Develop a confident, professional courtroom presence by exploring every aspect of trial and hearing work. LESA’s Intensive Advocacy course is an intense, learn-by-doing program that offers an incomparable opportunity to develop skills as an advocate.
This course couples continual performance with rich performance feedback. With the aid of brief faculty lectures and faculty demonstrations, attendees perform drills and exercises designed to hone critical advocacy skills.
Participants focus on four key competencies designed to help them develop and perfect their advocacy skills:
- Case Analysis
- Storytelling
- Evidence
- Courtroom Decorum
On the final day of the course, participants integrate these competencies in a simulated trial or hearing.
This program has limited enrolment.
_______
What past participants are saying about this course:
“It was an excellent course, I feel I can immediately put some of the strategies learned into practice even outside of the courtroom. It was broken down into a logical order and demystified alot of the process.” ~ 2026 Participant
“I am leaving this course feeling more confident in my advocacy and in my knowledge of trial procedure.” ~2026 Participant
“Very helpful course with excellent materials and very comprehensive teaching.” ~2026 Participant
Chair
Jennifer L. Ruttan, Ruttan Bates
Team Leaders
Justice Janet L. Dixon, Alberta Court of Justice
Danielle Collins, Latitude Family Law LLP
Mona Duckett KC
Danielle E. Green, Alberta Crown Prosecution Service
Tim Mavko, Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP
Hon. Rosemary Nation, Retired Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta
Andrew Wilson KC, Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP
Alexander W. Yiu, Ackroyd LLP
Guest Instructors
Justice Jeffrey Champion, Alberta Court of Justice
Justice Michele Hollins, Court of King’s Bench of Alberta
Justice M. David Gates, Retired Justice of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta
Justice Darren Reed, Court of King’s Bench of Alberta
Elizabeth Aspinall, Bennett Jones LLP
Chelsea Batten, Moe Hannah LLP
Craig Brusnyk, DLA Piper LLP
Frank PK Friesacher KC, McCuaig Desrochers LLP
Michael Kirk KC, Miller Thomson LLP
Laura A. Marr, Alberta Court of Justice
Robert (Rob) D. McDonald KC, DLA Piper LLP
Bruce Mellett KC, Bennett Jones LLP
Richard (Rick) W. Muenz, Muenz Criminal Law
Michael O’Brien, MLT Aikins LLP
Thomas O’Leary KC, Blue Rock Law LLP
Lillian Y. Pan KC, Dentons Canada LLP
Kathryn Quinlan, Dawson Criminal Defence LLP
Alexandra K. Seaman, Dawson Criminal Defence
James Thomas, Alberta Crown Prosecution Service
Peter A. Verschoote, Alberta Securities Commission
Tara Wells, Alberta Crown Prosecution Service
Attendees of the Intensive Advocacy course are responsible for their own accommodations and travel.
LESA has secured a rate of $229.99 per night (plus taxes) for a king suite or $209.99 per night (plus taxes) for a standard king room at the nearby Holiday Inn Express & Suites Calgary NW – University Area. This rate includes parking, wi-fi, and breakfast.
Reservations can be made online or by calling the hotel directly at 587-390-6100. Please mention LESA2027 to obtain this rate. Reservations must be made by May 5, 2027.
If the room block sells out before this date, the hotel will accept reservations based on availability and the best available rate.
______
Please Note: The Global Petroleum Show will be in Calgary during part of the week of Intensive Advocacy. Accommodations are difficult to find during this time. We recommend that you book your accommodations as soon as possible.
Any changes or cancellations to your hotel reservation made after 6pm, 5 days prior to your arrival date are subject to a 1 night room and tax penalty.
Course Details
Program formats and dates are subject to change. Prices are subject to GST. This program is not being recorded and will not be made available as an on-demand program.
Registration Details
We anticipate that registration will be open until 12pm five business days prior to the program start date, or until sold out. This course has limited enrolment.
Program registration does not include hotel accommodations. See accommodations tab for details.
Participants who do not attend the full course will not receive a certificate of completion.
This program does not offer a firm broadcast option or group discounts.
Pre-Course Work & Course Materials
Participants must prepare in advance and complete work before the course begins. Pre-course work includes reading the course binder and familiarizing yourself with all case files, reading the course textbook, and completing designated pre-course learning activities (~10-15 hours). LESA will send course materials in April 2027.
You will be shipped a binder to the address included as part of your LESA.org account. To update your address information, please update your My Account details or send us a note at [email protected].
Policies
For payment, cancellation, transfer, and other policies, click here.
