Toronto Federal Prosecutor Jason Mitschele proved the naysayers wrong by rising to prominence in a field he was frequently told would present too many difficulties for him. Here, he recounts his experience navigating law school, the legal system, and in-person and virtual courtrooms as a blind lawyer.

In this case comment with a twist, the author discusses the Ontario Superior Court's decision R v K.P. to grant an application to challenge prospective jurors for cause on the ground of transphobia and includes insights from Neha Chugh, the Ontario lawyer who argued the application, resulting in the first opportunity for the lower courts to test the Supreme Court's obiter comments in R v Chouhan regarding the efficacy of the recently enacted challenge for cause mechanism in the criminal code.

It occurs to me there are some lessons we would do well to revisit even well into our legal careers. It’s easy to become so busy – once we’ve established ourselves in practice, advanced in our field, assumed a rapidly expanding roster of clients, cases or responsibilities – that we find ourselves operating on auto-pilot and losing sight of some questions fundamental to our success and satisfaction.

When I was speaking about my presidential mandate at the last OBA Council Meeting and soliciting feedback from members on where support was most needed, it was like the floodgates had opened – it was so validating to hear that situations or anxieties you imagined uniquely yours were, in fact, quite common.

Many of us once eagerly anticipating more real-world social and workplace interaction are now struggling to find our footing or feeling flummoxed about reclaiming old stomping grounds. Psychologist Dr. Noah Lazar lays out steps for alleviating the stress and conflicting, confusing emotions around returning to an in-person world.

In an informal meeting with the OBA’s Official Languages Committee, French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario Kelly Burke shared her thoughts on access to justice in French in the province, highlighting the importance of community engagement, education and legislative initiatives, notably the active offer of services in French.

Head of litigation at one of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies, Kristina Milbourn talks about being captivated by the complexities of law and practicing on Bay Street, the variety and opportunities to innovate she enjoys in her current in-house role, and her passion for science, sponsorship and social justice.

A discussion of the discriminatory impact of the single-family rule on the grounds of sexual orientation, the HRTO’s unsettled jurisdiction over the issue, and the broader implications for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

With many of us now successfully splitting our time between remote and in-office arrangements, we wanted to find out what modifications to routine members enjoy when operating away from the workplace fray, so we asked them to tell us one thing they do differently on the days they work from home to take advantage of a more flexible schedule.

At a recent OBA Community Book Club event, lawyers Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson, authors of Valley of the Birdtail, talked to members about the power of narrative history to change hearts, minds and political choices; the real sacrifice that reconciliation requires; and the action they hope to inspire with their eye-opening work.