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.
Advocacy Club Boot Camps
The Advocacy Club Boot Camp is the perfect introduction to civil trial advocacy for junior lawyers, paralegals, and articled/articling students who seek practical techniques for planning and conducting examinations, cross-examinations, and final argument. The Boot Camp is experiential CPD, small seminar teams led by a senior litigator, John Hollander. Want to join an active legal network with 800+ members? For greater detail of the program, visit Boot Camps - The Advocacy Club.
The next programs will take place:
Participants qualify for 7.5 hours of substantive CPD and 1.5 hours of professional CPD, of which 1.0 hours are EDI.
The cost is $400 for lawyers and $275 for articling students, summer interns, and paralegals, all plus HST, payable one week in advance and not refundable. For more details about the boot camp content & format, click here.
Boot camps can be (and have been) run for one employer (law firm, government department, NGO or corporation). In-person in Ottawa or on Zoom/MS Teams. Custom-made case studies are possible, based on reported decisions or cases in progress. We need the material for four witness statements, a timeline, and, ideally, a few exhibits.
A custom-made session on cross-examination (2 half days) based on a disciplinary decxision under appeal and a boot camp based on a custom-made fictional admin law case study will take place in the fall, 2024, both contracted by federal government agencies.
Please contact John Hollander to express your interest in this or a future session.
Recent Feedback:
"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." Participant.
"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." Participant.
"Outstanding!" Participant.
"I was extremely impressed by the passion and expertise demonstrated by John Hollander – the lawyers on my team were very happy with the training." – Manager and Senior Counsel, Government Department.
For more testimonials, click here.
The next programs will take place:
- September 16 and 19, from 12:30 to 5:00, hosted and sponsored by Emond Harnden LLP at their offices, 707 Bank St., Ottawa. This session has sold out.
- October 8 and 10, from 12:30 to 5:00, hosted and sponsored by Brazeau Seller LLP at their offices, #700-100 Queen St., Ottawa. Ten of the twelve seats for this session have sold out as of today (Sept. 3). Email me if you want to snag one of the remaining seats.
Participants qualify for 7.5 hours of substantive CPD and 1.5 hours of professional CPD, of which 1.0 hours are EDI.
The cost is $400 for lawyers and $275 for articling students, summer interns, and paralegals, all plus HST, payable one week in advance and not refundable. For more details about the boot camp content & format, click here.
Boot camps can be (and have been) run for one employer (law firm, government department, NGO or corporation). In-person in Ottawa or on Zoom/MS Teams. Custom-made case studies are possible, based on reported decisions or cases in progress. We need the material for four witness statements, a timeline, and, ideally, a few exhibits.
A custom-made session on cross-examination (2 half days) based on a disciplinary decxision under appeal and a boot camp based on a custom-made fictional admin law case study will take place in the fall, 2024, both contracted by federal government agencies.
Please contact John Hollander to express your interest in this or a future session.
Recent Feedback:
"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." Participant.
"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." Participant.
"Outstanding!" Participant.
"I was extremely impressed by the passion and expertise demonstrated by John Hollander – the lawyers on my team were very happy with the training." – Manager and Senior Counsel, Government Department.
For more testimonials, click here.
Attention Former Court Clerks!
Many Advocacy Club members served as clerks at the SCC, FCA, FCC and provincial superior/appeals courts. I am conducting a series of interviews (on Zoom, approximately 30 minutes) to be published on Chatwithlawyers.ca. The first one features Logan Stack, a litigator with Conway Baxter Wilson LLP, who clerked for Justice Rowe at the SCC.
The focus will be on the quality of the experience both as training and as career advancement. No controversial questions!
If you meet these conditions, please let me know, John Hollander.
1. You took the AC Boot Camp, the AC@LS or Trial Ad with me at uOttawa.
2. You clerked for a court or an administrative tribunal. This includes those just completing their terms.
3. You want to help law students and articling students who are considering applying for clerkship.
The focus will be on the quality of the experience both as training and as career advancement. No controversial questions!
If you meet these conditions, please let me know, John Hollander.
1. You took the AC Boot Camp, the AC@LS or Trial Ad with me at uOttawa.
2. You clerked for a court or an administrative tribunal. This includes those just completing their terms.
3. You want to help law students and articling students who are considering applying for clerkship.
Advocacy Club @ Law School on Zoom - Oct 1 to Nov 26
The Advocacy Club runs a boot camp for students in law school - any Canadian school, any year. 9 evening sessions of 90 minutes each, starting October 1 on Zoom. At no cost. Features the same techniques as presented to lawyers, paralegals and articling students. With new & upgraded modules for cross-examination and how to prepare your witness to be examined.
Team leaders will be Club Members Alana Guy, Alice Mihailescu (Dentons), Chelsea Sexton (MBC Law), Matthew Benson (in Calgary) and Melanie LaBossiere (in Winnipeg, with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman). Team leaders both present the techniques in plenary sessions and run the breakouts for student exercises. If enrollment exceeds 24, we may need another team leader? Any volunteers out there?
Registration begins online here in July as students learn their fall schedules. Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. (Eastern). Read the PDF promo here, complete with testimonials from past participants. Please pass this brochure on to summer interns, classmates, HR managers, and next year's articling students.
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:
“Just completed an enriching chapter with the Advocacy Club – a treasure trove of practical skills and invaluable mentorship! 🎓 Immensely grateful for the techniques and practical tips shared by our dedicated mentors.
Huge appreciation to our mentors who made this experience unforgettable: John Hollander, Alana Guy, Chelsea Sexton, Matthew Benson, Alice Mihailescu, and Melanie LaBossiere.
To my fellow law students: If you’re seeking to refine your advocacy skills and network with legal professionals, seriously consider joining the Advocacy Club! It’s not just about learning; it’s about the camaraderie and growth opportunities with fellow club members and experienced lawyers. Thank you to all who make the Advocacy Club the go-to destination for skill refinement and community building. 🙏 Let’s inspire and support each other on this journey!”
Raymarck Unera, 2L, uOttawa
“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!
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 for 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 will be Club Members Alana Guy, Alice Mihailescu (Dentons), Chelsea Sexton (MBC Law), Matthew Benson (in Calgary) and Melanie LaBossiere (in Winnipeg, with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman). Team leaders both present the techniques in plenary sessions and run the breakouts for student exercises. If enrollment exceeds 24, we may need another team leader? Any volunteers out there?
Registration begins online here in July as students learn their fall schedules. Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. (Eastern). Read the PDF promo here, complete with testimonials from past participants. Please pass this brochure on to summer interns, classmates, HR managers, and next year's articling students.
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:
“Just completed an enriching chapter with the Advocacy Club – a treasure trove of practical skills and invaluable mentorship! 🎓 Immensely grateful for the techniques and practical tips shared by our dedicated mentors.
Huge appreciation to our mentors who made this experience unforgettable: John Hollander, Alana Guy, Chelsea Sexton, Matthew Benson, Alice Mihailescu, and Melanie LaBossiere.
To my fellow law students: If you’re seeking to refine your advocacy skills and network with legal professionals, seriously consider joining the Advocacy Club! It’s not just about learning; it’s about the camaraderie and growth opportunities with fellow club members and experienced lawyers. Thank you to all who make the Advocacy Club the go-to destination for skill refinement and community building. 🙏 Let’s inspire and support each other on this journey!”
Raymarck Unera, 2L, uOttawa
“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!
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 for 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
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:
- 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
- two posts about public speaking
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 over 100 Club members and a few others who ask to be added to the list. If you get one by mistake and don't want it, let us know, and we will remove your name. If you want it sent to another email address, let us know that. 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. 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 July 2024 newsletter, as an example.
So, we started to publish the AC Newsletter in March 2022. We send it to over 100 Club members and a few others who ask to be added to the list. If you get one by mistake and don't want it, let us know, and we will remove your name. If you want it sent to another email address, let us know that. 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. 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 July 2024 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
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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.
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.