"Get comfortable with losing" – and other lessons learned from legendary litigators at a uniquely revealing, riveting and reassuring evening of tales from the courtroom and mentorship through storytelling.

How many times have you watched a movie or show featuring a hapless, harangued, misguided or mistreated figure whose situation cries out for sound legal advice or intervention? We asked members, if they could break through the fourth wall and offer their counsel to a fictional character of the big or small screen, who it would be and why.

Accepting the 2023 OBA Award for Excellence in Civil Litigation in front of a Ritz-Carlton dining room filled with friends, family and leaders of the bench and civil litigation bar, Linda Plumpton spoke of the alchemy of compelling advocacy, the ability of lawyers to change lives, and the responsibility to use gifts of persuasion to guard hard-fought victories in the fight for a fair and equitable society.

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.