Hands-on Tools Designed to Support Lawyers Through Transition
The Ontario Bar Association is dedicated to serving the profession through this time of rapid change and modernization. With the province adopting Thomson Reuters’ CaseLines (Digital Evidence Center) as part of its digitization strategy for Ontario’s courts, the OBA will support the bar with training, tools and services to assist lawyers and firms in making this transition. The OBA has partnered with Thomson Reuters in order to receive the training and test environment necessary to help support their members.
“The OBA understands that this rapid rollout represents a significant change in the processes many lawyers have followed in their practice,” says OBA President Charlene Theodore. “With our extensive online learning infrastructure, already used by thousands of lawyers, we have prepared training and service tools to support lawyers and help them transition to this new system.”
Originally launched in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (SCJ) in August 2020 as a pilot project for civil motions and pre-trial conferences in Toronto, CaseLines has been expanded to include commercial, estates and family matters in Toronto. All SCJ regions are expected to be using CaseLines by July of this year.
“The OBA is the voice of lawyers in Ontario. We are proud to work with them to help train the legal profession on a solution that will help the courts transition into the digital era,” said Maria Cooley, GM of Thomson Reuters Canada. “The CaseLines platform enables the courts to operate in a faster, more efficient manner, helping people get the justice they deserve.”
“The Court is tremendously grateful for the OBA’s efforts to support the Bar through this period of massive transformation,” said Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz. “This easy-to-use platform will be a game-changer, but it will require training and support. I am very pleased that the OBA will help fill this gap.”
The OBA knows that there are a myriad of different practice environments and are developing training tools and services that support everyone from sole practitioners to lawyers and litigation support staff in large firms. In addition, the OBA has procured a CaseLines test environment that will allow for hands-on training and the opportunity to test and explore additional features.
Training will include:
- A live weekly CaseLines Q&A session hosted on Zoom
- On-demand video library and quick guides for key CaseLines activities (e.g. uploading a factum)
- On-demand mock trial demonstrating the use of CaseLines in a hearing
- Emergency support line with CaseLines certified staff
As CaseLines continues to roll out in new practice areas and regions, the OBA will deliver targeted training sessions. The OBA will also work with members or law firms to develop a customized training package to help prepare them for the provinces new case management platform.
About the Ontario Bar Association
Established in 1907, the OBA is the largest voluntary legal association in Ontario representing over 16,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students. The OBA provides continuing professional development and advocates for improvements to the law in the interests of the profession and public.
about thomson reuters
Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world’s most global news service – Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.
For more information:
Michael Speers
Media & Communications Specialist
mspeers@oba.org
416-602-6146
Dave Moran
Thomson Reuters
Dave.moran@tr.com
1-647-285-3815