Conduct of the Family Law Trial

This program took place on November 28, 2025, but you can still rent the video.

Archive: Conduct of the Family Law Trial

Rent this 6.5-hour video to catch up on what you missed at Conduct of the Family Law Trial. Leading family law lawyers and judges unite to share their knowledge of trial advocacy, honed through hundreds of trials, in this popular trial advocacy program.

Your price: 450.00

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Members, sign in to get your discount price of $309.

Program Chairs:
The Hon. Justice James F. Diamond, Superior Court of Justice
Heather L. Hansen, C.S., McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

Unfortunately our Conduct of the Family Law Trial skills workshop has reached maximum enrolment. If you would like to be added to our waitlist for the skills workshop, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to having you at the plenary session of this program on November 28.

Learn the art of trial advocacy at this two-day intensive program for family lawyers, designed to replicate a litigator’s real-world experience with none of the risk.

The plenary program will be held on November 28 and the optional learning-by-doing skills workshop will be held on December 1.

Plenary Details | Friday, November 28, 2025, 9:00AM to 4:30PM (ET), In Person (Toronto) or Live Stream
Leading family law lawyers and judges unite to share their knowledge of trial advocacy, honed through hundreds of trials, in this popular trial advocacy program. From the art of opening statements, to delivering powerful examinations and closing arguments, our experienced faculty will take you step-by-step through their approaches to preparing for and conducting a trial. Witness their skills in action and build your own confidence in the process.

Workshop Details | Monday, December 1, 2025, 9:00AM to 4:30PM (ET), In Person (Toronto)
Participants of the plenary session are also eligible to join us in person for our hands-on skills workshop. Seize the opportunity to get on your feet and practise your trial advocacy skills in a safe and supportive learning environment. Test and refine your skills in case analysis, opening and closing statements, examination-in-chief and cross-examination. You will receive exceptional coaching and individualized feedback from leading litigators of the family law bar, and learn from your peers as you work through the interactive exercises in small groups.

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.

Free Workshops for Junior Members
Junior members (under 5 years of call) who joined The Advocates' Society in 2024 or who join in 2025 and who register for the plenary session of an Essential Advocacy Skills Workshop program in the 2025 calendar year can attend that program’s skills workshop for free.

This is a pilot initiative designed to engage Junior members in their first year of membership in the Society. The pilot does not apply to Student members or Junior members who joined The Advocates' Society prior to January 2024.

Please review the system requirements to view a webcast here.

Faculty Includes:
The Hon. Justice Robert Centa, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice Kenneth Hood, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Gilead Kay, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice Melanie Kraft, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice Sharon Shore, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice Sheilagh O’Connell, Ontario Court of Justice
Sarah Boulby, Boulby Weinberg Fishman LLP
Georgina Carson, Carson Chousky Lein LLP
Stephen Codas, Epstein Cole LLP
Tom Curry, LSM, Lenczner Slaght
Herschel Fogelman, Fogelman Law
Dani Z. Frodis, Frodis Family Law
Matthew P. Gottlieb, Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
Julie Hannaford, JK Hannaford Barristers
Fareen Jamal, Jamal Family Law
Gary Joseph, MacDonald & Partners LLP
Martha McCarthy, LSM, McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP
Shawn Richard, ASR Family and Estate Law
Avra Rosen, Rosen Sack LLP
Michael Zalev, Epstein Cole LLP

9:00 – 9:05
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Heather L. Hansen, C.S., McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

9:05 – 9:30
Keynote Presentation: Don’t Be Afraid of the Courtroom – Why Trial Advocacy Matters
The Hon. Justice James F. Diamond, Ontario Superior Court of Justice

9:30 – 10:00
Trial Preparation: Strategies and Procedural Considerations
Martha McCarthy, LSM, McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP
Moderator: Heather L. Hansen, C.S., McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

10:00 – 10:25
Key Rules of Evidence in Family Law Trials
The Hon. Justice Robert Centa, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice James F. Diamond, Ontario Superior Court of Justice

10:25 – 10:40
Opening Statements
The Hon. Justice Sharon Shore, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Sarah Boulby, Boulby Weinberg Fishman LLP

10:40 – 10:50
Break

10:50 – 11:30
Examination-in-Chief and Re-Examination

Tips on Examination-in-Chief
Michael Zalev, Epstein Cole LLP

Demonstration of Examination-in-Chief
Dani Z. Frodis, Frodis Family Law

Judge's Commentary
The Hon. Justice James F. Diamond, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Moderator: Heather L. Hansen, C.S., McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

11:30 – 12:00
Exhibits and Objections
Herschel Fogelman, Fogelman Law
Shawn Richard, ASR Family and Estate Law
Moderator: Heather L. Hansen, C.S., McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

12:00 – 1:00
Lunch Break

1:00 – 1:40
Cross-Examination

Tips on Cross-Examination

Demonstration of Cross-Examination
Julie Hannaford, JK Hannaford Barristers

Judge's Commentary
The Hon. Justice James F. Diamond, Ontario Superior Court of Justice

1:40 – 2:25
Expert Witnesses

Examination-in-Chief
Stephen Codas, Epstein Cole LLP

Demonstration of Cross-Examination
Matthew P. Gottlieb, Lax O'Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

Judge's Commentary
The Hon. Justice James F. Diamond, Ontario Superior Court of Justice

2:25 – 2:35
Break

2:35 – 2:55
VOC (Voice of Child) and Children’s Hearsay Evidence
The Hon. Justice Gilead Kay, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Fareen Jamal, Jamal Family Law

2:55 – 3:10
Closing Statements
Georgina Carson, Carson Chousky Lein LLP

3:10 – 3:45
Practitioner AMA
Tom Curry, LSM, Lenczner Slaght
Gary Joseph, MacDonald & Partners LLP
Avra Rosen, Rosen Sack LLP
Moderator: Heather L. Hansen, C.S., McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

3:45 – 4:25
Tips from the Family Law Court on Effective Advocacy
The Hon. Justice Kenneth Hood, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice Melanie Kraft, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice Sheilagh O’Connell, Ontario Court of Justice
Moderator: The Hon. Justice James F. Diamond, Ontario Superior Court of Justice

4:25 – 4:30
Closing Remarks
The Hon. Justice James F. Diamond, Ontario Superior Court of Justice

4:30 – 5:30
Cocktail Reception

The most worthwhile CLE I have ever attended
This has likely been the most through, interesting, challenging and therefore worthwhile CLE I have ever attended.

I learned new approaches that I will implement right away
This has been the most useful CLE I've taken in 10 years, hands down. I learned new approaches that I will implement right away.

Positive and encouraging instructors
Excellent energy. The instructors were very positive and encouraging of all participants. Thank you for the focus and support!

Personal and interactive workshop
The workshop was very personal and interactive. The coaches were very helpful and patient with us. I would recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade their skills!

Eligible CPD Hours:

Plenary + Workshop:
This program contains 0.50 EDI Professionalism Hour(s), 6.0 Professionalism Hours and is eligible for up to 8.0 Substantive Hours.

Plenary Only:
This program contains 0.50 EDI Professionalism Hours, 3.0 Professionalism Hours and is eligible for up to 3.0 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.

Civil Litigation Skills Certificate Program

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Generously Sponsored by:

Conduct of the Family Law Trial

Archive: Conduct of the Family Law Trial

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