Advanced AC Clinic - Objections During Examinations
This clinic will present techniques and issues that arise from making, answering and even considering objections. There will be two sessions, comprised of a 30-minute presentation by litigation counsel (senior litigator Juliet Knapton and AC’s own Marie Clemens) and 60-minutes of exercises to implement the techniques presented. The clinic will take place at Catana Reporting, Wednesday August 26 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to CNIB. Contact John Hollander to register. Please pay the registration fee of $35 directly to his CNIB donations page.
Advocacy Club Boot Camp 12 (March 23-24 and March 30-31)
The Advocacy Club’s Boot Camp will change format for 2015, with the following features:
o Day 2 Examination Techniques (Discovery, Direct and Cross)
Case Analysis Shop Wednesdays (Beginning March 25)
The Advanced Advocacy Club will introduce Case Analysis Shop Wednesdays sessions, with these features:·
o Personal injury (elderly passenger falls on victim passenger when balloon tips on landing) April 1
o Estate litigation (abuse of power of attorney) TBD
o Professional negligence (failure to complete will in timely manner) TBD
o Real estate law (failure to disclose latent defect) TBD
o Construction law (failure to complete project on time) April 1
o Wrongful dismissal (just cause or not) TBD
o Dependents relief (ex-wife vs. widow) TBD
spin the elements to favor one side or the other.
o 2:30-3:15: Motions practice - the team will consider a motion that one or other party might bring.
Apply case analysis to the presentation of the motion. Identify the "grounds" to be used in the notice and
at the hearing of the motion.
o 3:15-4:15: Examinations practice - participants will create and try out an outline of the examination and
cross-examination of the principal witnesses. What will counsel try to accomplish? How about the opponent?
o 4:15-4:45: Closing argument or pretrial/settlement conference submission - participants will revisit the
case analysis and formulate and implement the sales pitch for the two sides.
o 4:45-5:00: Discussion of lessons learned.
Compensation Survey
The success of the 2014 survey suggests demand for a 2015 survey. Please let us know your willingness to participate.
2015 Advocacy Club Retreat
The success of the 2013 and 2014 Retreats begs for another on a Saturday morning in May 2015. There are now 80 Club members, likely 90 by the time of the Retreat.
The Advocacy Club’s Boot Camp will change format for 2015, with the following features:
- 2 half-days during the week, from 1:30 to 5:00 pm.
- Venue: 303 Clemow Avenue (in the Glebe).
- Enrollment limited to 6 participants; minimum enrollment of 4 participants.
- Agenda includes:
o Day 2 Examination Techniques (Discovery, Direct and Cross)
- Sessions qualify for CPD, 6.5 hours substantive and 1.0 hours professional.
- All participants receive eBook: Introduction to Trial Advocacy, by John Hollander ($30 value).
- Cost $350 plus HST per participants
- If your firm has an articling student or junior associate, sign them up.
- Further sessions will be planned. If these dates don’t work, please let us know of your interest.
- To sign up, contact John Hollander by telephone (613.233.4474 x. 240) or by email.
Case Analysis Shop Wednesdays (Beginning March 25)
The Advanced Advocacy Club will introduce Case Analysis Shop Wednesdays sessions, with these features:·
- 1 half-day during the week, from 1:30 to 5:00 pm.
- Venue at 303 Clemow Avenue (in the Glebe
- Available sessions will focus on a case study, from one of the following areas:
o Personal injury (elderly passenger falls on victim passenger when balloon tips on landing) April 1
o Estate litigation (abuse of power of attorney) TBD
o Professional negligence (failure to complete will in timely manner) TBD
o Real estate law (failure to disclose latent defect) TBD
o Construction law (failure to complete project on time) April 1
o Wrongful dismissal (just cause or not) TBD
o Dependents relief (ex-wife vs. widow) TBD
- Case Analysis Shop subjects can be tailored for firms with major cases pending to provide analysis and draft examinations for key witnesses.
- Enrollment limited to 6 participants for each session. Minimum enrollment of 4. All participants must have taken the Boot Camp unless private arrangements made in advance.
- Agenda includes:
spin the elements to favor one side or the other.
o 2:30-3:15: Motions practice - the team will consider a motion that one or other party might bring.
Apply case analysis to the presentation of the motion. Identify the "grounds" to be used in the notice and
at the hearing of the motion.
o 3:15-4:15: Examinations practice - participants will create and try out an outline of the examination and
cross-examination of the principal witnesses. What will counsel try to accomplish? How about the opponent?
o 4:15-4:45: Closing argument or pretrial/settlement conference submission - participants will revisit the
case analysis and formulate and implement the sales pitch for the two sides.
o 4:45-5:00: Discussion of lessons learned.
- All participants receive either hard copy or eBook: Case Analysis, the critical path to persuasion, by John Hollander ($30 value).
- Inaugural cost $200 plus HST per participant.
- Please let us know of your interest in specific programs. Dates will be set on demand.
- To sign up, contact John Hollander by telephone (613.233.4474 x. 240) or by email
Compensation Survey
The success of the 2014 survey suggests demand for a 2015 survey. Please let us know your willingness to participate.
- Only those who participate will have access to the data.
- Data for: year of call, size of firm, salary, and collateral benefits.
- No charge for survey participation or data report.
2015 Advocacy Club Retreat
The success of the 2013 and 2014 Retreats begs for another on a Saturday morning in May 2015. There are now 80 Club members, likely 90 by the time of the Retreat.
- Please let us know of your willingness to participate, to organize or to present.
- $30 charge in support of CNIB’s Score Program.
Club 11 ended on November 12. Scott McLean, of Dentons LLP, and AC member Stephanie Lewis, of Caza Saikaley LLP, led eight new AC members at one section, and AC member Eliane Lachaine, of Burn Tucker Lachaine LLP, joined John in leading a section that included a bilingual subsection at the McBride Bond Christian LLP offices. Fully subscribed with 16 new members, Club 11 brought AC membership to more than 80 lawyers. Following the last session, participants gathered at John's home for a cocktail party.
The Advanced Advocacy Club on Opening Addresses and Closing Arguments session on November 10 had 20 participants, including guest presenter, Mark Charron from Gowlings Ottawa, and senior club presenter, Stephanie Lewis from Caza Saikaley. (Their participation as presenters marks a first for AC, as John has previously handled all the presenting himself. This innovation enables John to plan for larger and more advanced sessions. It will also enable AC members to practise and demonstrate their presentation skills before larger audiences.) Following the presentation, participants engaged in drills to hone their skills on opening addresses and closing arguments using a solicitor’s negligence case. The session qualified for 90 minutes substantive hours of CPD.
The Advanced session and Club 11 raised $2,000 for CNIB.
AC sessions will resume with new boot camps and advanced club programs in March 2015.
The Advanced Advocacy Club on Opening Addresses and Closing Arguments session on November 10 had 20 participants, including guest presenter, Mark Charron from Gowlings Ottawa, and senior club presenter, Stephanie Lewis from Caza Saikaley. (Their participation as presenters marks a first for AC, as John has previously handled all the presenting himself. This innovation enables John to plan for larger and more advanced sessions. It will also enable AC members to practise and demonstrate their presentation skills before larger audiences.) Following the presentation, participants engaged in drills to hone their skills on opening addresses and closing arguments using a solicitor’s negligence case. The session qualified for 90 minutes substantive hours of CPD.
The Advanced session and Club 11 raised $2,000 for CNIB.
AC sessions will resume with new boot camps and advanced club programs in March 2015.
The Advocacy Club Goes to School!
John's innovative new course on Advanced Trial Advocacy has been approved. Four AC members have volunteered to serve as his teaching assistants for the course at University of Ottawa Common Law. Focused on a fictitious personal injury car accident case, the course will introduce students to the worlds of no-fault benefits and tort claims.
The course will combine presentations from a SABS specialist, an adjuster, occupational therapists and actuaries, as well as senior lawyers, with exercises that simulate actual practice. As a result, students will experience what articling students and junior associates face in this area of law.
To date, three students from his earlier Trial Advocacy class have become AC members. Two more will join us for Club 11.
The course will combine presentations from a SABS specialist, an adjuster, occupational therapists and actuaries, as well as senior lawyers, with exercises that simulate actual practice. As a result, students will experience what articling students and junior associates face in this area of law.
To date, three students from his earlier Trial Advocacy class have become AC members. Two more will join us for Club 11.
Advocacy Club 2014 Retreat
The 2014 AC Retreat was a great success, with 45 members and 15 distinguished guests attending. Organized by four AC members, each panel consisted of a distinguished guest and two AC members. Scroll down this page for details. The Retreat raised almost $1,500 for CNIB's SCORE program. SCORE graduate Avesta Alani and CNIB officers attended the social event following the Retreat. Avesta also visited the AC in February (see details below).
CNIB SCORE Graduate Visits the Advocacy Club
At the first session of Club 10 on Wednesday, February 26, we were delighted to have in attendance Avesta Alani, a young graduate from CNIB’s SCORE program. Avesta observed, participated and excelled during the workshop! We look forward to welcoming her as a member of the Advocacy Club when she graduates from university and law school. For information on SCORE and the Advocacy Club's support for this initiative click here.
Podcasts Now Available
John has introduced a new learning tool! Check out his Podcasts page. To receive automatic updates on his podcasts, subscribe to the RSS feed at the bottom of the Podcasts page sidebar.
Upper Canada Law Society Accreditation
John is pleased to announce that he has been approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Upper Canada, which will apply to all his Advocacy Club programs. Where applicable, you will find the following accredited CPD logo and text on all notices and materials relating to relevant AC programs:
This program contains ___ Professionalism Hour(s).
This program contains ___ Professionalism Hour(s).
Trial Advocacy Courses at University of Ottawa
Having completed the fall 2013 and the January 2014 semesters teaching Trial Advocacy at University of Ottawa, John has received approval for his new course: Advanced Trial Advocacy. This course will provide exercises in Accident Benefits Claims and Tort Action, focused on a car accident case. Students interested in this course should contact John.
Panels and Appearances
- On November 23, 2013, John participated on the panel on "Storytelling" at the Eastern Ontario Litigators Conference in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec. (Conference information is available at this link. )
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Upcoming Advocacy Club Courses: Register Now!
For information on upcoming courses, contact us.
AC Retreat - Member Feedback . . .
"Unleash the Talent" was a resounding success! For details, check out: Retreat A post-retreat gathering was held at the new Advocacy Club head office, which features a state-of-the-art training centre.
CNIB Fundraiser
Including contributions from Club members, the Advocacy Club has donated more than $2,000 to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) to support their innovative SCORE program for youth who are blind or partially sighted. The program focuses on personal development, team building, leadership and career skills and civic responsibility, much as the Advocacy Club does with its members.
John has also assigned to the CNIB all royalties from his upcoming handbook, Mediation for Civil Litigators: issues and solutions. CNIB ChairJane Beaumont has written the preface to the handbook.
John has also assigned to the CNIB all royalties from his upcoming handbook, Mediation for Civil Litigators: issues and solutions. CNIB ChairJane Beaumont has written the preface to the handbook.