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.

 

•  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. 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.