The ABC’s of Practice Before the CRT: Practice Tips for Lawyers

Author: Lisa N. Mackie and Anil K. Aggarwal
Current to: October 2021

As part of CLEBC Online Course Materials, the paper “The ABC’s of Practice Before the CRT: Practice Tips for Lawyers” serves as an essential guide for counsel assisting clients before BC’s often complicated Civil Resolution Tribunal.

Originally prepared by Lisa N. Mackie and Anil K. Aggarwal (both of Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP) at our Strata Property Update 2021 conference, “The ABC’s of Practice Before the CRT: Practice Tips for Lawyers” aims to provide a clearer path forward when dealing with the CRT.

The CRT was initially tasked with resolving certain strata property disputes when it opened its virtual doors to the public in  2016. However, the  CRT  has quickly expanded to adjudicate a wide range of claims, including small claims disputes of up to $5,000, motor vehicle accident and injury claims up to $50,000, and disputes involving societies and cooperative associations up to any amount.

Due to the CRT’s default requirement for self‐representation coupled with its virtual platform and frequently changing rules and timelines, this can create genuine ethical and procedural challenges for legal practitioners — something this paper now hopes to overcome.

 

View PDF of the paper