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.
Club News and Events
Announcing Annual Advocacy Club Retreat May 11, 2019 - Put Your Dreams Into Practice
This year’s retreat is themed “Put your Dreams into Practice.” Advocacy Club members don’t let their careers just happen. This Retreat’s is all about deciding on, planning for, and building the career you want. Visit the 2019 Retreat Tab.
Announcing the 3rd Annual CCLA-Advocacy Club Joint Session: How counsel should deal with each other June 12, 4:00-6:00
This 2 hour session features former CCLA presidents Mary-Jane Binks (family law), Karen Reid (criminal law) and Ian McBride (construction/commercial law) presenting guidance on how to deal with opposing counsel to:
- improve the chances of settlement.
- better represent your client.
- demonstrate your professionalism.
- reduce the stress of law practice.
- comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
A joint program of the Advocacy Club and CCLA organized by Club members Michelle Doody and Nigel McKechnie. Sponsored by KPMG.
CPD: 2 hours professional.
Cost: $60 plus HST. All proceeds go to the CCLA's Renovation Fund.
Takes place at KPMG Forensic Services 150 Elgin #1800
Seating is limited. Sign up with Michelle Doody here.
- improve the chances of settlement.
- better represent your client.
- demonstrate your professionalism.
- reduce the stress of law practice.
- comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
A joint program of the Advocacy Club and CCLA organized by Club members Michelle Doody and Nigel McKechnie. Sponsored by KPMG.
CPD: 2 hours professional.
Cost: $60 plus HST. All proceeds go to the CCLA's Renovation Fund.
Takes place at KPMG Forensic Services 150 Elgin #1800
Seating is limited. Sign up with Michelle Doody here.
Advocacy Club Boot Camp
Join the Advocacy Club! The only way is by taking the Boot Camp. A comprehensive training program that covers the basics of civil trial advocacy: interview skills, case analysis, outlining examinations, discovery, direct and cross-examination techniques and legal argument. All in 9.0 hours of mixed presentations, drills and exercises. A practical, formula-based program that arms junior litigators with the essentials to survive and succeed in today's civil courtrooms.
Details of the Boot Camp can be found here. The next session is proposed for June 25 and 27, from 12:30 to 5:00 both days. Place TBD. Contact John Hollander to reserve your spot for this next session.
- CPD: Sessions qualify as 7.5 hours substantive and 1.5 hours professional CPD, of which 1.0 hour qualifies as the EDI component lawyers require annually.
- Cost: $370 for lawyers and $250 for paralegals, articling and summer students, plus HST.
- Payment via credit card or PayPal, can be arranged here for lawyers and here for students, etc.
Join the Advocacy Club! The only way is by taking the Boot Camp. A comprehensive training program that covers the basics of civil trial advocacy: interview skills, case analysis, outlining examinations, discovery, direct and cross-examination techniques and legal argument. All in 9.0 hours of mixed presentations, drills and exercises. A practical, formula-based program that arms junior litigators with the essentials to survive and succeed in today's civil courtrooms.
Details of the Boot Camp can be found here. The next session is proposed for June 25 and 27, from 12:30 to 5:00 both days. Place TBD. Contact John Hollander to reserve your spot for this next session.
- CPD: Sessions qualify as 7.5 hours substantive and 1.5 hours professional CPD, of which 1.0 hour qualifies as the EDI component lawyers require annually.
- Cost: $370 for lawyers and $250 for paralegals, articling and summer students, plus HST.
- Payment via credit card or PayPal, can be arranged here for lawyers and here for students, etc.
Announcing the Advocacy Club's Advanced Sessions for 2019
Calling on Advocacy Cub members and sponsoring firms! Please help us stage present and run these sessions. We need logistical support, presenters and team leaders. Contact us at john.hollander2@gmail.com.
During calendar 2019, the Advocacy Club will present the following sessions:
April 17 Negotiation 101 - How to settle disputes without mediation. Organizer is Kelli-Anne Day. Details of the program can be found here. Deputy Judges and Mediators include: Rosalind Conway, Rohan Bansie, Bill Neville, Rob De Toni. Cost $65 plus HST, payable here.
May 11 7th Annual Advocacy Club Retreat - Organizers and sponsor already committed. Organizers are Aleksandra Gracia, Melissa Bastarache, Simone Akiyanu and Craig Williams. Sponsored by KPMG.
June 12 3rd Annual CCLA Presentation - How litigators should deal with each other. A joint program of the Advocacy Club and CCLA. Logistical support from Club members Michelle Doody and Nigel McKechnie. Sponsored by KPMG. Cost $60 plus HST, payable here.
July 17 Motions Techniques. Techniques to prepare for and argue a motion. Details of the program can be found here. Presenter and organizer still required. Sponsored by KPMG. Cost $65.00 plus HST. Cost $65 plus HST, payable here.
September 11 Discovery Techniques 1 - Good questions, bad questions, bad answers and judgment calls. Details of the program can be found here. Presenter and organizer still required. Sponsored by KPMG.
October 9 Discovery Techniques 2 - Offence (getting all the information) and defence (preparing your witness and dealing with aggressive counsel). Details of the program can be found here. Presenter and organizer still required. Sponsored by KPMG.
During calendar 2019, the Advocacy Club will present the following sessions:
April 17 Negotiation 101 - How to settle disputes without mediation. Organizer is Kelli-Anne Day. Details of the program can be found here. Deputy Judges and Mediators include: Rosalind Conway, Rohan Bansie, Bill Neville, Rob De Toni. Cost $65 plus HST, payable here.
May 11 7th Annual Advocacy Club Retreat - Organizers and sponsor already committed. Organizers are Aleksandra Gracia, Melissa Bastarache, Simone Akiyanu and Craig Williams. Sponsored by KPMG.
June 12 3rd Annual CCLA Presentation - How litigators should deal with each other. A joint program of the Advocacy Club and CCLA. Logistical support from Club members Michelle Doody and Nigel McKechnie. Sponsored by KPMG. Cost $60 plus HST, payable here.
July 17 Motions Techniques. Techniques to prepare for and argue a motion. Details of the program can be found here. Presenter and organizer still required. Sponsored by KPMG. Cost $65.00 plus HST. Cost $65 plus HST, payable here.
September 11 Discovery Techniques 1 - Good questions, bad questions, bad answers and judgment calls. Details of the program can be found here. Presenter and organizer still required. Sponsored by KPMG.
October 9 Discovery Techniques 2 - Offence (getting all the information) and defence (preparing your witness and dealing with aggressive counsel). Details of the program can be found here. Presenter and organizer still required. Sponsored by KPMG.
Advocacy Club's August Symposium Series - August 6 to 16, 2019
Organized by Advocacy Club members Robin Brown and Ludmilla Jarda, this series of 4 symposia will train junior lawyers in the techniques of a specialized area of litigation. To register, contact the specific symposium organizers, as shown below. Seating is limited, so please contact the organizers first.
Family Law
August 6/7 Advocacy Club Family Law Symposium. Headlined by Lynn Rockman, this intensive program trains participants in skills required to practice family law litigation. Group leaders will be Beverley Johnston, Steven Fried and Erin Lepine. Features Justice Adriana Doyle as the judge to preside over exercises on the second afternoon of the session. Organization by Club members Adrienne Curran and Kimberley Pollard. Sponsored by uOttawa Faculty of Common Law. Details to be provided shortly. CPD: 3 hours professional, of which 1 hour EDI. 11 hours substantive. Cost $350 plus HST. Register with Adrienne Curran here.
Wrongful Dismissal
August 8/9 Advocacy Club Employment Law Symposium. Headlined by Craig Stehr, this intensive program trains participants in skills required to practice employment law litigation. Featuring Justice Charles Hackland as the judge to hear contested motions for summary judgment on Day 2. Organization by Club members Nigel McKechnie and Melissa Bastarache. Sponsored by KPMG. Details to be provided shortly. CPD: 3 hours professional, of which 1 hour EDI. 11 hours substantive. Cost $350 plus HST. Register with Melissa Bastarache here.
Accident Benefits
August 12/13 Advocacy Club SABS Law Symposium. Headlined by Kompass Claims's Phyllis Bergmans , this intensive program trains participants in skills required to practice accident benefits litigation. Group leaders will be Jaye Hooper, Eliane Lachaine, James Brown and Megan Murphy. Features Adjudicator (and Advocacy Club member) Lyndra Griffith to preside over exercises on the second afternoon of the session. Organization by Club members Bianca Bielicki and Laetitia Auguste. Sponsored by KPMG. Details to be provided shortly. CPD: 3 hours professional, of which 1 hour EDI. 11 hours substantive. Cost $350 plus HST. Register with Bianca Bielicki here.
Corporate Oppression
August 14/15 Advocacy Club Corporate Oppression Symposium. Headlined by Scott McLean, Jeff Saikaley, Calina Ritchie and Chris Hutchison, who will double as group leaders, this intensive program trains participants in skills required to practice corporate litigation. Features Justice Robert Beaudoin as the judge to preside over exercises on the second afternoon of the session. Organized by Club members Benjamin Grant and Michael Babe. Sponsored by KPMG. Details to be provided shortly. CPD: 3 hours professional, of which 1 hour EDI. 11 hours substantive. Cost $350 plus HST. Register with Ben Grant here.
Public Speaking with Kristina Watt
August 16 Bonus: Advocacy Club Public Speaking Seminar. Headlined by actor Kristina Watt and John Hollander, this interactive 3- hour program trains participants in the 5 Teachable Techniques to improve public speaking. Based on the techniques described in their handbook available shortly in Kindle format on Amazon.com here. CPD: 0.5 hours professional, 2.5 hours substantive. Cost $250 plus HST. Register with John Hollander here.
Family Law
August 6/7 Advocacy Club Family Law Symposium. Headlined by Lynn Rockman, this intensive program trains participants in skills required to practice family law litigation. Group leaders will be Beverley Johnston, Steven Fried and Erin Lepine. Features Justice Adriana Doyle as the judge to preside over exercises on the second afternoon of the session. Organization by Club members Adrienne Curran and Kimberley Pollard. Sponsored by uOttawa Faculty of Common Law. Details to be provided shortly. CPD: 3 hours professional, of which 1 hour EDI. 11 hours substantive. Cost $350 plus HST. Register with Adrienne Curran here.
Wrongful Dismissal
August 8/9 Advocacy Club Employment Law Symposium. Headlined by Craig Stehr, this intensive program trains participants in skills required to practice employment law litigation. Featuring Justice Charles Hackland as the judge to hear contested motions for summary judgment on Day 2. Organization by Club members Nigel McKechnie and Melissa Bastarache. Sponsored by KPMG. Details to be provided shortly. CPD: 3 hours professional, of which 1 hour EDI. 11 hours substantive. Cost $350 plus HST. Register with Melissa Bastarache here.
Accident Benefits
August 12/13 Advocacy Club SABS Law Symposium. Headlined by Kompass Claims's Phyllis Bergmans , this intensive program trains participants in skills required to practice accident benefits litigation. Group leaders will be Jaye Hooper, Eliane Lachaine, James Brown and Megan Murphy. Features Adjudicator (and Advocacy Club member) Lyndra Griffith to preside over exercises on the second afternoon of the session. Organization by Club members Bianca Bielicki and Laetitia Auguste. Sponsored by KPMG. Details to be provided shortly. CPD: 3 hours professional, of which 1 hour EDI. 11 hours substantive. Cost $350 plus HST. Register with Bianca Bielicki here.
Corporate Oppression
August 14/15 Advocacy Club Corporate Oppression Symposium. Headlined by Scott McLean, Jeff Saikaley, Calina Ritchie and Chris Hutchison, who will double as group leaders, this intensive program trains participants in skills required to practice corporate litigation. Features Justice Robert Beaudoin as the judge to preside over exercises on the second afternoon of the session. Organized by Club members Benjamin Grant and Michael Babe. Sponsored by KPMG. Details to be provided shortly. CPD: 3 hours professional, of which 1 hour EDI. 11 hours substantive. Cost $350 plus HST. Register with Ben Grant here.
Public Speaking with Kristina Watt
August 16 Bonus: Advocacy Club Public Speaking Seminar. Headlined by actor Kristina Watt and John Hollander, this interactive 3- hour program trains participants in the 5 Teachable Techniques to improve public speaking. Based on the techniques described in their handbook available shortly in Kindle format on Amazon.com here. CPD: 0.5 hours professional, 2.5 hours substantive. Cost $250 plus HST. Register with John Hollander here.
Congratulations to CCLA Elected Trustees, 2019-2020
Seasoned pro, Andrew Ferguson, is now joined by fellow Advocacy Club members Katie Black, Robin Brown, and Antonio Giamberardino. Amazingly, 4 of the 8 elected Trustees are Club members!
Announcing the Empathy Skills Course for CPD/EDI Credits
The Advocacy Club incorporates the Empathy Toy (tm) in its Boot Camp to teach communications and empathy skills to junior advocates. Watch the video from the creators, Twenty One Toys, here.
Now this amazing and effective session is available for small groups (between 4 and 8) of lawyers of all levels of seniority. The session has the collateral benefit of team-building. Qualifies as 60 minutes of the Equality, Diversity and Equity component of professional hours of CPD by the law Society of Ontario.
"Communications by a lawyer are a crucial element of the position – whether it be with clients, fellow lawyers or the public in general. It is essential that we understand how to communicate with all individuals regardless of race or gender. John’s seminar provides guidance in doing all that and is useful for all lawyers regardless of experience or background. I recently participated in a session with several other senior lawyers. We all benefitted from the experience." Roger Ramonat, Call 1984
Soon to be available through the Advocacy Club and through the County of Carleton Law Association, contact John Hollander for more details.
Now this amazing and effective session is available for small groups (between 4 and 8) of lawyers of all levels of seniority. The session has the collateral benefit of team-building. Qualifies as 60 minutes of the Equality, Diversity and Equity component of professional hours of CPD by the law Society of Ontario.
"Communications by a lawyer are a crucial element of the position – whether it be with clients, fellow lawyers or the public in general. It is essential that we understand how to communicate with all individuals regardless of race or gender. John’s seminar provides guidance in doing all that and is useful for all lawyers regardless of experience or background. I recently participated in a session with several other senior lawyers. We all benefitted from the experience." Roger Ramonat, Call 1984
Soon to be available through the Advocacy Club and through the County of Carleton Law Association, contact John Hollander for more details.
The Advocacy Club wishes to thank the firms that have sponsored events over the past 12 months
Kelly Santini
KPMG Forensic Services
Brazeau Seller/Yegendorf
Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh
Macera & Jarzyna/Moffatt
University of Ottawa Law School (PPD)
Cavanagh
KPMG Forensic Services
Brazeau Seller/Yegendorf
Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh
Macera & Jarzyna/Moffatt
University of Ottawa Law School (PPD)
Cavanagh
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. The accomplished guests present tips and guidance with respect to an area of law (e.g. Construction, Family, Personal Injury/Insurance Defence), a component of litigation practice (e.g. Discovery, Trial Preparation, Mediation, Factum Writing) or a subject related to career development (e.g. Promotion, Partnership, Professionalism, Starting a Law Practice, Work-life Balance and Maternity Leave). An impressive group of counsel has participated in these one-on-one and one-on-two interviews.
Most recent interviews are with Yasir Naqvi, on the importance of engaging in political organization, available here, and Christophe Bondy, on creating a career in Pubic International Law, available here.
All episodes can be found at: www.chatwithlawyers.ca.
Most recent interviews are with Yasir Naqvi, on the importance of engaging in political organization, available here, and Christophe Bondy, on creating a career in Pubic International Law, available here.
All episodes can be found at: www.chatwithlawyers.ca.
From Novice Lawyer to Skilled Advocate...
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Founded by John Hollander in 2009 in Ottawa, the Advocacy Club trains novice lawyers to become skilled advocates. It has two focuses:
Our training methods emphasize practical exercise sessions without lectures. The initial training (the Boot Camp) consists of two half days of four hours each. The first half day focuses on interview skills, case analysis and outlining techniques. The second applies the lessons of the first session to examinations and closing arguments. Boot Camp enrolment is limited so that participants get the most out of each session. |
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:
John has written several handbooks presenting the Advocacy Club techniques. They are available through Irwin Law Publishers and on the Store page of this website.
In January 2014, John Hollander Professional Corporation was approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Upper Canada. This accreditation applies to all Advocacy Club Programs to which professionalism content is applicable.
If you have any questions for John, or are interested in Advocacy Club training sessions, go to the Contact page.
- focused cross examination techniques
- focused direct examination techniques
- presentation skills (led by professional actress and coach, Kristina Watt)
- discovery techniques (adapted for use by AJEFO)
- advanced discovery techniques - dealing with poor questions and non-responsive answers
- advanced discovery - dealing with aggressive counsel and witnesses
- negotiation tactics (adapted for use by AJEFO)
- mediation
- case analysis
- objections (adapted for use by AJEFO)
- openings and closings
- motions advocacy
- expert witnesses (several separate sessions with accountants, occupational therapists and psychologists)
- impeachment of witnesses
John has written several handbooks presenting the Advocacy Club techniques. They are available through Irwin Law Publishers and on the Store page of this website.
In January 2014, John Hollander Professional Corporation was approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Upper Canada. This accreditation applies to all Advocacy Club Programs to which professionalism content is applicable.
If you have any questions for John, or are interested in Advocacy Club training sessions, go to the Contact page.