Stay informed with the latest insights and updates

As widespread vaccination against COVID-19 continues in Ontario, many lawyers are transitioning from working at their kitchen tables to working at the office. With this in mind, here are some considerations and observations on returning to the office after spending almost 20 months working from home.

In our profession, achieving a balance between work and other demands of life can be daunting, but not achieving it could be devastating to the mind, the body, the work and familial connections. This article contains some useful tips for attaining balance in your life and work and serves as a reminder that we are the catalysts to achieving that sense of balance.

Conflicts of interest are all around us. The politician who takes a large campaign donation from a special interest group. The realtor who pushes a sale to get their commission. The hiring director who insists their relative is the best candidate for a job. You likely know it when you see it. For legal practitioners, however, conflicts of interest work on us in complex ways and recognizing them is not always intuitive.

“You’re going to burn out.” Many of us have probably heard this phrase, having either been the one telling this to someone or been on the receiving end. With its stay-at-home orders, working from home, and not having a clear division in our days, the pandemic has made burnouts a more prevalent issue across various professions. The author shares some tips on dealing with burnout in the workplace as a young lawyer.

This article is not exhaustive on the topic of starting your private practice but it is an attempt to give insight on what to expect when you decide to become a legal soloist. In any event, bear in mind that you are not alone and that there is a whole army of legal soloists waiting for you to reach out to them.

You may not think of licence plates as a feminist issue, but last year, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia made a strong pronouncement on the impermissibility of personalized license plates that promote or may be seen to promote gender-based violence.

I recently had an amazing conversation with Nicki Ward, an advocate and activist who has been very active in the trans community for well over 20 years and who is well versed in the types of issues I wanted to explore as we wind down on Pride Month 2021. We talked about human rights, the Toronto Trans March, self-awareness, and how we can expand as human beings into a space that is ultimately better for our society as a whole. I hope you find this conversation just as refreshing as I did.

Having recently completed her articling term in the midst of a pandemic, Avechi Chimara shares in this article a few of her experiences and what she learned along the way.

Mark Asfar provides in-depth advice and solutions to ensure that your virtual set-up is as professional as possible.

In this article, Sahil Shoor provides a detailed breakdown of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Ontario (Labour) v Sudbury (City), which may significantly increase the risk of legal exposure for an owner of a construction project.

Notwithstanding the varied responses that remote meetings elicit, there is little doubt that the shift toward virtual health care has been a bright spot during the pandemic. In this article, Joshua shares some examples of virtual health care resources which are convenient ways for all of us, whether a young lawyer or not, to manage our health during such a difficult time.

In conversations with colleagues, the two challenges they continue to express when working from home are how to “remember to take regular breaks” and “stop working and switch off.” Finding what works best for you can be a matter of trial and error. And with the recent series of lockdowns, you’ll likely have plenty of time for both.

In March 2021, a Waterloo woman was convicted of violating a publication ban issued in a sexual assault case in which she was the victim. Although this is reportedly the first prosecution of its kind in Canada against a victim of sexual assault, what transpired is indicative of pervasive misunderstandings about the application and purpose of publication bans in sexual assault cases.

While mandatory vaccination policies can be devised and implemented in a number of ways, employers should consider a number of associated risk factors and legal obligations before deciding whether a mandatory policy is right for their workplace.

In today's hot real estate market, buyers may forget that "buyer beware" is more than just a pithy phrase and that caveat emptor continues to apply to the purchase of resale homes. This article gives prospective home buyers a background on their rights and provides tips on how to avoid being caught without recourse if their dream home ends up not being such a dream after all.

Many young lawyers may not think that having powers of attorney is necessary at this early point in their career. Calvin Hancock makes the compelling case for why everyone, including young lawyers, ought to execute power of attorney documentation.

We have to continuously speak about freedom, equality and equity because these are things that matter to all of us and they are constantly under attack. We need to take a deep dive into the lives of our heroes and trailblazers and see what lessons can be learned and applied to the challenges that we are facing today.

Black history is Canadian history—is world history—and during the month of February, not only is it important to discuss the accomplishments of Black lawyers and legal professionals, but also the work that still needs to be done to create a seat at the table for everyone within the profession.

As many of us are approaching the one-year anniversary of working from home, this can be an opportunity to reflect on how remote work is, or isn’t, working for you. Here are our top 10 lessons from 2020.

As our professional responsibilities require providing representation to an increasing number of multicultural clients, it is essential that the skills, attitude and values of cultural competency be integrated into legal education, professional development, and the rules of professional conduct.

In this article, Behzad Hassibi discusses the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in Waksdale v Swegon North America Inc. This decision will have a significant impact on the enforceability of employment contracts, as many termination clauses that were previously enforceable may now be null and void.

The recent case of Terranata Winston Churchill Inc. v. Teti Transport Ltd., et al., 2020 ONSC 7577 explores the meaning of a “standard” release in the context of multi-party and multi-action construction disputes. This decision also serves as a warning to settling parties—unconditionally agreeing to an undefined release may have unintended consequences.

Looking for a new years resolution? Read about Zackery Shaver's resolution to become more connected with his community.

Starting a new job is never easy, but starting a new job during COVID-19 is extra challenging. Andrea Daly provides insights about putting your best foot forward when starting a new job during the pandemic.

This article sets out helpful tips and tricks for lawyers who find themselves against a self-represented litigant in Small Claims Court.

Not every lawyer wants to stay in the first practice area that they choose forever. If that sounds like you, check out these practical tips from Ludmilla Jarda.

Olivia Koneval-Brown sets out best practices for virtual document execution.

Selina Mamo and Kate Julien are Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Ontario Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Central. In August 2019, they each welcomed their first baby and began a 12-month maternity leave. Selina and Kate sat down for a fireside Zoom chat to compare experiences and discuss advice for other young lawyers considering taking parental leave.

Young lawyers have plenty of opportunities to volunteer in non-legal, or what I call “law-adjacent,” capacities. In fact, I would suggest volunteering “outside the law” in conjunction with taking on some pro bono work or legal volunteering, or just volunteering in a non-legal capacity. Let me explain why...

The practice of law is much different than it was ten years ago. It demands more specialization and discipline in order to be successful in today's marketplace. However, as a sole practitioner, your future can be molded to your desire and your ability to pivot and adjust to your external circumstances are within your control.