Criminal Lawyers’ Association upcoming events

Webcast: Bail Hearings 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in Law School (27 Feb 2017)

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Recorded on: Tuesday, February 27, 2017, 6 to 7:30 p.m., FCP Gallery, First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, Toronto

Panelists:

Maija Martin, Criminal Defence Lawyer
Daniel Rechtshaffen, Criminal Defence Lawyer
Justice of the Peace Samantha Burton, Ontario Court of Justice

Registration Options:

Webcast plus Materials*:

$5 plus HST: Current CLA Members
$25 plus HST: Non-members

* Please note that for CPD purposes, each Webcast registrant must purchase individually (even if planning on watching with a group)

Webcast Recording: Practice Management: Surviving your first LSO Audit & Beyond (17 Apr 2018)

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 22:00:00 GMT

Recording on: Tuesday, April 17, 6 to 8 p.m., FCP Gallery, First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, Toronto

The CLA Recent Call Event: Practice Management – Surviving Your First LSO Audit and Beyond program, to be held on April 17, 2018 has been accredited for 1 hour of Professionalism Content.

This seminar will provide an overview of best practices and tips for effective practice management. Featuring panelists from the Law Society of Ontario’s Practice Review Department and counsel who regularly acts for Law Pro, attendees will learn how to avoid some of the most common problems and serious mistakes that affect recent calls.

Panelists:

Margaux Peck, Counsel | Practice Review Department | Professional Development & Competence | The Law Society of Ontario
Lindsay Daviau, Rosen & Company Barristers
John Frank Runco, Practice Review Counsel, Law Society of Ontario

Webcast:

$5 plus HST: Current CLA Members
$25 plus HST: Non-members

* Please note that for CPD purposes, each Webcast registrant must purchase individually (even if planning on watching with a group)

Webcast: 3rd Annual Mental Disorder and Criminal Justice Conference (28 Apr 2018)

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT

Hosted by the Criminal Lawyers’ Association (CLA) and the Law and Mental Disorder Association (LAMDA)

Recorded on Saturday, April 28, 2018, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Increasingly, individuals with mental health issues are becoming entangled in the criminal justice system. These clients present unique challenges for defence counsel. Solicitor-client relationships may be complicated, and the law is no simpler. Defence counsel require specialized knowledge and skills to deal with psychiatric issues that crop up throughout the criminal law process.

Come hear leading practitioners and new lawyers identify ethical and professional pitfalls and offer strategies to successfully manage cases involving a wide variety of mental health issues.

This year we move beyond the basics of fitness and NCR. We will explore an explosion of new cases coming out of our Court of Appeal in 2017 giving appellate guidance to the ORB and stake-holders on interpretations of the Mental Disorder provisions of the Code. We begin basic learning about civil mental health law as we must understand in the context of defending our clients. We also examine what happens in the community, including problematic interactions of police with individuals in crisis which lead to lethal outcomes.

Topics:

Bail
Using Civil Orders to help Criminal Clients: “You say invasive, I say persuasive!”
“Significant Risk of Significant Harm” – the test for ongoing Review Board jurisdiction
The 12 Minute Mental Disorder Lawyers – Five Leading Cases in 2017
Keynote Address – Remembering the late Justice Marc Rosenberg and his Contribution to Mental Disorder Law and Access to Justice
Forensic Assessments (unfit / NCR) – In Custody vs. In Hospital Assessments
Seclusion and Restraint in Psychiatric Facilities – not always Asylum
In Crisis and In the Community – Police Interactions Leading to Lethal Outcomes
“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the Civil Mental Health System …but were afraid to ask”
How to get Paid

Registration Rates (includes PDF copy of materials):

$50 plus HST: CLA and LAMDA Members
$100 plus HST: Non-Member Practicing Lawyer, Paralegal or other professionals

Webcast Recording: 2018 Annual CLA Spring Conference – “Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover” (26 May 2018)

Sat, 26 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT

“Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover”
Recorded on Saturday, May 26, 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The Criminal Lawyers’ Association 2018 Annual Spring Conference held on May 26, 2018 has been accredited for 1 hour and 25 minutes of Professionalism Content. This program is also eligible for 3 hours and 30 minutes of Substantive Content.

Registration Details:

All registrants will receive a PDF copy of the conference materials.

Pricing:

CLA members: $50 plus HST ($56.50)
Non-member lawyers, students and Paralegals: $100 plus HST ($113.00)

Program Planning Committee:
Craig Bottomley and Karen Jokinen

Webcast Recording: The 4th Annual Mental Disorder and the Law Conference: “Back to the Future: Refreshers on Basics to Ensure Successes Ahead” (1 Mar 2019)

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Event Recorded on February 23, 2019. 10 recordings included. Estimated length of 30 minutes each. Event materials PDF included.

4^th Annual Mental Disorder and the Law Conference program was held on February 23, 2019 and has been accredited for:

This program contains 1 hour and 5 minutes of Professionalism Content.
This program contains 40 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content.
This program is eligible for up to 3 hours, 5 minutes of Substantive hours.

Webcast pricing:

$50 plus HST: CLA & LAMDA members
$75 plus HST: Non-members

NO REFUNDS. Details to webcast will be emailed with registration receipt. Please be sure to follow the instructions to access the webcast and materials.

Webcast Recording: 2019 Annual CLA Spring Conference – Deconstructing the Wall (14 Jun 2019)

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT

Event Recorded on June 8, 2019. Event materials PDF included.

The 2019 Annual CLA Spring Conference – Deconstructing the Wall held on June 8, 2019 has been accredited for 1 hour of EDI Professionalism Content and 2 hours and 20 minutes of Professionalism content. 1 hour and 25 minutes substantive (if hours are not needed for EDI and/or professional they can be added to substantive)

Webcast pricing:

$50 plus HST: CLA members
$75 plus HST: Non-members

NO REFUNDS. Details to webcast will be emailed with registration receipt. Please be sure to follow the instructions to access the webcast and materials.

Webcast Recording: A View from the Bench: Civility and Advocacy for Recent Calls (25 Jun 2019)

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Recorded on June 19, 2019. 1 hour and 9 minutes in length.

The Criminal Lawyers’ Association – Recent Call Committee program held on June 19, 2019 has been accredited for 1 hour of Professionalism Content.

Join Justices James Stribopoulos, Heather Pringle and Nyron Dwyer for a discussion on what they see from recent calls in their Court – what we’re doing well, what needs improvement, and what we should never do. A rare opportunity for recent calls to receive feedback from Judges!

Speaker Details:

The Honourable James Stribopoulos (SCJ Brampton)
The Honourable Heather Pringle (OCJ Toronto)
The Honourable Nyron Dwyer (OCJ Newmarket)

Registration:

Fee:

CLA Members $10 plus HST
Non-members: $25 plus HST

There are no refunds. The link to the webcast recording will be included with your emailed receipt/confirmation. DO NOT SHARE THE LINK as it is only being sent to paid registrants. Only paid registrants can claim the CPD.

Webcast: Racial Issues in Criminal Litigation (7 Oct 2019)

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Recorded on September 26, 2019

The Racial Issues in Criminal Litigation to be held on September 26, 2019 has been accredited for 1.5 hours of EDI Professionalism Content and 30 minutes of Professionalism content.

This event was organized by the CLA's Diversity Committee. It is a practical criminal law seminar with a diversity and inclusion focused agenda.

The goal of this program is to present substantive criminal law issues from a lens that is sensitive to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Fees*:

CLA Junior Active, Junior Observer and Student members: FREE
CLA Senior Active and Senior Observer members: $10 plus HST
Non-members: $30 plus HST

Webcast details:

Details on how to access the webcast recording with be included with your email confirmation/receipt issued shortly after completing your purchase. Please be sure to check your "spam/junk" folders for the link as they often land there. There are no refunds. DO NOT SHARE THE LINK as it is only being sent to paid registrants. Only paid registrants can claim the CPD.*

* We work hard to bring quality programming and networking opportunities. Your support of our efforts is very much appreciated and we hope you enjoy our programming. To help us continue with bringing quality programming, it is important that only those that register participate. The event series has been experiencing issues with the live webcast link being shared with non-registrants. This has impacted our efforts negatively for the volunteers planning the event as was as on association finances (we pay a fee per live webcast participant). Please do NOT share the webcast link with anyone. Please note that for CPD purposes, each Live Webcast registrant MUST register individually (even if planning on watching with a group). The email address provided when registering is where the webcast details will be sent closer to the event date. Only those that register in advance can claim CPD.

2019 Fall and Recent Call Conference Materials (19 Nov 2019)

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 14:00:00 GMT

The 47th Annual CLA Fall Conference Materials and the 5th Annual Recent Call Conference Materials can be purchased. Details to download the materials will be emailed with purchase receipt.

Fall Conference materials included:

Don’t Blow It: Impaired Litigation in the Wake of Bill C-46
Three’s a Crowd: Sexual Assault Litigation in the Wake of Bill C-51
Not Every One’s a Winner: Prison Conditions and Parole
Cultural Assessments Reports for Black Clients in Sentencing and Bails
Key Considerations When Representing Aboriginal Clients
Litigating Search Warrants in the Shadow of Step Six
Dealing Effectively with Concurrent Criminal and Regulatory Proceedings
Keynote: No Kill Bill C-75 – Now What?
What’s Yours is Mine: Getting Paid Through Alternative Means
Decoding Digital Evidence
Emerging Developments in DNA Technology – transference and trace evidence
Top 15 Cases
Ethical Dilemmas: I can’t do that! Don’t ask me to do that! Here’s why I did that!

Recent Call Conference materials included:

Challenges of Criminal Practice: Managing Your Mental Health and Wellness
Keys to a Thriving Practice: Management, Organization, Billing and more

Materials pricing (both conferences materials are included):

$40 plus HST: CLA members
$65 plus HST: Non-members

NO REFUNDS.

Please note that CPD credits cannot be claimed for only purchasing the materials. Attendance to each specific conference was required in order to claim.

WEBCAST RECORDING: 5th Annual Mental Disorder and the Law Conference (16 Mar 2020)

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:30:00 GMT

HOSTED BY THE CRIMINAL LAWYERS’ ASSOCIATION (CLA) AND THE LAW AND MENTAL DISORDER ASSOCIATION (LAMDA)

RECORDED ON: Saturday, February 22, 2020, 9:30 to 4 p.m.

Pricing:

CLA & LAMDA Members: $45 + HST
Non-Members: $75 + HST

Webcast recording & materials:

Details on how to access the webcast recording and all the materials with be included with your email confirmation/receipt issued shortly after completing your purchase. Please be sure to check your "spam/junk" folders for the link as they often land there. There are no refunds. DO NOT SHARE THE LINK as it is only being sent to paid registrants. Only paid registrants can claim the CPD.*

Webcast Recording: Females of the CLA: Pandemic Edition (6 May 2020)

Wed, 06 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Recorded on Thursday, April 23, 2020, 1 to 2 p.m., via Webex

Brought to you by the CLA Women’s Committee.

Prominent female lawyers discuss challenges faced while working from home and having young children and/or other family responsibilities and how to overcome those challenges. Registrants can submit questions in advance.

Presenters:
Stephanie DiGiuseppe, Partner at RSED
Robin Parker, Paradigm Law Group
Susannah Chung-Alvares, Barrister and Solicitor

This webcast event is open to all.

This event qualifies for one hour of substantive CPD credits.

Once registered, details with the link to view the webcast will be emailed to the address used when registering. Be sure to check your spam/junk folders.

Registration fees:

FREE: Student members
$5 plus HST: Junior Active and Junior Observer members
$10 plus HST: Senior Active, Senior Observer and Affiliate members
$25 plus HST: Non-members

Webcast Recording: Issues in criminal, civil, and regulatory litigation – when can you access evidence from one proceeding and use it in another? (11 Nov 2020)

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 21:00:00 GMT

Recorded on Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Do you represent a client whose profession is governed by a regulatory body? Is your client being sued as well as criminally charged? Clients charged with criminal offences may also face liability in the civil and regulatory spheres. When such proceedings generate evidence, questions arise regarding the use that can be made of it in a criminal proceeding. This program will consider issues such as privilege, self-incrimination, and undertakings in these contexts.

Presenters:

Gerald Chan and Aaron Dantowitz from Stockwoods LLP moderated by Lindsay Board of Daniel Brown Law.

This event qualifies for one hour substantive. Access information will be included in your email confirmation/receipt.

Registration:

FREE for current CLA members
$25 plus HST for non-members

No refunds.

Webcast Recording: These messages I’ve got are golden! Complainant records in the possession of the defence and the 278.92 regime (11 Nov 2020)

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 23:00:00 GMT

Recorded on July 23, 2020

Accreditation Confirmed: 1 hour of Professionalism Content

Speakers:
Dean Embry, Embry Dann, Assistant Secretary, Criminal Lawyers’ Association
Lilit Izakelian, Caramanna Friedberg LLP
Justice Kathryn Wells, Ontario Court of Justice
Saman Wickramasinghe, partner at Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson LLP
Many defence lawyers early in their career will have to defend a client accused of a sexual offence. In many cases this offence is a sexual assault involving two parties known to each other. The parties likely communicated with each other through electronic means (such as text message, Whatsapp, or Facebook Messenger), and the record of that communication may be helpful for your client. The December 2018 amendments to the Criminal Code that created ss. 278.92/93/94 have created some uncertainty in the law. While these provisions set out exactly what must be done once the regime is triggered, what remains unclear is what defence counsel must (or can) do before the regime is triggered.

This panel addresses two interrelated issues:

What initial steps to take once you have these "records" and
How you can try and make use of these without triggering the regime or disclosing them to the Crown (if they are not already in the crown or complainant’s possession).

Webcast purchase confirmation and receipt will include links to each of the five session recordings.

Fees:

FREE for Student members
FREE for Junior Active & Junior Observer members
$10 plus HST for all other current CLA members.
$30 plus HST for non-members

Webcast Recording: Presentation: 2020 G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Medal Recipient is Philip Campbell (17 Nov 2020)

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Recorded on November 5, 2020

The Criminal Lawyers Association (CLA) has awarded the prestigious G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Medal to Philip Campbell.

The Martin Medal was struck in 1989 to honour Goldwyn Arthur Martin, a nationally prominent criminal lawyer and eminent jurist. It is awarded in recognition of lifelong achievement and sustained commitment to the principles and advancement of criminal justice in Canada.

Noted for his ethics, professionalism, mentorship and advocacy, Mr. Campbell is being recognized for his career at the bar and his contribution to the administration of justice. He has acted as counsel on a number of notable cases including the exoneration of Steven Truscott in 2007, the exoneration of Glen Assoun in 2019 and the 2003 appeal in R. v. Brown, the case that set the Canadian standard for establishing racial profiling by the police. The Martin Medal will be presented to Mr. Campbell at a virtual award presentation to be held on November 5, 2020.

The presentation includes:

Welcome and introduction by John Struthers, President, Criminal Lawyers' Association
Presentations by several prominent legal professionals, colleagues and friends of the recipient to tell you more about Philip Campbell and his achievements
Presentation by Philip Campbell discussing criminal justice.
LIVE Q&A with Mr. Campbell

Previous winners of the medal include G. Arthur Martin himself, John Robinette, Edward L. Greenspan, Marlys Edwardh, and James Lockyer as well as former Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justices Antonio Lamer and Beverley McLachlin, along with prominent justices from all levels of the judiciary and defence counsel from across the country.

This event qualifies for one hour and 30 minutes substantive.

Registration:

FREE for current CLA student members
$5 plus HST for Junior Active and Junior Observer members
$10 plus HST for Senior Active, Senior Observer and Affiliate members
$30 plus HST for non-members
$10 plus HST for non-member students and law clerks

No refunds

Webcast Recording: ASK ME ANYTHING: LAW STUDENT EDITION (18 Nov 2020)

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Recorded on October 17, 2020.

Are you interested in criminal law? Want to learn more about what being a criminal lawyer is really like? Learn from a Crown Attorney, Duty Counsel and three Defence Lawyers about the ins and outs of their daily lives and how they got to where they are today.

Presenters:

Sarah Malik, Assistant Crown Attorney
Eric Neubauer, Neubauer Law
Angela Ruffo, DFR Litigation
Janani Shanmuganathan, Goddard Nasseri LLP
Angela Stewart (bilingual), Legal Aid Ontario, Duty Counsel Services

OPEN TO ALL LAW STUDENTS ACROSS CANADA - FREE OF CHARGE.

Access information will be included in your registration confirmation.

CLA Advertising Opportunities (1 Mar 2025)

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Thanks for advertising with the Criminal Lawyers' Association.

Advertising includes:

One advertisement in our weekly Communique sent to 6,000+ legal contacts across Canada.
One advertisement in our weekly Members Only email sent to almost 1,800 legal professionals in Canada.
X promotion to our more than 7,000 followers
LinkedIn promotion
Posting on CLA website under News and Update.

Note:

Advertisements are sent to the Education committee co-chairs for approval.
Content must not conflict with any planned CLA conference/events in terms of dates or topics.
We will indicate "paid advertising" when promoting.

Content must be submitted at minimum of two-business days in advance. Content is to be sent to ed@criminallawyers.ca. Please send:

5 to 7 word headline for table of contents
50 to 200 word promotion, including links
One JPG image for including in promotion.

There are no refunds.

WEBCAST RECORDING: OCJ Update: 2026 Bail Practice Direction and Upcoming Changes to OCJ Case Management Court (22 May 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Recorded on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, via Zoom

The Ontario Court of Justice is implementing a new Bail Practice Direction which goes into effect on June 1, 2026. This session will provide an overview of the Direction for the defence bar.

Also on June 1, the Court will implement an addendum to its Jordan-Compliant Trial Scheduling Practice Direction. The session will address the content of the addition, as well as how it supports the Court's vision of efficient case management courts where appearances are meaningful.

Featuring:

Ashley Audet, Counsel – Office of the Chief Justice of the OCJ
Anna Leggett, Counsel – Office of the Chief Justice of the OCJ

CPD Confirmed:

45 minutes of Professionalism content.

Registration:

$10 plus HST for CLA members
$25 plus HST for non-members

There are no refunds.

Recent Call Committee presents: A Joint Submission: Junior Crown & Defence Social (23 Jul 2026)

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Thursday, July 23, 2026, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.,

Duke of Cornwall, 400 University Avenue, Toronto

Join us for a joint Crown/Defence social at Duke of Cornwall. Located across the street from 10 Armoury and 361 University, this social event will bring together Recent Calls in the defence bar and Crown Attorneys in their first 10 years of practice at the Toronto Crown Attorney’s Office. Come out and put a face to the Crown you’ve been emailing, having CPTs with, or appearing with in court. Whether you’re looking to expand your professional network, build relationships across the aisle, or unwind after a long day in court, this event is intended to promote collegiality in the bar (pun intended).

An assortment of cocktail party bites will be available. Attendees will be responsible for purchasing their own drinks.

REGISTRATION:

Free for members and non-members. Advance registration required

_________________________________________________

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS

Hicks Adams

John Struthers Barrister

3rd Annual Body, Mind & Soul – A social CPD in the heart of wine country (25 Jul 2026)

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Brought to you by your Hamilton, Niagara and Peel CLA Directors along with local crown and defence counsel.

July 25, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mason Vineyard - 3882 King Street in Lincoln, Ontario (Beamsville)

This event is open to lawyers and judges. Continental breakfast, and wine tasting with individual charcuterie is included. The event will once again feature Yoga in the Vineyard with Justice Gord Akilie, a stimulating session for the mind (details to follow), and Jurisprudence & Juice, a curated caselaw and wine tasting with Justice Fraser McCracken and Lauren Wilhelm.

CPD Pending.

Last year’s event attracted a sold out crowd and we are expecting the same thing this year. Spots are limited, so register today to avoid disappointment!

This is a rain or shine event. There are no refunds. Participants must be of legal drinking age. There are no refunds.

Registration:

$50 plus HST for CLA members and non-members

-----------------------

We want everyone to get to and from the event safely. If you are interested in carpooling and/or taking public transit, please let us know when you register and we will try to connect interested parties. While there is no direct public transit, GO train service is available from the GTA to Burlington on the Lakeshore West line with GO bus connections to the Park & Ride in Beamsville (approximately 9 minutes from the venue) where uber service is available. You may also want to consider coming in Friday evening and staying in the area. Below are some local hotel options:

Casablanca Hotel - The Casablanca Hotel - Gateway to the Niagara Region
Quality Inn & Suites - Hotel in Grimsby, ON | Quality Inn & Suites
Ramada by Wyndham - Ramada by Wyndham Jordan/Beacon Harbourside Resort | Jordan Station, ON Hotels
Four Points - https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g616303-d183021-Reviews-Four_Points_by_Sheraton_St_Catharines_Niagara_Suites-Thorold_Ontario.html
Holiday Inn & Suits - https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g155013-d188279-Reviews-Holiday_Inn_Suites_St_Catharines_Conf_Ctr_By_IHG-St_Catharines_Ontario.html
Hampton Inn by Hilton - https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g155013-d16797430-Reviews-Hampton_Inn_By_Hilton_St_Catharines_Niagara-St_Catharines_Ontario.html
Best Western St. Catharines - https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g155013-d181977-Reviews-Best_Western_St_Catharines_Hotel_Conference_Centre-St_Catharines_Ontario.html
Comfort Inn - https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g155013-d183019-Reviews-Comfort_Inn_St_Catherines-St_Catharines_Ontario.html

12th Annual Recent Call Conference (26 Sep 2026)

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:45:00 GMT

RECENT CALL CONFERENCE DETAILS:

Saturday, September 26, 2026, 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.

IN-PERSON OPTION: Ontario Bar Association, 20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto
VIRTUAL OPTION: Will be a live feed.

Agenda, Speaker and CPD to be confirmed.

Registrants also have the option to attend an in-person social from 3 to 5 p.m., Ontario Bar Association. One beverage of choice will be provided (with a cash bar) along with a selection of crudite and dips, assorted flat breads, bread sticks with assorted cheeses.

The Recent Call Conference is recommended for individuals in their first seven years of practice. Everyone is welcome to register including students, articling students and non-members. This program provides opportunities for interactivity. Each panel of speakers will invite and answer questions from attendees. Conference recording will be made available to ONLY registrants within 15-business days after the conference.

REGISTRATION

(pricing for in-person and virtual are the same. When registering, you will be able to select your preference):

$30 plus HST: CLA Student Members
$45 plus HST: CLA Junior Active & Junior Observer Members
$60 plus HST: CLA Senior Active, Senior Observer & Affiliate Members
$165 plus HST: Non-members*

* Not a current member of the CLA? Find out more about membership by going to https://members.criminallawyers.ca/joinus

There are no refunds.

2026 Fall & Recent Call Conference - sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities (20 Nov 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

We are now accepting 2026 Fall Programming sponsors and exhibitors! All sponsorship levels include the FOUR functions below:

1. 54th Annual CLA Fall Conference (November 20-21, 2026 - in-person)

600 to 700 attendees
90% of attendees are practicing criminal defence lawyers.
95% of attendees practice in Ontario.
Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street, Toronto
Conference registration opens in September.

2. 38th Annual G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Award Presentation (November 21, 2026 - in-person)

2026 Winner to be announced by the end of July
200 to 300 attendees
Attendees are criminal defence lawyers, justices and o various members of the legal community.
Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street, Toronto
Luncheon registration opens in September.

3. Annual Women in Criminal Law Dinner (November 19, 2026 - in person)

mercatto, 101 College Street, Toronto, 6 to 9 p.m.
75 to 100 criminal defence lawyers that identify as female.
Dinner registration opens in July.

4. 12th Annual Recent Call Conference (September 26, 2026 – Hybrid)

200 to 300 participants
90% of participants are practicing criminal defence lawyers in their first seven years of practice.
Ontario Bar Association, 20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto
Conference registration opens in August.

Sponsorship levels (includes all four functions noted above):

Visionary (x1) $10,000
Platinum (x3) $7,500
Gold (x5) $5,000
Silver (x10) $2,000
Bronze (unlimited) $1,000

BREAKDOWN OF SPONSOR BENEFITS NOTED BELOW:

VISIONARY X1 $10,000 CDN

COMPANY BANNER/LOGO/NAME EVENT WEB PAGES: banner to include logo, sentence about sponsor & web/social media specs
COMPANY LOGO/NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: linked to sponsor website and sent to more than 6,900+ legal professionals
ONE DEDICATED EMAIL PROMOTION - sent via the CLA office to more than 6,900+ legal professionals.
EXHIBITOR SPACE at the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at all portions of the sponsorship.
60 SECOND COMMERCIAL – can be a video or a slide presentation to be played during intermissions at Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
FIVE COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATIONS to each of the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
LEAD SPONSOR OF G. Arthur Martin Criminal Justice Award Presentation.
PDF ADVERTISEMENT SHARED WITH ALL REGISTRANTS
CLA Social media acknowledgement via LinkedIn, X and Instagram.

PLATINUM X3 $7,500 CDN EACH

COMPANY BANNER/LOGO/NAME EVENT WEB PAGES: banner to include logo, sentence about sponsor & web/social media specs
COMPANY LOGO/NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: linked to sponsor website and sent to more than 6,900+ legal professionals.
EXHIBITOR SPACE at the main Fall Conference.
VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at all portions of the sponsorship.
45 SECOND COMMERCIAL – can be a video or a slide presentation to be played during intermissions at Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
THREE COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATIONS to each of the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
CLA Social media acknowledgement via LinkedIn, X and Instagram.

GOLD X5 $5,000 CDN EACH

COMPANY BANNER/LOGO/NAME EVENT WEB PAGES: banner to include logo, sentence about sponsor & web/social media specs
COMPANY LOGO/NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: linked to sponsor website and sent to more than 6,900+ legal professionals
VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at all portions of the sponsorship.
30 SECOND COMMERCIAL – can be a video or a slide presentation to be played during intermissions at Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
ONE COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION to each of the Fall & Recent Call Conferences.
CLA Social media acknowledgement via LinkedIn, X and Instagram.

SILVER X10 $2,000 CDN EACH

COMPANY NAME ON EVENT WEB PAGES
COMPANY NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: linked to sponsor website and sent to more than 6,900+ legal professionals
VERBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at all portions of the sponsorship.

BRONZE $1,000 CDN EACH

COMPANY NAME ON EVENT WEB PAGES
COMPANY NAME INCLUDED IN EMAIL PROMOTIONS: sent to more than 6,900+ legal professionals

FALL CONFERENCE EXHIBITOR SPACE $1,250 CDN EACH PLUS HST

ONLY 14 EXHIBITOR SPACES ARE AVAILABLE.

Note the below when reviewing the exhibitor placement map:

Space #8 reserved for the Visionary Sponsor at no extra charge
Spaces #6 (reserved for CDE), 7 and 9 reserved for Platinum Sponsors at no extra charge
Spaces #1, 4 and 10 (reserved for Midtown Psychology Legal) reserved for Gold and Silver Sponsors for an extra charge
Spaces #2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13 and 15 for Bronze sponsors or groups not sponsoring the conference and only wishing to purchase an exhibitor space.

EXHIBITOR INFORMATION:

The exhibitor space will be in the Ballroom Foyer – where all coffee breaks and Friday's cocktail reception will be held.
A listing of exhibitors, with a map with the placement of each, will be included in the Conference Materials.
Email confirmations sent to all conference attendees will list confirmed exhibitors.
The CLA website will also include a listing of confirmed exhibitors.
Food & beverages provided during scheduled CLA breaks are open to exhibitor staff to enjoy. Food circulated during the Friday social is also open to exhibitor staff to consume, but beverages will be at the expense of individuals (cash bar).
Actual conference registration and luncheon attendance are NOT included with Exhibitor fee, but may be purchased separately.
Space allocations will be available by mid-November. Each exhibitor will be contacted with space allocation details and shipping instructions closer to the conference date.
We will provide a 10' x 10' space, six-foot table, table cloth, two chairs and an electrical outlet for your use. Exhibitors MUST stay within their allotted 10' x 10' space due to fire-code regulations and in fairness to other exhibitors.
We will print exhibitor staff name badges IF names are provided to the CLA office at least 48 hours in advance of the conference.
Set-up time will begin at 6:30 a.m., Friday, November 20, 2026.
Take-down time will end at 5 p.m., Saturday, November 21, 2026.
Security personnel will be on duty between 7 p.m., Friday, November 20 and 8 a.m., Saturday, November 22; however, the CLA is not responsible for any lost or damaged items.
Wifi is included. However, exhibitors requiring telephone or hardwired high-speed lines will need to make arrangements directly with the hotel banquet office. Any additional fees for telephone/internet are to be paid directly to the hotel.

What geographic regions are our members from?

Alberta - 2%
Belleville/Napanee - .7%
British Columbia - 1.5%
Durham - Victoria - Peterborough - 2.6%
Grey/Bruce - .9%
Haldimand/Norfolk/Brantford - .3%
Halton - 1.3%
Hamilton - 1.9%
Kingston - 1.2%
London - 3%
Manitoba - .4%
New Brunswick - .4%
Newfoundland and Labrador - .3%
Niagara - .9%
Northwest Territories - .1%
Nova Scotia - .6%
Nunavut - .1%
Ottawa - 6.3%
Peel - 6.8%
Quebec - .9%
Rideau/St.Lawrence - .4%
Saskatchewan - .5%
Sault Ste. Marie - .5%
Simcoe/Muskoka - 1.7%
Sudbury - 2.5%
Thunder Bay - Kenora - 1.6%
Toronto - 48.5%
USA - .3%
Waterloo - Wellington - 2.4%
Windsor - 1.7%
York Region - 4.8%
Yukon - .2%