A comprehensive guide to managing Small Claims Court proceedings from client intake through judgment enforcement.
Included with our Passes – Learn more
Robert Besunder, Stephanie Bent and John Paul Rodrigues
September 9&10, 2026 at 10:00am EST
$240
8 hours total (4 hours each day)
Attend Live Online and On-Demand Recording
This comprehensive two-day course provides a practical, step-by-step guide to Ontario Small Claims Court practice, from the initial client consultation through judgment enforcement. Taught by an experienced civil litigation paralegal and a Small Claims Court Deputy Judge, the program covers every stage of a Small Claims Court proceeding, including pleadings, motions, settlement conferences, trials, appeals, and enforcement. Participants will also examine the professional and ethical obligations that arise throughout a file, including client management, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, advocacy, and dealings with self-represented litigants. Combining procedural guidance with practical advocacy techniques, this course equips lawyers and paralegals with the knowledge and skills to confidently manage Small Claims Court matters from start to finish.
Professionalism Content – LSO
• Preliminary Considerations
• Commencing the Action
• Default Proceedings
• Drafting the Defence
• Drafting the Defendant’s Claim
o Counterclaims against Plaintiff
o Crossclaim against Co-Defendant
o Third Party Claim
• Proposal of Terms of Payment
o No Dispute by Plaintiff
o Dispute by Plaintiff
• Amendment, Striking Out, Stay, and Dismissal
• Procedural Consequences of a Noting on Default
• Concept of Motions
• Preparing Motion Materials
• Different Types of Motions and Forms
o No Further Motions Without Leave of the Court
o General Power to Stay, Dismiss Motion
o Request for Clerk’s Order on Consent
o Notice of Motion and Supporting Affidavit
o Types of Motions
• When Leave of the Court is Required
• Hearing Motions
o Method of Hearing
o Motion in Writing for Assessment of Damages
• Encouraging Settlement
• Negotiating Settlement
o Offer to Settle
• Settlement Conferences
o Purpose
o Strategy
o Client Preparation
o Production
o List of Client Witnesses
o Special rule to resolve claims at settlement conference
o Orders Sought
o Dealing with Self-Represented Litigants
• Assessment Hearings
• Trial
• Relevance
• Necessity
• Exclusionary Rules
• Expert Properly Qualified
• Exhibits
• Trial Book
• Trial Procedure
• Submissions as to Costs
• Motions for New Trial
• Appeal of a Small Claims Court Judgment
• General
o Types of Creditors
o Calculating Post-Judgment Interest
o Consolidation Order
o Enforcement of Orders Made in Another Canadian Province or Territory
o Certificate of Judgment
• Appeals
o Divisional Court monetary jurisdiction
o Standard of Review
o Procedures and Deadlines
• Enforcing an Order
o Assets Exempt from Seizure
o Examination of Debtor or Other Person
o Garnishment
o Writ of Seizure and Sale of Personal Property
o Writ of Seizure and Sale of Land
o Delivery of Personal Property
o Satisfaction of Order
Fulfill your CPD requirements with our expertly curated passes. Dive deep into specialized topics or explore a wide range of courses—all in one convenient package. Learn more.
Lawyer and Legal Instructor
This session will be moderated by John-Paul Rodrigues, who is an award-winning legal instructor, being a past recipient of Career College Ontario’s Excellence in Teaching Award and the Instructor of the Year at one of the colleges that he teaches at. He is passionate about helping paralegal students accomplish their dreams and goals at a number of colleges, where he is focused on developing and nurturing future legal practitioners into becoming strong and successful advocates.
J.P. is also the host of the Justice in Pieces Guest Speaker Series, where he has discussed with 500+ lawyers, paralegals, judges, politicians and other guests about various areas of the law. J.P. is also an experienced lawyer, working as telephone duty counsel, providing advice to those in need.
Paralegal and Found of Bent Law Legal Services
Stephanie Bent is a licensed paralegal, educator, and founder of Bent Law Legal Services in Orillia, Ontario. She has more than a decade of experience representing clients across the full scope of paralegal practice, with particular experience in Small Claims Court, criminal matters, insurance disputes, and administrative tribunals. Stephanie also teaches law and business courses at Georgian College and is actively involved in mentoring new legal professionals and community advocacy.
Lawyer, Mediator and Deputy Judge of the Ontario Small Claims Court
Robert Besunder is a lawyer, Qualified Mediator (Q.Med.), and Deputy Judge of the Ontario Small Claims Court with more than 35 years of litigation and dispute resolution experience. Since his appointment as a Deputy Judge in 2006, he has presided over hundreds of trials, motions, and settlement conferences. Robert is also the founder of Besunder Law, Besunder Dispute Resolution, and Besunder Learning, and is a frequent speaker and educator on civil litigation, Small Claims Court advocacy, mediation, and professional practice.
Have questions? We’re here to help. Check out our FAQs to learn more about this Course.
Absolutely. Every LPEN course is recorded, and the recording is added to your account within a few business days. You can log in anytime to watch it on demand and still receive your digital certificate of completion.
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A digital certificate of completion will be available once the course recording has been uploaded. After that, you can follow the steps at the top of your My Courses page—where you’ll also find a short video explaining how to download your certificate. Be sure to save it as part of your documentation for your CPD hours.
This course may be included in one or several LPEN Passes. Passes offer discounted rates and access to multiple courses, making CPD compliance simpler. Check out our Passes page to see where it is included.
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