Binder University has released a new course designed for anyone who needs to navigate the Alberta Court of Justice without a lawyer. "How to Represent Yourself in the Alberta Court of Justice" is a six-lesson, scenario-based guide that covers the practical mechanics of civil litigation from start to finish — and it is available at no cost, with no account required.
For small and mid-sized business operators, the reality of civil disputes is that legal fees can quickly outstrip the value at stake. A contractor who has not been paid 8000 dollars, a retailer chasing an unpaid invoice, or an operator defending a customer's claim for property damage may find that hiring counsel for every step of the process is simply not economical. The Alberta Court of Justice hears civil matters up to 100000 dollars, and many of the disputes that land there — non-payment, contract breaches, property damage, minor negligence claims — are precisely the kinds of issues that SMB operators encounter regularly. Knowing how to represent yourself effectively is not a fallback position; for many operators, it is the only practical option.
The course begins with jurisdictional basics: which court a claim belongs in based on the amount in dispute, and when a matter might be better suited to Provincial Court's Civil Division, the Court of King's Bench, or a specialized tribunal. This is not an academic exercise. Filing in the wrong court can result in having a claim struck or transferred, adding delay and expense to what is already an unwelcome process. The course walks through monetary limits and subject-matter restrictions so that an operator knows, before drafting anything, where the claim should land.
From there, the curriculum moves to pre-litigation requirements that Alberta mandates before a trial can proceed. Alternative dispute resolution is not optional in many circumstances; the court expects parties to have attempted mediation or another settlement process before consuming judicial resources. The course explains what ADR looks like in practice, how to document that you have met the requirement, and what happens if the other side refuses to participate. Pre-trial requirements also include mandatory document exchange and, in some cases, questioning (what used to be called examinations for discovery). The course covers how to request documents, how to respond to the other side's requests, and how to prepare for and conduct questioning — all without counsel present.
The heart of the course is trial preparation and trial conduct. For most self-represented litigants, the courtroom itself is the most intimidating part of the process. The course addresses that directly. It explains how to prepare a trial brief — the organized package of documents, evidence, and legal argument that you will rely on — and how to conduct basic case law research to find decisions that support your position. Alberta courts expect parties to know the law that applies to their claim, even if they are not lawyers. The course shows how to find relevant precedent using publicly available tools, how to cite it properly, and how to distinguish or respond to cases the other side may raise.
Trial structure receives detailed treatment. The course walks through opening arguments: what to say, what to avoid, and how long to keep them. It covers direct examination of your own witnesses — how to elicit testimony through non-leading questions — and cross-examination of the opposing party's witnesses, including techniques for challenging credibility without antagonizing the court. It addresses how to introduce documentary evidence, how to object to evidence that should not be admitted, and how to handle procedural rulings in real time. Finally, the course covers closing arguments: how to tie the evidence to the legal test, how to address weaknesses in your case, and how to ask the court for the specific relief you are seeking.
Throughout, the course emphasizes the difference between knowing the law and presenting a case effectively. A self-represented party who understands their legal rights but cannot organize evidence, examine witnesses, or articulate their position clearly will struggle in front of a judge. The course treats courtroom mechanics as skills that can be learned and practiced, not as mysteries accessible only to those with law degrees.
The course is part of Binder University's Litigation Primer program within the Faculty of Law. It sits alongside other courses that address how civil claims are structured, how limitation periods work, and how to respond to claims brought against you. For an operator who is already facing a dispute — or who wants to understand what litigation looks like before one arises — the course provides a practical foundation.
Self-representation is not for everyone. Complex matters, high-value claims, and disputes involving technical legal issues often require professional counsel. But for the routine civil disputes that small business operators encounter — the unpaid invoice, the defective goods claim, the minor property damage dispute — knowing how to handle the matter yourself is a genuine business skill. Alberta's court system is designed to be accessible to self-represented litigants, and this course is designed to help operators use that access effectively.
Provincial variants requests are welcome. We want to open up all provincial level courts to as many Canadians as possible.