Pre-Trial Conference Alberta: What Happens and How to Prepare

After the defendant files a Dispute Note and the case is not resolved informally, the Alberta Court of Justice typically schedules a Pre-Trial Conference before setting a trial date. This is an informal meeting — not a courtroom hearing — designed to narrow the issues, identify what both sides agree on, and push toward settlement.

Most self-represented claimants do not know what to expect. Here is what actually happens.

The Format

A Pre-Trial Conference is held in a meeting room at the courthouse, not in a courtroom. In some cases, it happens by phone or video. A Justice or a Judicial Dispute Resolution officer presides.

If the court makes attendance mandatory, both parties must attend. If a party misses a mandatory conference without valid excuse, the Justice may dismiss the claim, strike out the Dispute Note, or enter judgment against the absent party.

What the Justice Will Do

The presiding officer typically goes through the claim and the Dispute Note, identifies the points of disagreement, asks each side what they would accept to settle, and suggests a resolution.

Expect direct questions: "How did you calculate this amount?" "Do you have the contract in writing?" "What evidence do you have that service was defective?" You do not need a polished legal presentation, but you should be able to explain your position clearly and point to the key documents that support it.

The Justice may give a frank assessment of each side's strengths and weaknesses. This is not a prediction of what will happen at trial — it is a reality check to help both sides see where they stand.

Mediation and Judicial Dispute Resolution

In some cases, the court may order formal mediation instead of (or in addition to) a Pre-Trial Conference. Mediation is facilitated by a trained mediator and attendance is mandatory if ordered.

There is also Binding Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR), where both parties consent to have a Justice review the evidence informally and make a final, binding decision. The advantage is speed — no formal trial is needed. The trade-off is that a Binding JDR decision cannot be appealed.

How to Prepare

Bring copies of every document you plan to rely on at trial: the contract (if there is one), invoices, receipts, text messages, emails, and photos. You do not need to formally organise these into a Trial Statement yet — that comes later if the conference does not produce a settlement. But having the documents ready makes you more persuasive.

Write down the minimum amount you would accept to settle. The Justice will ask, and having a number ready (rather than thinking on the spot) gives you a stronger negotiating position. Keep that number realistic — a Justice who sees you will not budge from an unreasonable position may not push the other side very hard.

If the other side makes an offer during the conference, you do not have to accept it on the spot. You can ask for a few days to consider. But if the offer is close to what you would get at trial, factor in the time and stress of going through a full hearing before rejecting it.

If the Conference Does Not Settle the Dispute

If no settlement is reached, the Justice may issue directions about what needs to happen before trial — filing dates for Trial Statements, witness lists, or any interim applications. The case then proceeds to trial.

Settlement reached at a Pre-Trial Conference can be recorded in a Settlement Agreement (Form CTS2756), a binding contract, or a Consent Judgment (Form CTS2903), an agreed judgment filed with the court.

The Alberta Civil Claim Guide includes a hearing preparation checklist that covers both the Pre-Trial Conference and the trial itself.

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