Articles 2021

You got into law school, obtained your J.D., passed the Barrister and Solicitor exams, completed your practical experience requirement, and have been called to the Bar. Congratulations! What else can you do with your law degree other than practice law? Read on for an exploration of potential paths available to young lawyers looking for a new direction.

This article identifies, corrects and clarifies eight of the most popular myths relating to termination of employment. Read on for a primer on common law and statutory entitlements, layoffs versus termination, releases, the impact of new employment after termination, and working notice.

Investing time and money into continuing professional development (CPD) can allow you to navigate new technologies, keep up with emerging issues, and make sure that you’re using the best tools and most current information to serve your clients. It is also an opportunity to refresh core competencies.

There are several truisms that accompany the practice of law. One of these is the fact that your family and friends will invariably and periodically ask for your assistance in addressing legal issues. As a trusted companion with the benefit of a legal education, a lawyer may even find that they have been appointed as an estate trustee under the Will of a friend or family member, occasionally without prior consultation.

A case currently before the Ontario courts highlights the importance of fraud and cybercrime awareness for both seasoned solicitors and newly-called lawyers. In Dentons Canada LLP v Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company 2018 ONSC 7311, an associate from the applicant law firm attempted to transfer over $2.5 million to clear a mortgage on his client’s property. Instead, he was duped into transferring most of the funds to a fraudster.

Depending on your personality, networking events can inspire a wide range of emotions. For better or for worse, they are a necessary part of the profession to help build your book of business and create connections that might be helpful for your career. This article contains some tips and tricks complied over the years to help you maximize your experience at networking events and hopefully make it more enjoyable.

Every day, lawyers are exposed to different dimensions of conflict, including their client’s trauma or intense emotional states. Stress can lead to compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. Notice the signs and process your stress. Read on for more information and strategies for predicting and preventing the three burdens of the helping profession.

Increased transparency in international commercial arbitration may improve quality by allowing arbitral decisions to undergo public scrutiny and contribute to jurisprudence. More transparency comes at the cost of the privacy and confidentiality of arbitral stakeholders. Read on for an analysis of these competing objectives in international commercial arbitration.

The OBA YLD Executive calls upon you to inspire a passion for law in local students by volunteering in the OBA Law Day program.

You and your partner are moving in together, or you have just set a wedding date. These are both happy events and are likely filling you with a lot of excitement, planning, and optimism. So why spoil the moment with talk of a prenuptial agreement? Prenups, or “domestic contracts” as they are called in Canada, are a difficult topic to bring up with your partner, especially if you are not sure if they will be on board with the idea.