Whether it’s taking the time to get context around a client’s instructions, avoiding generic definitions, understanding that experiencing the death of a family member can be a form of trauma, or remembering to be alert to unconscious bias, lawyers who devote due consideration to family dynamics become better service providers.

As leaders in advancing inclusive, innovative and thriving firms and organizations, what can lawyers do to combat stigma, bias and ableism, and build workplaces that work for all brains?

Many lawyers contemplating making greater use of generative AI in their practices – a prospect entertained with equal parts curiosity and caution – are in the early stages of testing out just what the rewards and risks might be. So, we asked members who’ve used AI tools, what has been the most surprising result they’ve received from a request.

Figuring out a career path to pursue long term – a preferred practice area and a setting – is a common struggle for law students. For those looking to find the right fit, articling with a municipality offers not only hands-on experience in several areas of law but exposure to both barrister and solicitor work.

"Get comfortable with losing" – and other lessons learned from legendary litigators at a uniquely revealing, riveting and reassuring evening of tales from the courtroom and mentorship through storytelling.

Solo practitioners tend to be motivated self-starters; however, given the demands of working at personal capacity, they are often acutely aware of their limitations. By way of encouragement, Rajen Akalu offers sole practitioners a reminder of why they should be respected by the legal profession and selected by clients in the market for legal services.

As I reach the one-year milestone of my super-sized presidency, I marvel at the progress made in a mandate so meaningful to me and at the overwhelming encouragement from an OBA community of lawyers, students, staff and other legal professionals and partners who have ensured the thoughtful delivery and perpetual proliferation of our new and enhanced networks of peer support.

How many times have you watched a movie or show featuring a hapless, harangued, misguided or mistreated figure whose situation cries out for sound legal advice or intervention? We asked members, if they could break through the fourth wall and offer their counsel to a fictional character of the big or small screen, who it would be and why.

Accepting the 2023 OBA Award for Excellence in Civil Litigation in front of a Ritz-Carlton dining room filled with friends, family and leaders of the bench and civil litigation bar, Linda Plumpton spoke of the alchemy of compelling advocacy, the ability of lawyers to change lives, and the responsibility to use gifts of persuasion to guard hard-fought victories in the fight for a fair and equitable society.

Understanding and addressing the impact of trauma on clients and practitioners is crucial for compassionate and effective representation. In a recent program jointly hosted by the OBA’s Elder Law Section and Family Law Section, experts in the fields of law, mental health and academia offered valuable insights and strategies to enrich legal services with a trauma-informed approach.