Virtual Boardroom

Courses & Registration

FOAJ offers a variety courses on a regular schedule throughout the year, most qualify for the Certificate in Tribunal Administrative Justice.

To register online click the "Register" button to the right or for pdf version click here and submit by email: info@foaj.ca or fax: 780-466-8015.

Principles of Administrative Justice (aka Introduction to Administrative Justice)
Looking for an introduction or a refresher? This two-day course can be either. It covers an overview of the principles of administrative law, fair process, professional conduct, hearings, evidence, decision making and decision writing. The information and exercises help administrative justice decision makers acquire a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Staff, administrators and advocates learn how they work with the decision makers in the hearing process. Participants leave with basic knowledge and skills.  Includes pre-course readings. (14 Training Hours)

Watch the Principles of Administrative Justice video here.

This course is a prerequisite to all other FOAJ courses.
$970 Members / $1200 Non-Members

Interpreting Legislation
This course is one of the most practical and useful courses for tribunal members and staff who deal with legislation, regulations, bylaws or policy. In two days, the instructor introduces a method for interpreting legislation. The method, based on the Supreme Court of Canada's modern approach to interpretation, combines theory with practice, giving participants a sound foundation to tackle interpretation questions.  The course will include what you need to know before starting to interpret legislation, how to unravel complicated text, and a template for tackling the interpretation of legislation.  (14 Training Hours)

Watch the Interpreting Legislation video here.

Prerequisite:  Principles of Administrative Justice
$970 Members / $1200 Non-Members

Decision Making
Solid decision making is the key to well written decisions. This two-day workshop gives participants a structure for and experience with a practical decision making process. Participants work with a model for decision making to gain confidence in its use. The course covers key elements of identifying and discussing the issues, interpreting the legislation, sorting and weighing the evidence, and applying the facts to the legislation. This course is a must for any decision maker or problem solver.  (14 Training Hours)

Watch the Decision Making video here.

Prerequisites:  Principles of Administrative Justice & Evidence
$970 Members / $1200 Non-Members

Decision Writing
This two-day hands-on workshop builds decision writing skills. Participants will learn to bring a reader oriented perspective to writing decisions; organize and revise decisions to enhance logic and flow; and write clear, concise and coherent decisions. They will gain confidence in decision writing within their tribunal context by practicing particular skills and techniques through focused writing exercises. The materials include "A Plain Language Audit Tool" and "Plain Language Writing".  (14 Training Hours)

Watch the Decision Writing video here.

Prerequisites:  Principles of Administrative Justice, Evidence, & Decision Making
$970 Members / $1200 Non-Members

Evidence
In this two-day intermediate evidence course, the focus is to assist tribunal members to acquire additional skills and tools related to admitting and weighing evidence. Participants practice dealing with evidentiary objections and common evidentiary issues. They deal with affidavits, examining witnesses and compelling documents and witnesses. They also practice the weighting of evidence, including assessing credibility.  (14 Training Hours)

Watch the Evidence video here.

Prerequisite:  Principles of Administrative Justice
$970 Members / $1200 Non-Members

Effective Witnesses (aka Giving Evidence)
Effective Witnesses is a one-day course to familiarize advocates and witnesses with the basic tools to prepare productive witnesses in the hearing context. Participants practice preparing for and giving evidence in a hearing. Whether you are an advocate, a person who testifies multiple times and in different capacities or a one time witnesses, this course will make you more confident and comfortable with presenting evidence before a tribunal.  (7 Training Hours)

Prerequisite:  Principles of Administrative Justice
$770 Members / $1000 Non-Members

Presenting Cases Before Tribunals
The content and quality of the decision from a decision maker is directly related to the content and quality of the presented cases. In two days, the participants learn what and how to prepare an effective case before a tribunal or decision maker. Find out what matters to decision makers. Tips, practice guides, and forms are part of the materials. This workshop will be particularly useful for staff or advocates who appear before administrative agencies or decision makers of all kinds.  (14 Training Hours)

Watch the Presenting Cases Before Tribunals video here.

Prerequisite: Principles of Administrative Justice
$970 Members / $1200 Non-Members

Effective Hearings
In a two-day workshop tribunal members acquire or enhance skills to conduct fair hearings. Participants learn about the three styles of hearings, reinforce fair hearing principles, recognize issues that arise in hearings, learn to conduct hearings more effectively, and gain confidence in conducting hearings within their tribunal context. Participants will practice their skills in mock hearings.  (14 Training Hours)

Prerequisites:  Principles of Administrative Justice & Evidence
$970 Members / $1200 Non-Members

Case Management Practices
This one-day workshop focuses on those tribunal practices which impact the tribunal's operations. By approaching case management in four segments - people, information, time and process, participants learn a systematic approach to assessing and responding to case management issues. Some of the topics include: How do you manage heavy case loads? Reduce hearing time? Balance client and budgetary demands? Deal with difficult clients? Improve settlement rates? Improve tribunal stakeholder relations? Tips and strategies for managing cases loads and the challenges arising with different tribunal practices will be discussed. A must for managers and staff.  (7 Training Hours)

Prerequisites:  Principles of Administrative Justice
$770 Members / $1000 Non-Members

Plain Language for Writing Decisions
Participants learn techniques for changing legalese (traditional legal writing) into clear, concise, but still technically correct decisions. They can also opt to have a written assessment of their own writing after the seminar. This seminar is a lively, activity-filled session. Each person will receive an Improving Legal Writing Manual and other materials. The workshop is intense, but rewarding.  (7 Training Hours)

Prerequisites:  Principles of Administrative Justice
$770 Members / $1000 Non-Members

Single Adjudicator's Clinic
This one day workshop is for all decision makers who work alone, with or without staff assistance. You will examine a series of case studies to cover pre-hearing, hearing and post hearing matters. Process challenges arise for every decision maker, but may appear more difficult when you are working alone. Are self-represented parties more difficult before a single adjudicator? How do you deal with disclosure and evidentiary issues? What do you do when what you intend to decide differs from how other adjudicators have decided on the same issue? Should you share pertinent information or previous cases you know with the parties? What works well to manage logistics? Do single adjudicators panic and if so, how do they overcome the panic? In addition to sharing with experienced course leaders, you can share with and learn from your colleagues in other tribunals.  No exam.  This is a valuable course, however, it does qualify for certificate hours. (7 Training Hours)

Prerequisite:  Must be CTAJ Certified & 5 years of experience in the field.
$770 Members / $1000 Non-Members