Welcome to the Advocacy Club
The Advocacy Club was founded in 2007 to train articling students and junior lawyers in the arts of civil advocacy. Since then, it has expanded to include hundreds of participants from many law firms and governmental organizations. The Club's sessions are based on these principles:
- Trainees learn more by doing than by listening to lectures.
- Junior advocates benefit greatly from networking with other like-minded professionals.
- Collegiality, professionalism, and competence are interrelated and form the foundation for a successful career in law.
For more information, watch the Advocacy Club's promotional video here.
Announcing the Advocacy Club Retreat - May 25, 9:00-12:30 at KPMG Ottawa
The Advocacy Club's Annual Retreat, "Many Paths to a Successful Career: How to Create Yours", takes place on Saturday morning, May 25, 2024, from 9:00 to 12:30, at KPMG's superb Ottawa facility at 150 Elgin Street #1800 with a catered networking after-party to follow.
There will be three one-hour interactive sessions with actionable techniques to advance your career in law, each led by an accomplished expert.
This 'Learn by Doing' CPD offers applicable techniques in interactive segments to deal with issues faced by junior lawyers, articling students, junior paralegals, and law school students as they launch their careers. The organizers are recent Advocacy Club members: lawyers Michelle Bérubé (Lister Beaupré), Lori Philpott (Public Service Alliance), and Logan Stack (Conway) and Articling Student Quinelle Boudreau (MBC Law). The cost is $37 plus HST if signed up by April 30 and $47 plus HST after. Sign up here. The organizers are still looking for law firms to join Merovitz Potechin and Emond Harnden to sponsor one of our three segments. Let Michelle Berube know if your firm is interested. |
Pro Bono Employment Law/Advocacy Club Spring Social - May 29 at Rabbit Hole on Sparks/Bank
The Advocacy Club Social Committee is pleased invite you to our Spring Social on May 29th from 5:30-9:00 pm! This event is generously sponsored by Geller Law and all proceeds will be donated to the Ottawa Pro Bono Employment Law Legal Clinic (“Clinic”) so that it can continue serving those who are facing employment law challenges who cannot afford a lawyer.
WHAT: This is an informal opportunity to network, socialize, and learn more about the important work that the Clinic is doing in the community. Pizza will be served (vegetarian options available) and there will be a cash bar. Rabbit Hole has generously offered to donate $1 from each drink sale to the Clinic.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
WHERE: Rabbit Hole, 208 Sparks Street, Ottawa (Lower Level Bar)
REGISTRATION: Please send an email to Kelli Day to reserve your spot on the registration list. If you are registering on behalf of someone else, please provide their name and email address. The minimum ticket price is $25 + HST. Please note that there is also the option to purchase a ticket for $50 or $100 for those who wish to make a larger donation to the Clinic. Tickets can be purchased online at the Advocacy Club website here.
FUNDRAISING OBJECTIVES: The Clinic was initially founded in the Spring of 2020 in response to the job loss and employment law challenges faced by Ontarians following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Clinic has been registered as a not-for-profit corporation and has provided over 4,500 hours of free legal services to individuals who cannot afford a lawyer. In addition to providing free legal services to those in need, the Clinic provides mentorship and experiential learning opportunities for law students at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. The Clinic operates from May-August each year. It has received varying levels of funding since 2020 which has allowed the Clinic to provide modest compensation to the law student interns and, as the Clinic’s operations have expanded, to a part-time executive director. Funding has steadily decreased “post-COVID” and, as such, the Clinic is calling upon the amazing Ottawa legal community for its support. Here is more information about the Clinic and its operations.
SPONSOR: The Clinic and the Club thank Harold Geller of Geller Law for his generous support for this event.
OTHER: This event is open to lawyers, paralegals, articling students, law students, and all community-minded individuals who wish to support this important cause. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Kelli Day.
WHAT: This is an informal opportunity to network, socialize, and learn more about the important work that the Clinic is doing in the community. Pizza will be served (vegetarian options available) and there will be a cash bar. Rabbit Hole has generously offered to donate $1 from each drink sale to the Clinic.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
WHERE: Rabbit Hole, 208 Sparks Street, Ottawa (Lower Level Bar)
REGISTRATION: Please send an email to Kelli Day to reserve your spot on the registration list. If you are registering on behalf of someone else, please provide their name and email address. The minimum ticket price is $25 + HST. Please note that there is also the option to purchase a ticket for $50 or $100 for those who wish to make a larger donation to the Clinic. Tickets can be purchased online at the Advocacy Club website here.
FUNDRAISING OBJECTIVES: The Clinic was initially founded in the Spring of 2020 in response to the job loss and employment law challenges faced by Ontarians following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Clinic has been registered as a not-for-profit corporation and has provided over 4,500 hours of free legal services to individuals who cannot afford a lawyer. In addition to providing free legal services to those in need, the Clinic provides mentorship and experiential learning opportunities for law students at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. The Clinic operates from May-August each year. It has received varying levels of funding since 2020 which has allowed the Clinic to provide modest compensation to the law student interns and, as the Clinic’s operations have expanded, to a part-time executive director. Funding has steadily decreased “post-COVID” and, as such, the Clinic is calling upon the amazing Ottawa legal community for its support. Here is more information about the Clinic and its operations.
SPONSOR: The Clinic and the Club thank Harold Geller of Geller Law for his generous support for this event.
OTHER: This event is open to lawyers, paralegals, articling students, law students, and all community-minded individuals who wish to support this important cause. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Kelli Day.
Announcing Upcoming Advocacy Club Boot Camps
The Club has already run ran two boot camps on Zoom since Jan 1, 2024. More are planned for the spring, but so far each is contracted by an employer-client (both private and government).
Details of training sessions are here. Contact me here if you want to participate in this or in a future session, on Zoom or in person.
Recent Feedback (more testimonials here):
"[The] advocacy bootcamp is an essential ingredient in a young lawyer's training. With a masterful command of the techniques taught and top-notch oration skills, [it] teaches practical skills that are immediately applicable in any litigator's practice."
"I'm amazed by how much I learned in such a short time. I gained practical knowledge and tools to be a better advocate for clients. This Advocacy Club Bootcamp is definitely a worthwhile investment."
"The Advocacy Bootcamp challenged me and allowed me to learn much about how I currently conduct my legal practice and how it can be improved. The instructors pushed us and helped us reflect on our advocacy skills and how to improve them. I highly recommend taking this course."
"Outstanding!"
Details of training sessions are here. Contact me here if you want to participate in this or in a future session, on Zoom or in person.
Recent Feedback (more testimonials here):
"[The] advocacy bootcamp is an essential ingredient in a young lawyer's training. With a masterful command of the techniques taught and top-notch oration skills, [it] teaches practical skills that are immediately applicable in any litigator's practice."
"I'm amazed by how much I learned in such a short time. I gained practical knowledge and tools to be a better advocate for clients. This Advocacy Club Bootcamp is definitely a worthwhile investment."
"The Advocacy Bootcamp challenged me and allowed me to learn much about how I currently conduct my legal practice and how it can be improved. The instructors pushed us and helped us reflect on our advocacy skills and how to improve them. I highly recommend taking this course."
"Outstanding!"
Advocacy Club @ Law School on Zoom - January 30 to March 26, 2024
The Winter 2024 edition of the AC@LS started January 30 and completed March 26, with 17 students from Queen's, Lakehead, Windsor (for the first time), uOttawa and London, England (a novelty, but the participant, a practising paralegal in the GTA, has a fascinating resume). They learned the techniques presented to lawyers, paralegals and articling students in the boot camp. These included upgraded modules for cross-examination, final argument, and how to prepare your witness to be examined.
Team leaders were Club Members Alana Guy (Nelligan O'Brien Payne), Alicia Mihailescu (Dentons), Chelsea Sexton and Matthew Benson (MBC Law) and Melanie LaBossiere (of Winnipeg's Thompson Dorfman Sweatman). They presented the techniques for the plenary portion of most sessions, and all ran breakout sessions for student exercises.
We will register students for the Fall 2024 semester in the summer. Read the PDF promo for the Fall 2024 semester here, complete with testimonials from past participants. The Fall 2024 AC@LS will start October 1, 2024, and run for 9 consecutive Tuesday evenings. Stay tuned for the promo PDF, more details, and new testimonials from the Winter 2024 student participants.
If you work in a law firm or for an employer who hires summer interns/articling students, you would be well-served to solicit talent among these motivated advocates-in-waiting. Please let me know here, and I can share your position details with prospective candidates.
Testimonials from recent participants:
"I recently completed the Advocacy Camp, and it was truly an eye-opener! The camp offered a deep dive into the world of litigation lawyers, packed with real stories told by the practitioners themselves. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at what litigation lawyers do was incredibly valuable.Meeting outstanding lawyers and making friends and mentors was also a highlight for me. A big shout-out and thank you to our amazing mentors! John Hollander Chelsea Sexton Matthew Benson Alana Guy Alice Mihailescu Melanie LaBossiere.
This camp opens doors to more networking events, both online and offline. For my fellow law students, this camp is a fantastic opportunity!"
Wei Zhang, 1L, uOttawa
"The Advocacy Club has been a challenging yet rewarding experience during my law school years. I learned to think on my feet and became more comfortable with public speaking. Additionally, I gained hands-on experience that will tremendously benefit my future career. The mentors were incredibly helpful; they not only taught us litigation techniques but also shared their unique stories of litigating and practicing law in general. I recommend this to anyone interested in litigation and networking, regardless of their year in law school."
Lacy Sun, 3L, uOttawa
“Joining the Advocacy Club has been an invaluable experience that goes beyond the traditional law school academic curriculum. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone in the Advocacy Club for their expertise and advice! It's not only about exposure but also about interaction with seasoned lawyers, gaining insights and guidance from real-world litigators. I strongly encourage future law students to seize this opportunity! It's an investment in your future, equipping you with practical skills and insights that will stand you in good stead throughout your legal career!”
Rui Qu, 1L, uOttawa
“Who, what, when, where, why, and how; the ‘why’ and ‘how’ this is essential to improving your legal advocacy skills is just one of the things the boot camp will teach you. It’s a great way to continue or preview what you’ll learn in trial advocacy classes and an opportunity to meet other students and practicing lawyers with an interest in litigation. I love it because it got me out of legal theory for a while and put the practical back into law. You won’t regret it.”
Nicholas Cheung, 3L, uOttawa
“The Advocacy Club is a must-do for law students who want to become litigators. Not only does it teach you the essential litigation skills you will never learn from law school, it also provides valuable networking opportunities that set you up for success!”
Chloe Wang, 2L, Toronto Metropolitan University
“Thank you for this experience. While I was nervous to start the boot camp, I could not be more thankful for my experience. I will carry the skills I learned into my articling experience and practice. Not only have I gained more confidence in public speaking, but I have also enjoyed being challenged to think on my feet and present my ideas effectively and concisely. Further, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to meet more colleagues and work with amazing mentors. I look forward to retaking the boot camp during my articling term.”
Regan Robinson, 3L, uOttawa
“Just closed the books on an enriching chapter at the Advocacy Club – the ultimate blend of education and mentorship! Heartfelt appreciation to our exceptional mentors for their dedication and expertise. To my fellow law students: seriously, consider joining the Advocacy Club! Not only did we dive deeply into litigation techniques and refine advocacy skills, but it’s also a stellar launchpad to broaden your legal network. The connections made here are invaluable for your future career. Gratitude to everyone who makes the Advocacy Club the go-to hub for legal growth and community.”
Rui Zhang, 2L, uOttawa
“I just wanted to thank you for running the Advocacy Club! As a 1L student, learning about interviewing techniques, direct/cross-examinations, and public speaking at the beginning of my law school journey was extremely useful. I’ve already been able to apply what I learned to several school assignments, and I feel well-equipped and excited to tackle my mock trial in 2L! The opportunity to network with other lawyers was also invaluable.”
Alexandra Bula, 1L, Lakehead
“This course is an incredible opportunity to extend your legal education beyond the classroom. Whether you pursue a career in litigation or not, this course teaches you fundamental skills that will serve you in every area of practice. Through this course, I became a more confident public speaker, learned how to think clearly under pressure/on the spot, and learned (most importantly) how to get to the point. The Club is also an incredible opportunity to interact with practicing lawyers who are happy to provide invaluable advice and guidance. I would recommend this Club to anyone”.
Alexandra Weir, 1L, uOttawa
Team leaders were Club Members Alana Guy (Nelligan O'Brien Payne), Alicia Mihailescu (Dentons), Chelsea Sexton and Matthew Benson (MBC Law) and Melanie LaBossiere (of Winnipeg's Thompson Dorfman Sweatman). They presented the techniques for the plenary portion of most sessions, and all ran breakout sessions for student exercises.
We will register students for the Fall 2024 semester in the summer. Read the PDF promo for the Fall 2024 semester here, complete with testimonials from past participants. The Fall 2024 AC@LS will start October 1, 2024, and run for 9 consecutive Tuesday evenings. Stay tuned for the promo PDF, more details, and new testimonials from the Winter 2024 student participants.
If you work in a law firm or for an employer who hires summer interns/articling students, you would be well-served to solicit talent among these motivated advocates-in-waiting. Please let me know here, and I can share your position details with prospective candidates.
Testimonials from recent participants:
"I recently completed the Advocacy Camp, and it was truly an eye-opener! The camp offered a deep dive into the world of litigation lawyers, packed with real stories told by the practitioners themselves. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at what litigation lawyers do was incredibly valuable.Meeting outstanding lawyers and making friends and mentors was also a highlight for me. A big shout-out and thank you to our amazing mentors! John Hollander Chelsea Sexton Matthew Benson Alana Guy Alice Mihailescu Melanie LaBossiere.
This camp opens doors to more networking events, both online and offline. For my fellow law students, this camp is a fantastic opportunity!"
Wei Zhang, 1L, uOttawa
"The Advocacy Club has been a challenging yet rewarding experience during my law school years. I learned to think on my feet and became more comfortable with public speaking. Additionally, I gained hands-on experience that will tremendously benefit my future career. The mentors were incredibly helpful; they not only taught us litigation techniques but also shared their unique stories of litigating and practicing law in general. I recommend this to anyone interested in litigation and networking, regardless of their year in law school."
Lacy Sun, 3L, uOttawa
“Joining the Advocacy Club has been an invaluable experience that goes beyond the traditional law school academic curriculum. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone in the Advocacy Club for their expertise and advice! It's not only about exposure but also about interaction with seasoned lawyers, gaining insights and guidance from real-world litigators. I strongly encourage future law students to seize this opportunity! It's an investment in your future, equipping you with practical skills and insights that will stand you in good stead throughout your legal career!”
Rui Qu, 1L, uOttawa
“Who, what, when, where, why, and how; the ‘why’ and ‘how’ this is essential to improving your legal advocacy skills is just one of the things the boot camp will teach you. It’s a great way to continue or preview what you’ll learn in trial advocacy classes and an opportunity to meet other students and practicing lawyers with an interest in litigation. I love it because it got me out of legal theory for a while and put the practical back into law. You won’t regret it.”
Nicholas Cheung, 3L, uOttawa
“The Advocacy Club is a must-do for law students who want to become litigators. Not only does it teach you the essential litigation skills you will never learn from law school, it also provides valuable networking opportunities that set you up for success!”
Chloe Wang, 2L, Toronto Metropolitan University
“Thank you for this experience. While I was nervous to start the boot camp, I could not be more thankful for my experience. I will carry the skills I learned into my articling experience and practice. Not only have I gained more confidence in public speaking, but I have also enjoyed being challenged to think on my feet and present my ideas effectively and concisely. Further, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to meet more colleagues and work with amazing mentors. I look forward to retaking the boot camp during my articling term.”
Regan Robinson, 3L, uOttawa
“Just closed the books on an enriching chapter at the Advocacy Club – the ultimate blend of education and mentorship! Heartfelt appreciation to our exceptional mentors for their dedication and expertise. To my fellow law students: seriously, consider joining the Advocacy Club! Not only did we dive deeply into litigation techniques and refine advocacy skills, but it’s also a stellar launchpad to broaden your legal network. The connections made here are invaluable for your future career. Gratitude to everyone who makes the Advocacy Club the go-to hub for legal growth and community.”
Rui Zhang, 2L, uOttawa
“I just wanted to thank you for running the Advocacy Club! As a 1L student, learning about interviewing techniques, direct/cross-examinations, and public speaking at the beginning of my law school journey was extremely useful. I’ve already been able to apply what I learned to several school assignments, and I feel well-equipped and excited to tackle my mock trial in 2L! The opportunity to network with other lawyers was also invaluable.”
Alexandra Bula, 1L, Lakehead
“This course is an incredible opportunity to extend your legal education beyond the classroom. Whether you pursue a career in litigation or not, this course teaches you fundamental skills that will serve you in every area of practice. Through this course, I became a more confident public speaker, learned how to think clearly under pressure/on the spot, and learned (most importantly) how to get to the point. The Club is also an incredible opportunity to interact with practicing lawyers who are happy to provide invaluable advice and guidance. I would recommend this Club to anyone”.
Alexandra Weir, 1L, uOttawa
CCLA Elections - 2024-2025
Several Advocacy Club members participated in the CCLA Board of Trustees in 2023-4, including executives President Andrew Ferguson, Treasurer Katie Black and Secretary Robin Brown. They will continue to serve on the Executive Committee, with Andrew shifting to Past-President.
For 2024-205, the following Club members will participate as Trustees:
For 2024-205, the following Club members will participate as Trustees:
- Caitlin Cardill
- Kelli-Anne Day
- Jennifer Therrien
Introducing the Advocacy Club Boot Camp on Substack
The AdvocacyClub.Substack.com now presents all our techniques with far more detail than the Boot Camp or my Trial Ad class at UOttawa, with well over 60 posts on techniques about:
These episodes get deeply into the weeds and show how the sausage is made (choose your metaphor).
You just can't learn these techniques anywhere else, much less on your own time. If you want access, check it out here.
- framing questions
- case analysis
- applying case analysis to the events in a case (Scenes)
- preparing for direct and cross-examinations
- conducting direct examinations
- issues in cross-examinations
- final argument
- preparing yourself & your client for discovery examinations
- dealing with issues that arise during examinations for discovery
These episodes get deeply into the weeds and show how the sausage is made (choose your metaphor).
You just can't learn these techniques anywhere else, much less on your own time. If you want access, check it out here.
Advocacy Club Newsletter
Communication is a significant issue. Emails? We all get too many; worse, bulk emails are vulnerable to phishing. And who reads them, anyway? LinkedIn? We have an active LinkedIn User Group (members are invited to ask for an invite - or check their inbox for the invite they have ignored), but despite "likes" and "shares", there is a very haphazard response to these. CCLA newsletter? Many Club members, especially outside Ottawa, don't read these.
So, we started to publish the AC Newsletter in March 2022. We send it to Club 20, 21 and 22 members, AC@LS members, past team leaders, and anyone else who asks to be added to the list. If you get one and don't want it, let us know, and we will remove your name. If you want it sent to your private email, let us know. Many members have changed firms/addresses or have left the law without letting us know, so please keep us advised of changes.
The technology foundation for the AC Newsletter is Weebly/Square, which is not very robust. You may not have opted-in, and we don't know it. We apologize if you receive unwanted emails because of that and undertake to correct any problems as soon as you let us know.
You can get access to the most recent Newsletter and add your name to the distribution list on request via email to me here. Here is a link to the December 2023 newsletter, as an example.
So, we started to publish the AC Newsletter in March 2022. We send it to Club 20, 21 and 22 members, AC@LS members, past team leaders, and anyone else who asks to be added to the list. If you get one and don't want it, let us know, and we will remove your name. If you want it sent to your private email, let us know. Many members have changed firms/addresses or have left the law without letting us know, so please keep us advised of changes.
The technology foundation for the AC Newsletter is Weebly/Square, which is not very robust. You may not have opted-in, and we don't know it. We apologize if you receive unwanted emails because of that and undertake to correct any problems as soon as you let us know.
You can get access to the most recent Newsletter and add your name to the distribution list on request via email to me here. Here is a link to the December 2023 newsletter, as an example.
From Novice Lawyer to Skilled Advocate
Founded by John Hollander in 2007 in Ottawa, the Advocacy Club trains novice lawyers to become skilled advocates. It has two focuses:
By the end of the Boot Camp, junior advocates have learned to apply the techniques to most of the situations they encounter in their practice. After this initial training, Club members participate in advanced sessions that take place throughout the year. To date these sessions have included training in:
- To teach the art of advocacy through preparation, interview and examination
- To promote collegiality among advocacy peers.
By the end of the Boot Camp, junior advocates have learned to apply the techniques to most of the situations they encounter in their practice. After this initial training, Club members participate in advanced sessions that take place throughout the year. To date these sessions have included training in:
Advocacy Club Handbooks
|
John has written several handbooks presenting the Advocacy Club techniques. They are available through Irwin Law Publishers and on Amazon.com at John's Author Page here.
Hull & Hull, a leading estates law firm, recently reviewed one of the handbooks in the series, The Civil Courtroom. "It is a book within Irwin Law’s Young Advocates series that I found to be more insightful today than I may have as a first year lawyer." Check out Doreen So's full review, here. |
Chat with Lawyers Podcast Series
John Hollander interviews lawyers to present an entertaining discussion of their careers and techniques. Each podcast runs less than an hour. All of the episodes feature discussions with senior lawyers about issues faced by junior lawyers when dealing with professional choices.
There are themes to the series. The early podcasts featured senior prominent lawyers discussing specific techniques in civil litigation. The series expanded to include professional issues, such as parental leave, partnership and promotion. The series took a detour to interview Great Canadians, a retired Supreme Court justice, a law school dean, the creator of the Syrian Refugee Sponsorship program and a sightless law student, all of whom have had a major impact on our legal scene.
The series currently presents Advocacy Club members discussing their experiences in trials and contested hearings. All podcasts present tips and techniques for junior lawyers to improve their practices.
All episodes can be found at: www.chatwithlawyers.ca.
There are themes to the series. The early podcasts featured senior prominent lawyers discussing specific techniques in civil litigation. The series expanded to include professional issues, such as parental leave, partnership and promotion. The series took a detour to interview Great Canadians, a retired Supreme Court justice, a law school dean, the creator of the Syrian Refugee Sponsorship program and a sightless law student, all of whom have had a major impact on our legal scene.
The series currently presents Advocacy Club members discussing their experiences in trials and contested hearings. All podcasts present tips and techniques for junior lawyers to improve their practices.
All episodes can be found at: www.chatwithlawyers.ca.