As part of the three-day OBA institute, the Public Sector Lawyers group gathered on February 7th for an evening of reflection and discussion led by Program Chair Kate Julien. The evening began with a casual forum where VIP guests the Honourable Lise Favreau, of the Superior Court of Justice, Michael Gottheil, Executive Chair, Social Justice Tribunals Ontario, and Karen Manarin, Barrister & Solicitor shared insights from their own experiences working in the public sector.
Each of the speakers addressed different aspects of the work of a public sector lawyer. However, there was a prevalent theme that was consistent throughout the evening: it is both an immense privilege and a responsibility to work as a public sector lawyer.
Justice Favreau began the conversation and focused her remarks on her time litigating for the Ministry of the Attorney General at the Crown Law Office – Civil. Justice Favreau offered sage advice that young lawyers should consider as they set out for a career in the public service:
First, get into court as much as you can. The Crown has the opportunity to deal with many interesting cases and tends to provide great opportunities for young counsel to advance their skills.
Second, remember that advocacy is more than just an oral exercise and perfect your written skills as well. Remember that what you write affects your reputation personally as well as that of your client and ensure that your arguments are well-researched and fair.
Third, remember who you are representing and know that there is an expectation that you will act reasonably and candidly. Although this may sound burdensome, it is in fact a great benefit to have the trust of the court.
Finally, although it may appear to contradict the first point, know when not to go to court. Working for the government means that there is more than just money at stake; counsel should be creative with settlement discussions and use good judgment to know when that would be a better alternative.
Karen Manarin then spoke from her diverse experience having worked for both the provincial and federal governments, as well as a crown corporate regulator. Further, Ms. Manarin has worked in both litigation and management and hence has seen different sides of these organizations.
Ms. Manarin pointed out that what we know about public sector work is true: it is flexible and often stable. However, she added that it is also incredibly interesting and rewarding. She also referenced the many ways that the public sector commits to providing better services to the public and in turn invests in its staff, for example, by providing French classes. Moreover, she emphasized the collegial and supportive work environment, which is filled with interesting people to talk to and learn from.
When asked how she found her path, Ms. Manarin spoke about how her interests and opportunities aligned. It was because she was interested in specific cases at her position at the Crown Law Office Criminal that she found her way to the Securities Commission and RCMP. The key is identifying the types of cases you enjoy and staying in tune with opportunities as they arise.
The final speaker of the evening was Michael Gottheil, who spoke about the unique challenges facing public sector lawyers. In Mr. Gottheil’s role as the Executive Chair of Social Justice Tribunals Ontario, he ensures the proper functioning of the social justice tribunals, including the appointment of adjudicators.
Mr. Gottheil spent the first 20 years of his career in private practice before moving to the public sector. He faced unexpected challenges – not least of which was the election cycle. Although lawyers are not involved in the political side of the government, it affects our work regularly. He encouraged public sector lawyers to embrace this challenge and others like it.
Mr. Gottheil described his work as both fun and inspirational. He urged lawyers in the public service to seize the day and take advantage of opportunities that arise. Outside of our own professional development, he pointed out that public sector lawyers can achieve some very interesting things in law and policy.
The most important take-away from Mr. Gottheil’s remarks was his mantra: “giving and taking and staying human.” This statement serves as a reminder that we should not just be providing services – we should also be listening to the needs and challenges of the public we serve. It is incumbent upon public sector lawyers to find humanity in their work. It will be challenging and scary at times, however it is incredibly important to remember who we are serving.
Following the panel, attendees had the opportunity to meet, reconnect and network with one another. It was a great evening for members to learn about the diverse career paths that others have taken in the public service.
About the Author
Stephanie Bishop is a recent graduate of Queen’s University Faculty of Law and is currently articling at the Ministry of the Attorney General – Constitutional Law Branch. When she is not thinking about the law, you can safely assume that she is thinking about travelling or her adorable pup.