Legal Drafting for Litigators

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM (ET)
Location: National
Delivery: Via Zoom

Essential Skills

Program Chairs:
Kate McGrann, Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP
Mary Paterson, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Take your written advocacy skills to new heights with this essential program on legal writing.

The plenary program will be held on March 25 and the writing workshop will be held on March 26. There are two registration options: (1) plenary + workshop or (2) plenary only (see below for more information).

Plenary Details | Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1:00PM to 4:00PM (ET), Via Zoom
The role of written advocacy in a digital world is more important than ever. Improve the strength and persuasiveness of your legal writing with this popular program on legal drafting. Hear from top litigators and judges on how you can improve your written argument and draft better pleadings, affidavits and factums and more.

Workshop Details | Thursday, March 26, 2026, 1:00PM to 4:00PM (ET), Via Zoom
Participants of the plenary session are also eligible to join us for our hands-on writing workshop, which will be held fully remotely.

Learn how to write with clarity, confidence, and grace. Join us for an interactive writing seminar Finishing Touches: Grammar Booster for Style taught by writing expert Jane Griesdorf of The Writing Consultants.

Through practical examples, hands-on exercises, and explanatory critiques, you will learn to invigorate your writing style so that it becomes bright and persuasive.

You will learn practical tips to help you understand how to fine-tune your writing style through a close analysis of grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical devices:

Understand “Reader Response Theory” and how it affects your writing
Develop a thorough understanding of the Eight Parts of Speech
Learn to avoid the grammar mistakes that will distract your reader
Fine-tune your punctuation and use it as a style tool
Experiment with rhetorical devices that will keep your reader’s attention
Learn how to properly proofread

Free Workshop for New Lawyer Members
New Lawyer Members (0 – 3 years of call) who register for the plenary session of an Essential Advocacy Skills Workshop program can sign up for that program’s skills workshop for free. Simply select the plenary and workshop options for this program and you will not be charged for the workshop.

Of note: if you just signed up for membership, please give our system 10 minutes to sync you to your New Lawyer membership category. If you still do not see the reduced pricing, please contact [email protected] and someone will be happy to assist you.

Registration includes educational materials, which will be provided prior to the program. Registration also includes access to the live webcast recording for 30 days from the date the link is sent to you.

Please note that while the skills are largely applicable across different jurisdictions, the examples will be drawn from Ontario.

Registration for this program is limited to TAS members, non-member lawyers, law school/articling students and NCA candidates.

Please review the system requirements to view a Zoom event here.

Faculty Includes:
The Hon. Justice Lois B. Roberts, Court of Appeal for Ontario
The Hon. Regional Senior Judge E. Ria Tzimas, Superior Court of Ontario
The Hon. Justice Colin C.J. Feasby, Court of King’s Bench of Alberta
The Hon. Frank Marrocco, Stockwoods LLP
Andrea Bolieiro, Ministry of Attorney General for Ontario
Karey Brooks, KC, JFK Law LLP (Vancouver)
Lisa Marie Buccella, Blaney McMurtry LLP
Usman Sheikh, Baker & McKenzie LLP
Margaret Waddell, Sotos Class Actions

1:00 – 1:05
Welcoming Remarks
Kate McGrann, Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

1:05 – 1:35
The Dos and Don’ts of Persuasive Legal Drafting
The Hon. Justice Lois B. Roberts, Court of Appeal for Ontario
Moderator: Mary Paterson, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

1:35 – 2:05
Effective Legal Correspondence
Lisa Marie Buccella, Blaney McMurtry LLP
Margaret Waddell, Sotos Class Actions
Moderator: Kate McGrann, Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

2:05 – 2:35
Affidavit Advocacy
The Hon. Frank Marrocco, Stockwoods LLP
Karey Brooks, KC, JFK Law LLP
Moderator: Mary Paterson, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

2:35 – 2:50
Break

2:50 – 3:20
Tips for Drafting a Compelling Factum
The Hon. Justice Colin C.J. Feasby, Court of King’s Bench of Alberta
Andrea Bolieiro, Ministry of Attorney General for Ontario
Moderator: Kate McGrann, Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP

3:20 – 4:00
Friend or Foe?: Navigating the use of AI in Legal Drafting
The Hon. Regional Senior Judge E. Ria Tzimas, Superior Court of Justice for Ontario
Usman Sheikh, Baker & McKenzie LLP
Moderator: Mary Paterson, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

4:00
Concluding Remarks
Mary Paterson, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Great digestible tips on written advocacy
"Exceptional faculty, great digestible tips on written advocacy."

Important insights from the Bench
"I received important insights from the Bench on what works and what to avoid when drafting legal documents."

A worthwhile workshop
"Jane is a great instructor – energetic and knowledgeable. She challenged the class and was engaged with her audience. A worthwhile workshop!"

Eligible CPD Hours:

Plenary + Workshop:
This program contains 4.0 Professionalism Hours and is eligible for up to 2.0 Substantive Hours.

Plenary Only:
This program contains 1.0 Professionalism Hour and is eligible for up to 2.0 Substantive Hours.

Law Society Accredited This organization has been approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Ontario.

For information on CPD requirements and accreditation across Canada, please click here.

Pricing:

Plenary + Workshop:
TAS Members: $470.00 + Tax | Discount: $352.50 + Tax (please see note below)*
Non-members: $729.00 + Tax | Discount: $546.75 + Tax (please see note below)*

Plenary Only:
TAS Members: $309.00 + Tax | Discount: $231.75 + Tax (please see note below)*
Non-members: $450.00 + Tax | Discount: $337.50 + Tax (please see note below)*

Sole practitioners, lawyers who practise in firms with fewer than 5 lawyers, and government lawyers (including lawyers who work for legal aid clinics) can take advantage of a 25% discount off the registration fee for this program. If you are eligible for this discount, please enter SSG2025 in the appropriate field at check-out.

*The Advocates' Society is pleased to offer a 25% discount on this program for all lawyers who practise as sole practitioners, or in firms smaller than 5 lawyers, and government lawyers (including lawyers who work for legal aid clinics).

Registration includes electronic materials, which will be provided prior to the program. Registration also includes access to the live webcast recording of the plenary session for 30 days from the date of the program. Registration for this program is limited to TAS members, non-member lawyers, law school/articling students and NCA candidates.

TAS Members save up to $100 on half-day programs and up to $200 on programs with a skills workshop. Join us today.

Civil Litigation Skills Certificate Program

Legal Drafting for Litigators

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