Stairway accidents result in numerous serious injuries and significant financial losses. A forensic structural engineer outlines the various aspects of stair construction that could affect its safe use, and the responsibilities of those connected to a stair slip-and-fall incident: the property owner, designer, homebuilder, and handrail installer.

As we start to travel again, see family and get back to the office, now is a great time to take stock of our financial situation and start looking forward to what comes next. Lawyers Financial offers a list of big financial shifts to consider as you plan for the year ahead.

After summarizing two recent Human Rights Tribunal decisions that, for the first time, considered the issue of misgendering of gender non-conforming employees in the workplace as well as their employers' failure to address their complaints of discrimination seriously or at all, the authors highlight key findings and provide practical tips for organizations in light of these decisions.

Resilience. Diverse interests and skills. An enthusiasm for innovation and continued learning. Reflecting on a challenging and rewarding first year of sole practice, Justin Bozzo pinpoints the traits that have allowed him to soar.

Since unrolling my OBA Lawyers Link mandate in September – designed to build upon the connection our members across the province have with each other and with the tools they need to thrive, wherever they are situated, within a rapidly modernizing world of law – I have witnessed some impressive examples of cross-region solution-sharing, collaboration, community-building and support.

In a year that saw continued rejigging of our workspaces and schedules and, for some, a return to old routines, we wondered where busy lawyers were most frequently able to find focus and foster creativity. So, we asked members: “Where do you do your best thinking?”

The Honourable Mary Jo Nolan has devoted her decades-long career to advocating for access to justice for society’s most vulnerable, achieving many firsts along the way: first female case management master in Ontario, first female judge appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Essex County, and now, first recipient of the OBA Award of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Southwest Region.

After attending the idea-packed RODA Annual Diversity Conference in Partnership with the OBA, Celeste M. Young considers how the intersection of conscious allyship and advocacy can be the catalyst for action and how lawyers can come together to advance important change.

An overview of the language obligations set out in the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO Rules) and examination of the scope of “language rights” contemplated by the LSO Rules, including recent legislative changes regarding access to justice in French in the province.

The forthright new memoir from renowned criminal defence attorney Marie Henein formed the basis of a fascinating OBA Community Book Club event. Attending virtually and answering questions on everything from public perception of law to double-standards that plague powerful women, Henein lived up to her reputation for candour and acuity.