Advocacy Exam Review – Advocacy – 2026 – Study Guide and
Exam Preparation Material
When should you prepare a book of authorities, and what should you put in? - correct answer
✔✔ You should prepare a book of authorities if you are relying on multiple cases or statutory
provisions. You should put in a copy of each case or statutory provision, separated by numbered
tabs. Insert a list of the authorities at the front of the book, setting out the full name and
citation of each case and statute.
Briefly describe the sections your notebook should contain. - correct answer ✔✔ Title page -
ames of parties, contact information of client, and name and contact information of the
opposing party
Summary of the facts of the case - a summary detailed enough to refresh your memory of the
case
Pleadings - put all court/tribunal documents in chronological order
Trial checklist - list of facts you need to prove at the trial/hearing, next to each fact include
name of the witness you will call and any documentary evidence you will rely on for the fact to
be established
Witness list - list of witnesses in order of who you are going to call; should include contact
information for each one
Documents/exhibits - insert copies of all documents; may need to index documents/exhibits if
there are many; do not punch holes in original documents or insert them into notebook keep
them in a folder or sleeve; include several blank pages for you to make an exhibit list
Opening statement - put notes you have for delivering your opening statement
Direct examination - insert notes setting out the questions you will ask with the question you
expect; include some blank pages for notes
Cross-examination - insert notes on target areas and preliminary questions; insert blank pages
to take notes
Closing argument - insert notes of the draft closing you have prepared; insert blank pages so
that you can make additions or revisions required
,How should you prepare a trial or hearing notebook? - correct answer ✔✔ You should prepare a
trial or hearing notebook by using a three-ring binder with tabs or dividers to separate the
sections. Your notebook should be organized in a manner that you can find what you need
easily and quickly.
What is a trial or hearing notebook? - correct answer ✔✔ A trial or hearing notebook is a
notebook prepared and used by each party containing all the important information needed at
trial or a hearing in a secure and organized format.
What should you do to ensure that your documentary evidence will be admitted? - correct
answer ✔✔ Follow the procedures and rules of the courts to ensure that documentary
evidence is correctly admitted in a timely manner.
What is a summons? - correct answer ✔✔ A summons is a legal document which requires a
person to attend a trial or hearing as a witness.
What should you do to ensure that all of your witnesses will show up at the trial or hearing? -
correct answer ✔✔ By informing your witness of the time and place of the hearing. If the
witness is unwilling to testify, get a summons from the court or tribunal.
Book of authorities - correct answer ✔✔ book containing a copy of each case and statutory
provision relied on for wch trial or hearing
Trial or hearing notebook - correct answer ✔✔ notebook prepared and used by each party,
containing all important information needed at the trial or hearing in a secure and organized
format
Summons - correct answer ✔✔ a legal document requiring a person to attend a trial or hearing
as a witness
,How do you respond to an objection made by the other side? - correct answer ✔✔ If an
objection is made by the other side, you should explain why the evidence is being presented to
the court or tribunal and why it is admissible.
How do you decide whether or not to object? - correct answer ✔✔ Think about your theory of
the case and consider how objectionable evidence affects your theory. If the exclusion of
evidence supports your theory then you should object. If vice versa, then you should not object.
When should you object during the opening statement and closing argument of the opposing
advocate? - correct answer ✔✔ An objection should be made during the opening statement if
the opposing advocate is referring to inadmissible evidence, or stating his or her personal
opinion. An objection should be made during the closing statement if the opposing advocare is
misstating the law or the evidence, arguing facts that have not been entered into evidence, or
expressing his or her personal opinion.
When should you object to the introduction of an exhibit by the opposing advocate? - correct
answer ✔✔ You should object to the introduction of an exhibit if the exhibit cannot be
authenticated by the witness.
What are the most common objections made during re-examination by the opposing advocate
of his or her witness? - correct answer ✔✔ The most common objections made during re-
examination are similar to that of direct-examination; that the questions are leading, the
question is asking for information already given on direct-examination and the question is
asking for information that should have been dealt with in direct examination.
What are the most common objections made during cross-examination of your witness by the
opposing advocate? - correct answer ✔✔ The most common objections made during cross-
examinations are that the question is argumentative, repetitive, compound, vague, ambiguous,
or confusing, seeking privileged information; or seeking evidence that is not relevant.
What are the most common objections made during direct examination of the other side's
witness? - correct answer ✔✔ The most common objections made during direct examination
, are that the questioning is leading, that the witness is giving hearsay evidence, that the
question calls for hearsay evidence, that the question calls for an opinion, and that that the
witness is giving opinion evidence and is not a qualified expert.
When should you object? - correct answer ✔✔ You can object during direct examination, cross-
examination, re-examination, when introducing exhibit and during opening and closing
statements
List and briefly describe the types of objections that may be made to the substance of the
evidence that the witness is being asked to give. - correct answer ✔✔ Objection to the
Substance of the Evidence - Objections to the substance of the evidence are based if the
evidence is hearsay, the witnesses opinion, the relevancy, if the witness is speculating, and if the
evidence is protect by the solicitor-client privilege
List and briefly describe the types of objections that may be made to the form of the question
being asked by the opposing advocate. - correct answer ✔✔ Objection to the Form of the
Question - Objections to the form of the question are based on if the question is leading,
compound, vague, ambiguous, or confusing, argumentative, and/or repetitive
What is the proper way to object? - correct answer ✔✔ By saying "I object [Your Honour/Your
Worship/Mr./Madam Adjudicator]" and then state the reasoning in a simple and specific way.
Remain standing until the decision-maker has made their ruling on the objection.
What happens if the decision-maker disagrees with your objection? - correct answer ✔✔ If the
decision-maker disagrees with your objectioning, the opposing party will be able to carry on
with the line of questioning, answering of a question or giving evidence. You should still thank
the decision-maker and sit back down and the proceeding will carry on.
What happens if the decision-maker agrees with your objection? - correct answer ✔✔ If the
decision-maker agrees with your objection, they will rule the opposing advocate's question,
evidence or answers as inadmissible and they will not be able to use it in their case.
Exam Preparation Material
When should you prepare a book of authorities, and what should you put in? - correct answer
✔✔ You should prepare a book of authorities if you are relying on multiple cases or statutory
provisions. You should put in a copy of each case or statutory provision, separated by numbered
tabs. Insert a list of the authorities at the front of the book, setting out the full name and
citation of each case and statute.
Briefly describe the sections your notebook should contain. - correct answer ✔✔ Title page -
ames of parties, contact information of client, and name and contact information of the
opposing party
Summary of the facts of the case - a summary detailed enough to refresh your memory of the
case
Pleadings - put all court/tribunal documents in chronological order
Trial checklist - list of facts you need to prove at the trial/hearing, next to each fact include
name of the witness you will call and any documentary evidence you will rely on for the fact to
be established
Witness list - list of witnesses in order of who you are going to call; should include contact
information for each one
Documents/exhibits - insert copies of all documents; may need to index documents/exhibits if
there are many; do not punch holes in original documents or insert them into notebook keep
them in a folder or sleeve; include several blank pages for you to make an exhibit list
Opening statement - put notes you have for delivering your opening statement
Direct examination - insert notes setting out the questions you will ask with the question you
expect; include some blank pages for notes
Cross-examination - insert notes on target areas and preliminary questions; insert blank pages
to take notes
Closing argument - insert notes of the draft closing you have prepared; insert blank pages so
that you can make additions or revisions required
,How should you prepare a trial or hearing notebook? - correct answer ✔✔ You should prepare a
trial or hearing notebook by using a three-ring binder with tabs or dividers to separate the
sections. Your notebook should be organized in a manner that you can find what you need
easily and quickly.
What is a trial or hearing notebook? - correct answer ✔✔ A trial or hearing notebook is a
notebook prepared and used by each party containing all the important information needed at
trial or a hearing in a secure and organized format.
What should you do to ensure that your documentary evidence will be admitted? - correct
answer ✔✔ Follow the procedures and rules of the courts to ensure that documentary
evidence is correctly admitted in a timely manner.
What is a summons? - correct answer ✔✔ A summons is a legal document which requires a
person to attend a trial or hearing as a witness.
What should you do to ensure that all of your witnesses will show up at the trial or hearing? -
correct answer ✔✔ By informing your witness of the time and place of the hearing. If the
witness is unwilling to testify, get a summons from the court or tribunal.
Book of authorities - correct answer ✔✔ book containing a copy of each case and statutory
provision relied on for wch trial or hearing
Trial or hearing notebook - correct answer ✔✔ notebook prepared and used by each party,
containing all important information needed at the trial or hearing in a secure and organized
format
Summons - correct answer ✔✔ a legal document requiring a person to attend a trial or hearing
as a witness
,How do you respond to an objection made by the other side? - correct answer ✔✔ If an
objection is made by the other side, you should explain why the evidence is being presented to
the court or tribunal and why it is admissible.
How do you decide whether or not to object? - correct answer ✔✔ Think about your theory of
the case and consider how objectionable evidence affects your theory. If the exclusion of
evidence supports your theory then you should object. If vice versa, then you should not object.
When should you object during the opening statement and closing argument of the opposing
advocate? - correct answer ✔✔ An objection should be made during the opening statement if
the opposing advocate is referring to inadmissible evidence, or stating his or her personal
opinion. An objection should be made during the closing statement if the opposing advocare is
misstating the law or the evidence, arguing facts that have not been entered into evidence, or
expressing his or her personal opinion.
When should you object to the introduction of an exhibit by the opposing advocate? - correct
answer ✔✔ You should object to the introduction of an exhibit if the exhibit cannot be
authenticated by the witness.
What are the most common objections made during re-examination by the opposing advocate
of his or her witness? - correct answer ✔✔ The most common objections made during re-
examination are similar to that of direct-examination; that the questions are leading, the
question is asking for information already given on direct-examination and the question is
asking for information that should have been dealt with in direct examination.
What are the most common objections made during cross-examination of your witness by the
opposing advocate? - correct answer ✔✔ The most common objections made during cross-
examinations are that the question is argumentative, repetitive, compound, vague, ambiguous,
or confusing, seeking privileged information; or seeking evidence that is not relevant.
What are the most common objections made during direct examination of the other side's
witness? - correct answer ✔✔ The most common objections made during direct examination
, are that the questioning is leading, that the witness is giving hearsay evidence, that the
question calls for hearsay evidence, that the question calls for an opinion, and that that the
witness is giving opinion evidence and is not a qualified expert.
When should you object? - correct answer ✔✔ You can object during direct examination, cross-
examination, re-examination, when introducing exhibit and during opening and closing
statements
List and briefly describe the types of objections that may be made to the substance of the
evidence that the witness is being asked to give. - correct answer ✔✔ Objection to the
Substance of the Evidence - Objections to the substance of the evidence are based if the
evidence is hearsay, the witnesses opinion, the relevancy, if the witness is speculating, and if the
evidence is protect by the solicitor-client privilege
List and briefly describe the types of objections that may be made to the form of the question
being asked by the opposing advocate. - correct answer ✔✔ Objection to the Form of the
Question - Objections to the form of the question are based on if the question is leading,
compound, vague, ambiguous, or confusing, argumentative, and/or repetitive
What is the proper way to object? - correct answer ✔✔ By saying "I object [Your Honour/Your
Worship/Mr./Madam Adjudicator]" and then state the reasoning in a simple and specific way.
Remain standing until the decision-maker has made their ruling on the objection.
What happens if the decision-maker disagrees with your objection? - correct answer ✔✔ If the
decision-maker disagrees with your objectioning, the opposing party will be able to carry on
with the line of questioning, answering of a question or giving evidence. You should still thank
the decision-maker and sit back down and the proceeding will carry on.
What happens if the decision-maker agrees with your objection? - correct answer ✔✔ If the
decision-maker agrees with your objection, they will rule the opposing advocate's question,
evidence or answers as inadmissible and they will not be able to use it in their case.
