Legal Project Management Plan & Checklist
Purpose of this Guide: Use this fork when representing an accused in the Alberta Court of Justice. It guides defence counsel through regional scheduling, Pre-Preliminary Inquiry Conferences, and the completion of mandatory Alberta criminal forms.
Jurisdiction: Alberta Court of Justice, operating under provincial practice directions and regional scheduling rules.
The Process at a Glance: The process starts with reviewing Alberta regional practice notes to identify specific JCM and coordinator requirements. Counsel submits an integrated scheduling request to the Case Coordinator. Following the election of a trial in the Court of King's Bench, counsel coordinates and attends the mandatory Pre-Preliminary Inquiry Conference (PPIC) for hearings expected to exceed two days. Counsel files the Alberta-specific Form 4 Statement of Issues and reviews the Crown's Form 5 Position. Any substantive pre-trial motions are filed using Form 1 Applications at least thirty days prior to the hearing. Counsel serves Form 16 witness subpoenas, argues the committal threshold, and calculates defense-attributed delay under the Jordan framework.
Key Legislation and Case Law: Governed by the Criminal Code (Justice Laws) and the Alberta Court of Justice Criminal Rules (Alberta Legislation). Scheduling practices conform to the Alberta Court of Justice Criminal Practice Directions. Specific filings utilize Alberta Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Case law and neutral citations are verified on CanLII (Canadian Legal Information Institute).
* Disclaimer: We're nobody's lawyer, because we aren't lawyers. You are, so you know better than to take legal advice from an app. We also aren't accountants or dog trainers - just digital spirit guides taking zero liability for any of this. This site exists to gather the collective knowledge of practitioners like you. Verify everything and submit your feedback on the Preliminary Inquiry (Accused) - Alberta Practice Direction - Provincial Court Procedure matter plan to improve the playbook. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, it's a request for input.
This legal matter plan provides a structured workflow for Criminal Law cases, outlining the standard Litigation process. Utilize these tracking templates to manage your legal cases efficiently.
Verify all prerequisite documentation has been obtained, cross-reference against the statutory requirements for this matter type, and confirm compliance with practice direction protocols.
Alberta Scheduling Directions: Scheduling procedures vary across judicial districts in Alberta. Practitioners must consult the Alberta Court of Justice Criminal Practice Directions to verify region-specific Case Coordinator guidelines.
Prepare the relevant forms and supporting materials required under the applicable legislation, ensuring all mandatory fields are completed and all attachments are properly certified.
Draft and dispatch formal correspondence addressing the procedural requirements at this stage, including any required notices, requests for information, or proposals for resolution.
Coordinate the collection and review of all financial documentation required for disclosure, including statements, valuations, and supporting schedules as mandated by the rules.
Alberta PPIC Rules: In many Alberta regions, a Pre-Preliminary Inquiry Conference (PPIC) is a mandatory prerequisite for complex hearings or specific offence categories. Failing to attend can result in the scheduling request being struck.
Conduct a thorough review of all filed materials to ensure compliance with court requirements, verify service obligations have been met, and prepare for the next procedural milestone.
Assess the strategic considerations for interim applications, prepare supporting evidence, and draft the necessary documentation for urgent or time-sensitive relief sought.
Verify all prerequisite documentation has been obtained, cross-reference against the statutory requirements for this matter type, and confirm compliance with practice direction protocols.
Prepare the relevant forms and supporting materials required under the applicable legislation, ensuring all mandatory fields are completed and all attachments are properly certified.
Got a question about this plan?
Ask in the practitioner Discord - edge cases, rule changes, and jurisdiction-specific nuances, all in one place.