Now Open: CILA Mentorship Course: Practical Training on Preparing Judicial Reviews (November 3 – 24, 2026)

Overcome your fear of filing JRs and gain the confidence to handle Federal Court applications with expert guidance. Learn how to prepare Judicial Reviews applications from start to finish in a 4-week practical course with an optional practical assignment add-on where a litigation expert will review an entire JR application prepared by you.

Register here.

Learn life-long practical skills

Have you ever hesitated to file a Judicial Review because you weren’t sure where to start? This hands-on mentorship program is designed specifically for immigration lawyers who want to develop practical, real-world skills in preparing and arguing Judicial Review applications.

This is not theory. This is practical training from a litigation expert.

Course at a Glance

Program Dates: November 3, 2026 – November 24, 2026, with a practical add-on assignment.
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM ET
Format: Live online sessions (1.5 hours each)
Modules: 4 core modules + optional practical assignment
Class Size: Limited to 10 participants

Available Exclusively for CILA members

What You’ll Learn

Throughout this course, you’ll gain valuable insights into the practicalities of preparing and arguing an application for Judicial Review, including:

• Important Federal Court procedures: An overview into the relevant rules and practice notices affecting procedures for JRs
• Best practices for Application Record preparation: An in-depth look at each element of the Application Record with practical examples for preparing a Record and important case law to be aware of
• Learning how to prepare a mandamus application: Record preparation, practical tips
• Navigating Interactions with the Department of Justice: Practical tips and tricks for engaging the DOJ for settlement
• Preparing for the JR Hearing: Best practices to help you develop and hone your oral advocacy skills
• Optional Practical Assignment: An opportunity to put your new skills to the test and prepare a real Application Record with a rare opportunity for your work to be reviewed by a litigation expert

After completion of the course, you should gain practical skills on how to prepare your first JR.

Course Instructor

Mary Lam has practised exclusively in Canadian Immigration and Citizenship law for over three decades. Her practice spans litigation and judicial review, inadmissibility matters, and routine temporary and permanent residence applications. She takes on complex files, and she welcomes the opportunity to share the challenges and my experiences to help colleagues.

Why Attend

This four-course module is a unique opportunity to expand both your immigration expertise and the service offering of your practice. Well beyond a traditional CLE, this practical course will provide a step-by-step guide on how to complete the Judicial Review (JR) process and create confidence in taking on these types of cases.

Designed for those who have never completed a JR before, but open to both new and experienced practitioners, this course provides an opportunity to learn new skills in a supportive group environment that fosters both community and collegiality.

Please note that purchases are non-refundable.