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.
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The Advocacy Club Guide to Succeeding in a Law Firm was conducted May 18, 2021 by the Club's Kelli Day. Attended (virtually) by well over 50 law students from uOttawa and Lakehead, the program offered valuable - and practical - advice about how to adapt to the rigors of working in a law firm. Expect follow up sessions. If you are a Club member and want to help organize or lead a team of students at such an event, contact Kelli.
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Advocacy Club Becoming a Human Lawyer Event - June 17
Organizer Victoria Boddy reports:
On June 17, 2021, junior lawyers gathered with panelists Stephanie V. Lewis, Erin Durant, Rob De Toni and Alana Guy at The Advocacy Club’s Becoming a Human Lawyer event. The panelists discussed their personal experience with burnout and depression, what they would have done differently (hindsight is always 20/20!) and provided advice on habits they changed in order to lead healthier lives. We discussed the workplace culture, and what individuals can do – whether they are partners, managers, employers, or juniors – to shift the workplace culture towards a more inclusive, respectful, and positive space. The panelists also discussed their experiences in taking some time off work and the lessons they learned in their return-to-work plans. Breakout rooms enabled the participants to ask more personalized questions to the panelists and allowed for new bonds and connections to be formed. Mental health is an important topic for lawyers of all generations to continue to discuss. As Glenn Close said, “what mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation”. The Advocacy Club looks forward to continuing that conversation!
Thank you again to the panelists and my fellow moderator Matthew Miklaucic, who created an excellent and informative program. The Advocacy Club looks forward to seeing you all at the next event!
On June 17, 2021, junior lawyers gathered with panelists Stephanie V. Lewis, Erin Durant, Rob De Toni and Alana Guy at The Advocacy Club’s Becoming a Human Lawyer event. The panelists discussed their personal experience with burnout and depression, what they would have done differently (hindsight is always 20/20!) and provided advice on habits they changed in order to lead healthier lives. We discussed the workplace culture, and what individuals can do – whether they are partners, managers, employers, or juniors – to shift the workplace culture towards a more inclusive, respectful, and positive space. The panelists also discussed their experiences in taking some time off work and the lessons they learned in their return-to-work plans. Breakout rooms enabled the participants to ask more personalized questions to the panelists and allowed for new bonds and connections to be formed. Mental health is an important topic for lawyers of all generations to continue to discuss. As Glenn Close said, “what mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation”. The Advocacy Club looks forward to continuing that conversation!
Thank you again to the panelists and my fellow moderator Matthew Miklaucic, who created an excellent and informative program. The Advocacy Club looks forward to seeing you all at the next event!
Announcing ACMasterclass.com - The Streaming Video Series
The Advocacy Club has gone online! Check it out on this website at the AC Masterclass Tab or the AC Masterclass website here.
Zoom-Based Advocacy Club Boot Camp - available Canada-wide!
The only way to join the Advocacy Club is by taking the Boot Camp. Details here. Due to the COVID 19 crisis, sessions will run via using Zoom (c) technology.
The most recent Zoom Boot Camp took place March 23 and 25, the 6th such session. If you are interested in a future session, contact John Hollander. Cost $250 for students and $370 for lawyers, both plus HST.
"As a new member of the profession, the Advocacy Club boot camp helped provide a comprehensive review of key skills, while teaching me how to strategize and think critically about a case. The program was engaging and challenging, providing the perfect mix of theoretical techniques and practical application. Having a safe and welcoming online space allowed me to venture outside of my comfort zone, and receive valuable feedback from supportive colleagues and instructors." Alice Mihaelescu
"The Advocacy Club provides practical strategies that are immediately applicable to the practice of law. I learned skills that I always wanted, but did not know where to find. It has changed my approach to case analysis and how to more effectively conduct direct and cross-examinations." Monick Grenier
"All new lawyers ought to join the Advocacy Club. Day to day practice can be overwhelming, especially as a first-year lawyer. The training has helped me think critically about identifying strengths and weaknesses when structuring arguments. The instructors provide constructive feedback to participants and are highly organized. I look forward to the next program!" Alana Guy
"Excellent how to do it workshop on interviewing, case preparation, examination and cross, argument and closing statements. The best advocacy professional learning program involving information, application of information, practice opportunities and constructive feedback. This course answers your advocacy needs on how to prepare a case, question a witness, organize your evidence and make final arguments." Hugh Connelly
Contact us here to let us know you are interested in attending an online session.
We can customize the Boot Camp for the needs of a group of lawyers with a single employer or area of law. We have already done this twice, with excellent results for two groups of over 15 lawyers, students and paralegals.
The most recent Zoom Boot Camp took place March 23 and 25, the 6th such session. If you are interested in a future session, contact John Hollander. Cost $250 for students and $370 for lawyers, both plus HST.
"As a new member of the profession, the Advocacy Club boot camp helped provide a comprehensive review of key skills, while teaching me how to strategize and think critically about a case. The program was engaging and challenging, providing the perfect mix of theoretical techniques and practical application. Having a safe and welcoming online space allowed me to venture outside of my comfort zone, and receive valuable feedback from supportive colleagues and instructors." Alice Mihaelescu
"The Advocacy Club provides practical strategies that are immediately applicable to the practice of law. I learned skills that I always wanted, but did not know where to find. It has changed my approach to case analysis and how to more effectively conduct direct and cross-examinations." Monick Grenier
"All new lawyers ought to join the Advocacy Club. Day to day practice can be overwhelming, especially as a first-year lawyer. The training has helped me think critically about identifying strengths and weaknesses when structuring arguments. The instructors provide constructive feedback to participants and are highly organized. I look forward to the next program!" Alana Guy
"Excellent how to do it workshop on interviewing, case preparation, examination and cross, argument and closing statements. The best advocacy professional learning program involving information, application of information, practice opportunities and constructive feedback. This course answers your advocacy needs on how to prepare a case, question a witness, organize your evidence and make final arguments." Hugh Connelly
Contact us here to let us know you are interested in attending an online session.
We can customize the Boot Camp for the needs of a group of lawyers with a single employer or area of law. We have already done this twice, with excellent results for two groups of over 15 lawyers, students and paralegals.
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:
- Focused cross examination techniques
- Focused direct examination techniques
- Presentation skills (led by professional actress and coach, Kristina Watt)
- Discovery techniques
- Advanced discovery techniques - dealing with poor questions and non-responsive answers
- Advanced discovery - dealing with aggressive counsel and witnesses
- Negotiation tactics
- Mediation and settlement conferences
- Case analysis
- Objections
- Openings and closings
- Motions advocacy
- Expert witnesses (several separate sessions with accountants, occupational therapists and psychologists)
- Impeachment of witnesses
- Public speaking
- Communications skills (qualifies as EDI and professionalsim hours)
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For detailed course descriptions, go to: Courses
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. In January 2014, John Hollander Professional Corporation was approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Ontario. 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. |
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.