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 Sponsored Advocacy Club Boot Camp in October!
- October 24 & 26, the ACBC Sponsored (and hosted) by Nelligan O'Brien Payne. Led by John Hollander with Alana Guy, second chair. Promo sheet with testimonials is here.
- Details can be found here.
- Participants qualify for 7.5 hours of substantive CPD and 1.5 hours of professional CPD, of which 1.0 hours are EDI.
- Cost is $370 for lawyers and $250 for students and paralegals, all plus HST, payable in advance and not refundable.
Please contact John Hollander to express your interest in this or a future session (in person or on Zoom). Recent in-person boot camp took place at Emond Harnden in September with 12 participants, and on Zoom for a Winnieg law firm for 7 participants.
Recent Feedback:
"[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 - October 3, 2023, to November 28, 2023 - Sold out!
The seventh iteration of this successful course is offered to Canadian law school students. Students from all law schools, any year, are invited to learn advocacy skills from experienced litigators, trainers and Advocacy Club members. Tuesday evenings for 90-minutes. The first 30 minutes of each session is a presentation of the day's technique, with demo drills. The remaining 60 minutes are break-out sessions led by civil litigators - all Club members - to allow participants to practice the technique taught in the session.
The curriculum is similar to the semester-long trial advocacy course John Hollander has taught at uOttawa for several years. Completion qualifies for membership in the Advocacy Club. Although a Zoom event, the networking opportunity is valuable. An unexpected benefit is how much the course will improve participants' ability in their other courses, whether advocacy-oriented or not. Another benefit is how impressive the course completion looks on your resumé. Some homework is involved, less than 60 minutes per week, but the payout is huge.
Read the PDF promo here. There is no charge for this course. The Advocacy Club organizers for these sessions are MBC Law's Matthew Benson and Chelsea Sexton and Gowlings' Alice Mihaelescu. Contact me or one of them to sign up.
As of today (Sept. 22) we are fully subscribed. There may be drop-outs. To get on the wait list, let us know.
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 us know here, and we can share your position details with the participants.
Testimonials from Winter 2023 AC@LS participants:
"I was fortunate to attend Advocacy Club's Bootcamp for Law Students earlier this year. John Hollander was an amazing instructor! He taught us fundamental advocacy skills in an engaging and memorable way. The Bootcamp also provided a great opportunity to connect with other experienced litigators and fellow law students. I would recommend the Bootcamp to any current law student looking to improve their advocacy skills and network."
George Hua, 3L, 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
“The advocacy club training was undoubtedly a remarkable experience for me. I had the opportunity to learn from experienced lawyers and engage in practical exercises that enabled me to refine my skills. Especially the formula-based direct and cross-examination skills. I am confident that the knowledge I gained will help me greatly in my future practice as a litigator.”
Rui Zhang, 1L, uOttawa
"Baby steps. Before we walk, we crawl. To do otherwise can lead to some fumbles. The Advocacy Club provides an invaluable opportunity to learn how to take the first steps needed to establish your footing as a legal professional, litigator or not. Thank you to John and his colleagues for the incredible time and effort put into organizing these classes. To those on the fence about joining, get off of it and sign up today. There is nothing to lose (besides bad habits and anxieties about litigation techniques)."
Mason Stewart, 1L, Lakehead
As a 1L student, participating in the Oral Advocacy Boot Camp was by far the most practical learning I have done since starting Law School. The skills and experiences built over the sessions were incredibly valuable. Practicing oral advocacy skills, and receiving feedback from practicing lawyers helped me to build my confidence, develop my own advocacy style, and really learn about what it takes to be an advocate. I would strongly recommend the Oral Advocacy Boot Camp to anyone who is interested in pursuing litigation in their career!
Colin Coon, 1L, uOttawa
The curriculum is similar to the semester-long trial advocacy course John Hollander has taught at uOttawa for several years. Completion qualifies for membership in the Advocacy Club. Although a Zoom event, the networking opportunity is valuable. An unexpected benefit is how much the course will improve participants' ability in their other courses, whether advocacy-oriented or not. Another benefit is how impressive the course completion looks on your resumé. Some homework is involved, less than 60 minutes per week, but the payout is huge.
Read the PDF promo here. There is no charge for this course. The Advocacy Club organizers for these sessions are MBC Law's Matthew Benson and Chelsea Sexton and Gowlings' Alice Mihaelescu. Contact me or one of them to sign up.
As of today (Sept. 22) we are fully subscribed. There may be drop-outs. To get on the wait list, let us know.
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 us know here, and we can share your position details with the participants.
Testimonials from Winter 2023 AC@LS participants:
"I was fortunate to attend Advocacy Club's Bootcamp for Law Students earlier this year. John Hollander was an amazing instructor! He taught us fundamental advocacy skills in an engaging and memorable way. The Bootcamp also provided a great opportunity to connect with other experienced litigators and fellow law students. I would recommend the Bootcamp to any current law student looking to improve their advocacy skills and network."
George Hua, 3L, 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
“The advocacy club training was undoubtedly a remarkable experience for me. I had the opportunity to learn from experienced lawyers and engage in practical exercises that enabled me to refine my skills. Especially the formula-based direct and cross-examination skills. I am confident that the knowledge I gained will help me greatly in my future practice as a litigator.”
Rui Zhang, 1L, uOttawa
"Baby steps. Before we walk, we crawl. To do otherwise can lead to some fumbles. The Advocacy Club provides an invaluable opportunity to learn how to take the first steps needed to establish your footing as a legal professional, litigator or not. Thank you to John and his colleagues for the incredible time and effort put into organizing these classes. To those on the fence about joining, get off of it and sign up today. There is nothing to lose (besides bad habits and anxieties about litigation techniques)."
Mason Stewart, 1L, Lakehead
As a 1L student, participating in the Oral Advocacy Boot Camp was by far the most practical learning I have done since starting Law School. The skills and experiences built over the sessions were incredibly valuable. Practicing oral advocacy skills, and receiving feedback from practicing lawyers helped me to build my confidence, develop my own advocacy style, and really learn about what it takes to be an advocate. I would strongly recommend the Oral Advocacy Boot Camp to anyone who is interested in pursuing litigation in their career!
Colin Coon, 1L, uOttawa
Introducing the Advocacy Club Boot Camp on Substack
Announcing the Advocacy Club Boot Camp on Substack! Now you can learn the many techniques unique to the Advocacy Club in manageable, bite-sized chunks. We break our formulae into their components (much as we teach how to cross-examine) and present each as a distinct segment. The techniques of the Boot Camp are all there with far more detail than is presented in the live sessions!
The ACBC on Substack can become part of your weekly training plan. Each segment has a free blog post-sized description of the technique and behind a modest paywall, a short podcast to explain it, in most cases, a demonstration and an exercise for DIY types based on the included Donoghue vs. Stevenson case study.
The ACBC on Substack provides a holistic method to interview clients and witnesses, conduct case analysis, break the story into component scenes, prepare for and conduct direct and cross-examinations, and conduct an oral argument.
Law students will improve their performance in all courses, including trial advocacy. Articling students and junior lawyers will learn techniques they didn't learn in law school. More senior lawyers will add to their toolbox of techniques. Solicitors will learn the interview and analysis techniques they need to gather information and form/write opinions.
Applicable to all adversary systems of law and both courts and administrative tribunals. Another post will be added weekly. TAAS - Training As A Service. Complies with the Law Society of Ontario's requirements for substantive CPD.
Check it out here.
The ACBC on Substack can become part of your weekly training plan. Each segment has a free blog post-sized description of the technique and behind a modest paywall, a short podcast to explain it, in most cases, a demonstration and an exercise for DIY types based on the included Donoghue vs. Stevenson case study.
The ACBC on Substack provides a holistic method to interview clients and witnesses, conduct case analysis, break the story into component scenes, prepare for and conduct direct and cross-examinations, and conduct an oral argument.
Law students will improve their performance in all courses, including trial advocacy. Articling students and junior lawyers will learn techniques they didn't learn in law school. More senior lawyers will add to their toolbox of techniques. Solicitors will learn the interview and analysis techniques they need to gather information and form/write opinions.
Applicable to all adversary systems of law and both courts and administrative tribunals. Another post will be added weekly. TAAS - Training As A Service. Complies with the Law Society of Ontario's requirements for substantive CPD.
Check it out here.
Advocacy Club Streaming Video Series
Available from the commercial companion website, AdvocacyClub.co, you can watch nine videos that make up the techniques presented in the Boot Camp on your own time. Each video (total 4.6 hours) features two presentations by John Hollander followed by exercises demonstrated - unrehearsed - by Club members.
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. Here is a link to the April 2023 newsletter.
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. Here is a link to the April 2023 newsletter.
Creative Writing - The Advocacy Club Novels Series
John Hollander has authored a novel, Murphy's Law, and several short stories that feature (primarily) junior lawyers trying to get through their day. You can find these creative works on Amazon and Kobo. Details on the www.advocacyclub.co website here.
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
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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, let him know via email. |
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.