Advanced Arbitration & Labour Board Advocacy
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM PST Maritime Labour Centre 111 Victoria Drive Vancouver, BC V5L 4C4
IN PERSON – at the Maritime Labour Centre
After taking the VDLC Advocacy Skills course over the past 3 or 4 years, many students have inquired whether an advanced course could be offered. In response to those requests, we’re offering this advanced course.
We are restricting the course to those who have taken a basic advocacy course with the VDLC, or with their union, or another organization. Alternatively, we would welcome those who have actual experience as counsel representing their union before the Labour Board or in an arbitration.
The course will focus on these six key areas of advocacy: preparing for the hearing; examination in chief; cross-examination; re-direct; rebuttal evidence; and closing arguments. All students will have an opportunity to practice those skills during the course in mock hearing settings.
Facilitators: Leo McGrady, Koskie Glavin Gordon & Susanna Allevato Quail
Leo McGrady specializes in labour law, human rights, class actions, intellectual property, and libel law, all on behalf of unions and employees. Leo has taught advocacy skills at the Faculty of Law UBC, and in the Labour Studies Program at Capilano University. He has been counsel on several thousands of trials, hearings and appeals throughout his career.
Susanna Allevato Quail is a partner at Allevato, Quail & Roy where she practices labour, human rights, and regulatory law. She has experience representing unions and workers across the public and private sectors in arbitration, labour board, human rights tribunal, and court proceedings. Her pro bono work focuses on migrant workers rights and trans equality, and she has litigated precedent-setting cases in these areas. She brings a strong social-justice lens to her work and draws on her experience as a union activist prior to becoming a lawyer.