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 Camp Schedule - in person, February 27 & March 1 from 12:30-5:00
- Where? At the facilities of our sponsor, KPMG Forensic Services, 150 - Elgin Street #1800, Ottawa. Likely later January or early February 2023 from 12:30-5:00 both days. Led by Juliet Knapton.
- Participants will 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.
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."
"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 Holiday Social - December 14 @ 6:30 - It was Party Time!
The Advocacy Club's Holiday Social took place on December 14th at Rabbit Hole, on Sparks St., Ottawa. 60 or so law students, articling students, and new calls met each other and outstanding members of the Club and the Ottawa Bar. It was an in informal opportunity to socialize, network, and introduce themselves. Outstanding appetizers and holiday cocktails.
Our sponsor for this event was Mann Lawyers, a full-service law firm in Ottawa and Perth, ON. Their Director of Practice Management, Scott McLean, addressed the participants with his thoughts on professionalism and how to succeed in our profession. BTW, Scott ran a Boot Camp with long-standing Advocacy Club member Stephanie Lewis.
The session was planned and presented by the AC Social Committee: Kelli-Anne Day, Victoria Boddy, Ainsley Shannon, and Mona Mikhael.
View the Promotional PDF here.
We thank our Sponsor, the Committee and our superb host, Rabbit Hole.
Our sponsor for this event was Mann Lawyers, a full-service law firm in Ottawa and Perth, ON. Their Director of Practice Management, Scott McLean, addressed the participants with his thoughts on professionalism and how to succeed in our profession. BTW, Scott ran a Boot Camp with long-standing Advocacy Club member Stephanie Lewis.
The session was planned and presented by the AC Social Committee: Kelli-Anne Day, Victoria Boddy, Ainsley Shannon, and Mona Mikhael.
View the Promotional PDF here.
We thank our Sponsor, the Committee and our superb host, Rabbit Hole.
Announcing the Advocacy Club Guide to Business Development - January 25 from 5:00-7:00
Led by lawyers, Advocacy Club members and entrepreneurs, Dean Blachford and Katie Black, this workshop provides practical guidance for building a sustainable book of business in the legal marketplace. The ticket price of $17.40 ($20 incl HST) includes admission to the workshop and light refreshments during the networking social thereafter. Open to lawyers, articling students, paralegals and law students, this program takes place at the facilities of our sponsor KPMG Forensic Services, 150 Elgin #1800, Ottawa.
View the Promotional PDF, here.
Sign up at the AC Store, here.
View the Promotional PDF, here.
Sign up at the AC Store, here.
Advocacy Club @ Law School on Zoom - Jan 31, 2023, to March 28, 2023
The sixth 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 an experienced litigator and trainer, John Hollander, each Tuesday evening for 90-minutes. The first 30 minutes of each session is a presentation of the day's technique by the founder of the Advocacy Club. 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 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 organizer for these sessions is Matthew Benson (Club 20), here.
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.
How about this for a testimonial? Several of the 9 eligible AC@LS 1Ls from uOttawa Common Law participated in the prestigious and competitive Nelligan Moot Court Competition. Of these, 3 made the semi-finals, and two made the finals, and one won outright! One of last year's winners, now a 2L, took part in this AC@LS, too. Makes one wonder about cause and effect.
Detailed testimonials can be found here.
The curriculum is similar to the semester-long trial advocacy course John 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 organizer for these sessions is Matthew Benson (Club 20), here.
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.
How about this for a testimonial? Several of the 9 eligible AC@LS 1Ls from uOttawa Common Law participated in the prestigious and competitive Nelligan Moot Court Competition. Of these, 3 made the semi-finals, and two made the finals, and one won outright! One of last year's winners, now a 2L, took part in this AC@LS, too. Makes one wonder about cause and effect.
Detailed testimonials can be found here.
Announcing the First in the AC's new WIKI-HOW Series - February 10 at noon hour
The brainchild of AC Member and Social Committee diva, Victoria Boddy, the AC plans a series of short-snapper "WikiHow" sessions focussed on practical techniques for junior litigators. Starting with motions, and the procedural steps required to bring a motion in Ottawa. Presented by AC Members Joshua Nutt and Matthew Miklaucic, and hosted by Ainsley Shannon, this one-hour session will provide tips on express motions and the procedural steps required for motions (such as requesting a date, filing Notices of Motion, uploading to Caselines, confirming motions, providing draft Orders and Endorsement Forms).
The presenters will provide a short overview of the applicable Rules and provincial and local Practice Directions that apply in this post-Covid era. Aimed at junior lawyers, articling students, and law students, this session takes place at the offices of Forget Smith, 220 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 520 on February 10, 2023 from 11:30 to 1:30. Lunch will be provided. Participants are encouraged to stay and network for an hour after the presentation.
Cost is $20 (plus HST), and includes something to eat. Here is the superb promo PDF.
To register, let Victoria or Ainsley know and use this link for payment.
The presenters will provide a short overview of the applicable Rules and provincial and local Practice Directions that apply in this post-Covid era. Aimed at junior lawyers, articling students, and law students, this session takes place at the offices of Forget Smith, 220 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 520 on February 10, 2023 from 11:30 to 1:30. Lunch will be provided. Participants are encouraged to stay and network for an hour after the presentation.
Cost is $20 (plus HST), and includes something to eat. Here is the superb promo PDF.
To register, let Victoria or Ainsley know and use this link for payment.
2023 Advocacy Club Retreat - We're Baaaack!
A long-standing tradition, the annual springtime retreat, was discontinued in May 2020. We are bringing it back! We are compiling an organizing committee to plan and stage this professionalism celebration. If we call on you to serve, remember the AC Mottos, "Put me in, Coach. I'm ready to play," and "Pay it Forward." You will network like crazy, learn a ton about staging events, form part of a team that leaves a lasting legacy and generally have a blast. Senior Club members Victoria Boddy and Dave Reid, our token solicitor, will make the calls. If they call you, put your hand up!
Introducing the Advcocacy 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 ACBC on Substack can become part of your weekly training plan. Each segment has a free blog post-sized description of the technique (using the Goldilocks vs. 3 Bears case), and behind a modest paywall, a short podcast to explain it, in most cases, a demonstration by a law student and an example of how the technique applies (to the 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. 12 segments are already available (January 9, 2023), with another added at least 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 (using the Goldilocks vs. 3 Bears case), and behind a modest paywall, a short podcast to explain it, in most cases, a demonstration by a law student and an example of how the technique applies (to the 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. 12 segments are already available (January 9, 2023), with another added at least 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.
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.
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.
The Advocacy Club now partners with the Emily Murphy Non-profit Housing Corp.
The Emily Murphy Non-profit Housing Corp is the first affordable supportive housing option for single parents in Ontario. It provides single parents and their children with affordable, quality housing while encouraging them to thrive in the broader community. Its mission is to provide stable housing and empower families to lead healthy, independent lives. It values the dignity and uniqueness of each individual living at EM, strives to uphold equity and recognize diversity within the EM community, and supports single parents and children to become stronger and more confident in controlling their own lives and recognizing their own rights.
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.