New Resource for Criminal Law Practitioners and Legal Assistants in Alberta

Moreau Law is pleased to announce the publication of Criminal Law and Procedure for Alberta Legal Professionals, authored by Paul Moreau, KC and Ashley Stasiewich; published by Emond Publishing in 2024.

This new resource is accessible through the Alberta Law Libraries, available in e-format directly from Emond Publishing, and in print through the MacEwan Bookstore.

Filling a Training Gap in Criminal Practice

Criminal law practice in Alberta places high demands on both lawyers and the legal assistants who support them. Legal support staff are often responsible for essential tasks such as disclosure management, court scheduling, client correspondence, and supporting the lawyer with trial preparation. Despite the significance of this work, many legal assistant programs offer only limited training specific to criminal procedure, leaving a noticeable gap between general legal-administration skills and the realities of a criminal-law file. This textbook addresses that gap directly. It offers a clear, practical guide tailored to Alberta’s criminal-justice system, giving legal assistants the context and competence they need to support counsel effectively.

A Textbook Based on Experience

The strength of this textbook comes from the combined, complementary experience of its authors.

Ashley Stasiewich brings a unique perspective shaped by over seven years as a legal assistant, several years of paralegal work in quasi-criminal traffic matters, and more than a decade managing the operations of Moreau Law. She is also completing her doctorate with a focus on paralegal professional development in Alberta, and teaches as a Sessional Instructor in the Paralegal Studies program at MacEwan University. Her background in legal support work, office management, and legal education design provides grounded, practical insight into what legal assistants truly need to know when supporting criminal lawyers.

Paul Moreau, a senior criminal-defence lawyer with decades of experience, contributes deep knowledge of criminal procedure, advocacy, and courtroom practice.

Lawyers will benefit from this textbook as a practical training tool for their assistants, allowing them to focus more fully on substantive legal work, while legal assistants will gain confidence knowing they have the guidance needed to support day-to-day criminal law tasks. In addition, the text serves as a helpful resource for self-represented individuals navigating the criminal justice system, as well as for newly called lawyers exploring criminal practice who may be seeking procedural knowledge not typically covered in law school curricula.

What the Textbook Provides

Criminal Law and Procedure for Alberta Legal Professionals walks readers through the full lifecycle of a criminal matter. It includes:

• Step-by-step explanations of criminal procedure in Alberta

• Practical guidance for managing client files, disclosure, and court communications

• Alberta-specific examples, forms, and workflow tips

• Realistic scenarios that highlight common challenges in criminal files

• Tools to help legal assistants understand the purpose behind each task

For criminal lawyers, well-prepared legal assistants are an essential part of effective advocacy. A strong understanding of procedure improves workflow, reduces delay, and supports better client service.

For legal assistants, this book provides a foundation that is both practical and tailored to Alberta’s courts - a resource that has been missing until now.

By helping legal assistants understand criminal files from arrest to sentencing, this textbook strengthens legal-services delivery across the province and supports the development of skilled, knowledgeable legal-support professionals.