John Arnup

Justice John Arnup provides a detailed account of founding the Advocates’ Society in 1963, beginning with conversations between Isadore Levinter and T.N. Phelan about improving advocacy skills among younger lawyers. The original ten founding directors included prominent barristers like John Robinette, Joseph Sedgwick, Arthur Martin, and Arnup himself, who was then Treasurer of the Law Society. The organization initially aimed to educate aspiring counsel who lacked proper courtroom technique and procedural knowledge.

Arnup describes the Society’s early challenges, including finding meeting spaces and recruiting members, as well as the evolution of its mandate beyond simple mentorship. He discusses the controversial move to Campbell House in 1968, which he initially opposed as too expensive but later acknowledged as successful. The interview covers the Society’s development of continuing legal education programs, its growing influence in judicial and legislative matters, and its transformation into a respected voice in legal reform alongside the Canadian Bar Association and Law Society.

The oral history provides valuable insights into the informal networks and social dynamics of Toronto’s legal establishment in the 1960s, including the exclusionary practices of organizations like the Lawyers Club. Arnup expresses satisfaction with how the Advocates’ Society evolved beyond its original conception, becoming an important institution in Ontario’s legal landscape while maintaining its core educational mission through moot court competitions and professional development programs.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.