''SCR'', Rule 7.5(14)(j)).		* the judge may give a non-binding opinion regarding the probable outcome of the trial (''SCR'', Rule 7.5(14)(j)).

	There may be consequences for failing to file and serve the Trial Statement on time (see ''SCR'', Rule 20(6); ''Yewchuk v Cleland'', 2002 BCPC 200 (CanLII); ''Irving v Irving'', 1982 CanLII 475 (BCCA); and ''Busse v Robinson Morelli Chertkow'', [1999] BCJ No. 1101 (BCCA)). The Registrar must serve a Notice of Trial Conference (Form 32) at least 30 days prior to the date set for the conference. A judge may make any order for the just, speedy, and inexpensive resolution of the claim including those enumerated in Rule 7.5(14).		There may be consequences for failing to file and serve the Trial Statement on time (see ''SCR'', Rule 20(6); ''[https://canlii.ca/t/5lrn Yewchuk v Cleland]'', 2002 BCPC 200 (CanLII); ''Irving v Irving'', 1982 CanLII 475 (BCCA); and ''[https://canlii.ca/t/54f9 Busse v Robinson Morelli Chertkow]'', [1999] BCJ No. 1101 (BCCA)). The Registrar must serve a Notice of Trial Conference (Form 32) at least 30 days prior to the date set for the conference. A judge may make any order for the just, speedy, and inexpensive resolution of the claim including those enumerated in Rule 7.5(14).

	== B. Pre-Trial Conference ==		== B. Pre-Trial Conference ==

Nate Russell: 2026 update

2026-10-11T19:47:35Z

2026 update

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:47, 11 October 2026
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	== A. Trial Conference ==		== A. Trial Conference ==

	A trial conference only applies to claims at the Vancouver (Robson Square) registry. Parties should see [[Small_Claims_Settlement_Conferences_(20:XI)\|Section XI: Settlement ~~Conferences~~]] for information regarding the purpose of, preparation for, and conduct of a trial conference. A trial conference is similar to a settlement conference with a few notable exceptions, such as:		A trial conference only applies to claims at the Vancouver (Robson Square) registry. Parties should see [[Small_Claims_Settlement_Conferences_(20:XI)\|Section XI: Settlement Conference]] for information regarding the purpose of, preparation for, and conduct of a trial conference. A trial conference is similar to a settlement conference with a few notable exceptions, such as:

	* the focus will be on trial preparation rather than on settlement.		* the focus will be on trial preparation rather than on settlement.

LSLAP at 19:41, 13 October 2025

2025-10-13T19:41:48Z

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LSLAP at 22:09, 29 September 2025

2025-09-29T22:09:18Z

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	* the focus will be on trial preparation rather than on settlement.		* the focus will be on trial preparation rather than on settlement.
	* a party does not have to attend if a lawyer, articling student, or other representative attends on that party’s behalf (''SCR'', Rule 7.5(12));		* a party does not have to attend if a lawyer, articling student, or other representative attends on that party’s behalf (''SCR'', Rule 7.5(12));
	* a Trial Statement (Form 33) must be filed at least 14 days before the trial conference and served on all other parties at least 7 days before the trial conference (''SCR'', Rules 7.5(9) and (10)). :* The trial statement form must include 4 sections: a statement of facts, amount claimed and calculation of the amount, a witness list, and the documents intended to be relied on at trial;		* a Trial Statement (Form 33) must be filed at least 14 days before the trial conference and served on all other parties at least 7 days before the trial conference (''SCR'', Rules 7.5(9) and (10)).

			:* The trial statement form must include 4 sections: a statement of facts, amount claimed and calculation of the amount, a witness list, and the documents intended to be relied on at trial;

	* a certificate of readiness is not required as it will have been provided prior to Rule 7.4 mediation;		* a certificate of readiness is not required as it will have been provided prior to Rule 7.4 mediation;

LSLAP: /* A. Trial Conference */

2025-09-29T22:09:02Z

A. Trial Conference

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:09, 29 September 2025
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	* the focus will be on trial preparation rather than on settlement.		* the focus will be on trial preparation rather than on settlement.
	* a party does not have to attend if a lawyer, articling student, or other representative attends on that party’s behalf (''SCR'', Rule 7.5(12));		* a party does not have to attend if a lawyer, articling student, or other representative attends on that party’s behalf (''SCR'', Rule 7.5(12));
	* a Trial Statement (Form 33) must be filed at least 14 days before the trial conference and served on all other parties at least 7 days before the trial conference (''SCR'', Rules 7.5(9) and (10)). The trial statement form must include 4 sections: a statement of facts, amount claimed and calculation of the amount, a witness list, and the documents intended to be relied on at trial;		* a Trial Statement (Form 33) must be filed at least 14 days before the trial conference and served on all other parties at least 7 days before the trial conference (''SCR'', Rules 7.5(9) and (10)). :* The trial statement form must include 4 sections: a statement of facts, amount claimed and calculation of the amount, a witness list, and the documents intended to be relied on at trial;

	* a certificate of readiness is not required as it will have been provided prior to Rule 7.4 mediation;		* a certificate of readiness is not required as it will have been provided prior to Rule 7.4 mediation;

Nate Russell: review confirmed 2025

2025-08-29T00:10:07Z

review confirmed 2025

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LSLAP at 21:54, 12 August 2025

2025-08-12T21:54:50Z

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	It is not uncommon for judges at a pre-trial conference to decide the case based on the law without hearing any evidence. Some consider this to be an improper use of pre-trial conferences. However, as stated above, there are no rules governing pre-trial conferences so you should be aware of this going into a pre-trial conference.		It is not uncommon for judges at a pre-trial conference to decide the case based on the law without hearing any evidence. Some consider this to be an improper use of pre-trial conferences. However, as stated above, there are no rules governing pre-trial conferences so you should be aware of this going into a pre-trial conference.

			A judge also may order that a trial is to be attended by telephone, video conference or other means of electronic communication (''SCR'', Rule 7.5(14)(j.1)). If this happens, the judge must also direct how, and by what date, to submit and serve any records and other things that a party intends to rely on at trial (''SCR'', Rule 7.5(14.1)).


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Nate Russell: Nate Russell moved page Small Claims Trial/Pre-Trial Conferences (20:XII) to Small Claims Trial and Pre-Trial Conferences (20:XII): Remove slash

2024-08-07T21:57:42Z

Nate Russell moved page Small Claims Trial/Pre-Trial Conferences (20:XII) to Small Claims Trial and Pre-Trial Conferences (20:XII): Remove slash

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:57, 7 August 2024
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LSLAP at 17:53, 7 August 2024

2024-08-07T17:53:09Z

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Clicklaw Editor at 18:49, 19 September 2023

2023-09-19T18:49:24Z

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