Background

This week, I had the opportunity to argue a matter before the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). I walked into the meeting with a straight agenda of getting the adjournment but guess what? I walked out after four hours of advocacy, and the result wasn’t favourable – but that’s not the point. One important lesson is success is not measured by wins in the LTB. Every hearing is a chance to learn how advocacy works in real life, and the LTB is a box full of lessons for all lawyers and law students.

Lessons I Learned

I cherish the experience I had at the LTB. It is important to learn lessons early on in life rather than regretting mistakes at a later stage. This was my first ever LTB experience and I was prepared to walk into the hearing with confidence and a mindset of getting the hearing adjourned. The fact that I did not get a chance to speak up and say “Member, I want to request an adjournment for the hearing, and I was interrupted in between saying, you will have your chance to speak” gave me enough reasons to walk out immediately. Guess what I did stay patiently till the end. Did I receive the adjournment, no, but here are the three most important things I learned through that hearing.

Lesson 1: Flexibility Is the Key

First things first, being stern will not get you anywhere whether in life or in LTB. Flexibility is the key to everything. I prepared for days and hours altogether, but the hearing did not go exactly as planned. Being able to read the room, adjust the submissions, pivot the arguments on the fly often matters just as much as the written record. 

Lesson 2: Being Human 

Being a Human will help in the LTB. As much as I like to talk about the law in the court, LTB functions more on the human aspect of it. It is extremely people-centred just like the profession of law. I saw families navigating house-struggles, tenant advocating for stability, and landlords trying to protect their livelihood. It’s a reminder that law isn’t just about statutes and case laws – it’s about real lives.

Lesson 3: Charter Arguments Can Arise Anywhere

As I went in for the adjournment and not the hearing, nonetheless Charter arguments were present. I did not have client instructions on Charter arguments but the fact that they existed in a housing context, I got another lesson. Knowing how to frame rights-based submissions in a way that it resonates with the LTB member is a skill that carries over into other practice areas. 

Legal knowledge alone will not help you survive in the LTB as it is all about how advocacy is delivered. Unlike the courts, where statutory interpretation plays a key role in determining the results of the matter and case-laws take a centre stage, tribunals like LTB can feel unpredictable and can give a good bump in the blood pressure. Some lawyers, also half-jokingly call it a “kangaroo court”. Here, the success is often calculated from strategy, communication, and connecting with the decision-maker, not just showing what the law is and why it should be adhered to.

Conclusion

Approaching the LTB, here is a summary of what I will take care of, for the next time: 

• Keep it simple: Frame arguments in a way that is accessible and practical
• Understand the tribunal’s culture: The LTB operates in a middle ground – not too formal, not too casual.
• Focus on the story: LTB loves to know what happened, real-life examples and analogies are your best friends.
• Read the decision-maker: Pay attention to cues and adapt your approach in real time. 

Ultimately, the LTB is a reminder that advocacy is about more than law – it’s about human lives, stories, flexibility, strategy, communication, and understanding your audience. Every hearing, win or lose, is an opportunity to be better, grow and refine your skills as a lawyer while keeping humanism alive! 

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