Assisting the Bar, The Supreme Court of Canada, and the Public

Since 2006

"Your help preparing for the appeal significantly improved the argument"

"I would never appear again before the Court without the Institute"

"The session resulted in a shift in strategy that was very important to our case"

Welcome to The

Supreme Court Advocacy Institute

The Institute’s mission is to contribute to the public, the legal profession, and the Supreme Court of Canada by increasing the effectiveness and quality of advocacy before the Court.

The principal activity of the Institute is to provide free, non-partisan advocacy advice to a party’s lawyer who is scheduled to appear in an appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada.The Institute is a registered charity and is intended as a public service.

The Supreme Court Advocacy Institute is independent and non-partisan. It is not a program of the Supreme Court of Canada, and is not associated with the Court, its Justices, or its administration.

The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C., Chief Justice of Canada

“The cases we hear before the Supreme Court matter on a national scale. The issues are complex and the nuances are not always obvious, even to the most experienced jurists. As judges, we rely on counsel for clear and cogent explanations of the issues affecting their clients so we can do our jobs well. The Supreme Court Advocacy Institute’s assistance to counsel, whether they are appearing before the Court for the first or the fifteenth time, is a great service to the Court, and to justice.”

"Our advocacy on behalf of our client was improved to the benefit of both the Court and our client."

"The opportunity to practice our pleadings before experienced counsel who have an intimate knowledge of the Supreme Court was invaluable."

"I found the exercise extremely useful and would recommend it to anyone going to the Supreme Court."

"The process of the mock hearing as well as the many very useful and helpful comments allowed me to focus in on my argument."

"The Institute increases the effectiveness and the quality of advocacy before the Court, and ultimately improves access to justice for all Canadians."