SMART ADVOCACY: SHARPENING STRATEGY & MAXIMIZING VALUE
Friday Afternoon, June 5th and all-day, Saturday, June 6th, 2026
at the Delta Prince Edward, Charlottetown, PEI

This conference represents 9.5 Hours of MCPD Credits; including 3.0 Special MCPD Hours (incl. Practice Management, Professional & Ethical Conduct and Communications & Client Relations Credits.)


DOWNLOAD THE FULL CONFERENCE BROCHURE -> HERE
TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE -> HERE
RESERVE A ROOM AT THE CONFERENCE VENUE -> HERE 
LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT A BOOKING ELSEWHERE THAT INCUDES THURSDAY -> HERE
 

Join the Atlantic Provinces Trial Lawyers Association for an exceptional day-and-a-half legal education conference designed exclusively for plaintiff personal injury lawyers who are committed to maximizing results for their clients. This year’s program centers on one powerful theme: achieving the best possible resolution of your clients’ personal injury claims. From early case strategy and effective file positioning to strengthening negotiation leverage and enhancing trial performance, APTLA's Smart Advocacy conference will deliver practical, actionable insights you can immediately implement in your practice. You’ll gain proven techniques to assess value, build persuasive cases, and drive stronger outcomes at every stage of litigation. Whether you are refining your approach to complex matters or seeking to elevate your overall litigation strategy, this conference will equip you with the tools, perspective, and confidence to secure meaningful results for the clients who rely on your advocacy.

Sharpen your strategy. Strengthen your advocacy. Maximize client recovery.

We look forward to seeing you in Charlottetown.

 

APTLA's Smart Advocacy conference includes:

•  Opening Remarks - APTLA President
•  Caselaw Review - APTLA Young Lawyers Section
•  The Value Menu: Small Claims, Big Stakes: Get tactical on small-claim strategies with big-picture payoffs.
•  Persistent but Troubling: Advocating for Lingering, Low-Visibility Injuries: Learn to advocate when symptoms stay but proof is elusive.
•  Unusual Vehicles - eBikes, Scooters & Segways:  Liability, Comparative Negligence & Insurance Gaps
•  Split Decisions: Navigating Partial Fault in Common Auto Cases: Smart moves for building or breaking shared liability claims.
•  What Actually Drives Resolution: Insights from from file building to case presentation.
•  Litigate Lean - How to Shorten a Trial Without Weakening Your Case: Cut court time without cutting corners.
•  AI for Lawyers:  The top apps / programs to add value to your cases.
•  Hidden in Plain Sight:  Everyday tech in your client's vehicle.
•  Best Bang for Your Buck - Maximizing File Value With What You've Got: Tools to get the best outcome with the file you’ve got.

APTLA is honoured to have Bruce Plaxen, Plaxen Adler Muncy (MD) join us at the conference. Bruce is a well-respected trial lawyer and the current President of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). A dedicated advocate for injured individuals and consumers, Bruce has built his career representing plaintiffs in complex personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil justice cases. Throughout his decades in practice, he has earned a reputation for strategic advocacy, ethical leadership, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of those harmed by negligence and misconduct.

We are honoured to include The Hon. Jonathan Coady, Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island, The Hon. Justice Jean-Paul Ouellette, New Brunswick Court of King's Bench (Supernumerary); The Hon. Nancy L. Key, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island; Dr. Dinesh Kumbhare, Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto; Sean FitzGerald, VRA - Vocational Rehabilitation Assessments; Karla Cassidy, JSHeld; and Joel Plater, HRM Risk Manager, in our faculty. 

APTLA is also delighted to showcase our members on our conference faculty. Our thanks to  Marie-Eve Nowlan & Gabrielle Robichaud, Fidelis Law/Droit; Aqeel Yousafzai & Melanie Young, MacGillivray Injury & Insurance Law; Derek Bondt & Cindy Taylor, Key Murray Law; Phillip Moriera & Mike Dull, K.C., Valent Legal; Susan Johnston, Carr Stevenson & MacKay; Sydney Hanson, MDW Law; Olivia Mason, K.C., Pressé Mason; Rod Gillis, K.C., Gilbert McGloan Gillis; David Brannen, Resolute Legal; Mark Raftus, McKiggan Hebert; Aodhan Murphy, Claude Roussel & Shane Scott, Mike Murphy Law Group; and APTLA's President, Gerald Ralph, Central Law.

APTLA thanks all of them for their time, energy, and expertise, as well as their willingness to share them with our members. 

 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

WHO CAN REGISTER?  APTLA'S CONFERENCES are open to APTLA Members and Non-Members, lawyers and non-lawyers (subject to approval by APTLA).

APTLA MEMBER REGISTRATION - (9.5 Hours of MCPD Credits)
$425.00 + HST - APTLA Lawyer Members
$425.00 + HST - APTLA Associate Members
$325.00 + HST - APTLA Young Lawyer Section Members
$225.00 + HST - APTLA Clerks & Students

APTLA Member Registrations after Friday, May 22nd, 2026 will be at the Non-Member price.
 
NON-APTLA MEMBER REGISTRATION - (9.5 Hours of MCPD Credits)
$700.00 + HST - for Non-Members
$500.00 + HST - Non-Member Young Lawyers
$425.00 + HST - Non-Member Clerks & Assistants

Conference Registration includes attendance at the conference, refreshment breaks, the conference luncheon, an invitation to all associated social events, access to all conference materials, and HST.
 

THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE CATERING SPONSORS:

 

Co-Luncheon Sponsor

Co-Luncheon Sponsor
 

Enhanced Morning Break Sponsor

 

Refreshment Break Sponsor

  

Refreshment Break Sponsor
 

Refreshment Break Sponsor

THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE EXHIBITORS:

Krofchick Valuations    •    Integra Connects   •   Charles Foster - Mediator

BridgePoint Financial   •    Rehabilitative Ergonomics   •   MDD   

McKeating Actuarial Services   •    Synoptic Medical Assessments   •    JSHeld

Great Oak   •    PsycIME   •    Canada Law Financing    •    Circle Bay Medical

 

WHO CAN JOIN THE ASSOCIATION?  APTLA welcomes both plaintiff lawyers and non-lawyers to Membership. We would love to welcome you to Membership in the Association. Non-Members may wish to consider joining APTLA if they qualify for Membership. New Members immediately qualify for reduced pricing for this conference. If you wish to join us and take advantage of member pricing, please fill out the membership form.

WHAT ARE THE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS?  APTLA Members receive education discounts, exclusive use of our Members' ListServ, a subscription to APTLA's eNewsletter, use of our state-of-the-art website, and other annual benefits!

 

OTHER IMPORTANT CONFERENCE INFORMATION:

HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS:  APTLA has a Room Block held for our conference attendees at the Delta Halifax, who have graciously agreed to extend our cut-off date. Hotel arrangements must be made on or before Friday, May 8th, 2026. After this date, rooms will be subject to regular pricing.  Make you Delta Prince Edward hotel reservations here.

CANCELLATIONS & CUT OFFS:  Conference registration cancellations must be received in writing to the office on or before Friday, May 22nd, 2025. Hotel arrangements must be made on or before Friday, May 8th, 2026. After this date, rooms will be subject to regular pricing.