Advocacy-Matters-Summer-2023

INTERVIEW
Interview with Dominique T.
Hussey, Bennett Jones LLP
Compiled by Joe Thorne (he/him), Stewart McKelvey
Dominique Hussey is the 57th President of The Advocates’ Society, and is Vice Chair & Toronto Managing
Partner at Bennett Jones LLP. In addition to her management role, Dominique leads the firm’s Intellectual
Property Litigation group and is co-head of its Innovation, Technology and Branding group, where
she actively represents and advises clients. Advocacy Matters is honoured to sit down with our new
President.
Q. What is your vision for your term as President? What are your priorities?
A. My vision for my term as President is reflected in my chosen theme for the year: All Rise—Focusing
on the Future.
I have always liked the optimism of the phrase “All rise”; in the legal context it means more to me
than a courtroom command and show of respect. I see the phrase “all rise” as reflecting a certainty, as
our youngest members of the Bar will inevitably ascend to become the leaders of our profession. It is
a call to action for our national and collegial community of advocates to get involved in mentoring and
training, which is a professional obligation and its own reward. It is an aspiration that the Canadian
justice system will thrive and all of our members, across the country, in all their diversity, will flourish
in their calling as advocates.
The focus on the future is intended to imply a number of things. Of course, it means a focus on our
younger advocates—those in the Young Advocates’ Standing Committee (YASC) and Mid-Career Advocates’
Standing Committee (MASC) demographics. These are our future leaders. It is a priority of The
Advocates’ Society to ensure that these demographics, in particular, benefit from, and contribute to,
strong training, meaningful mentorship, and the powerful network that comes from a collegial and
committed bar.
A focus on the future also implies a focus on diversity. Our profession is increasingly diverse in all
ways—background, identity, points of view, areas of practice, and lived experience. The Society is inclusive
and needs to be seen that way. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion efforts will continue to be integral to
the work of the Society, and increasingly reflected in our offerings and initiatives.
A focus on the future also means addressing advocacy issues presented by technology, which evolves
too quickly for us simply to be reactive. To remain relevant, to serve our clients, and to function in our
courts, advocates need to be technologically competent and a little bit prescient. Artificial Intelligence
in practice will likely be the hottest topic of the year, and we will welcome the opportunity to
collaborate
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