On December 4, 2017, the Public Sector Lawyers Section of the OBA hosted a welcome reception for articling students and LPP candidates. The evening featured a talk by Janet E. Minor, Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada from 2014 to 2016 and the first lawyer from the public sector to hold that position.
A major theme of the discussion was the unique nature of public sector work and the satisfaction that comes from serving the public interest. Public sector lawyers face the constant challenge of balancing the interests of various stakeholders while negotiating the constraints on their specific role. This is a complex task that often demands consideration of system-wide consequences, political and economic realities, and legal principles including Charter rights and the rule of law. The diversity of valuable experiences available to public sector lawyers, from litigation to policymaking, provides ample opportunity for young lawyers to develop important legal skills.
Minor provided the audience with advice, both professional and personal, to keep in mind as students embark on their legal careers. She emphasized the importance of staying connected to the legal community through classmates, current and former colleagues, and groups such as the OBA and the Advocates’ Society. Relationships with mentors and colleagues help combat the natural pessimism of many in the legal profession. One of the most valuable traits that a young lawyer can develop, according to Minor, is resilience and the strength to ask for help when it is needed.
Furthermore, Minor encouraged members of the legal profession to turn their minds toward what she saw as the emerging areas of law and policy. New technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, will present novel challenges for our society that will have to be addressed, in part, by lawyers and policymakers in the public sector. Instead of fearing being displaced by such technologies, Minor encouraged the soon-to-be lawyers in the room to ensure their skills are adaptable and to rise to the challenge that these innovations demand. While the role of public sector lawyers will undoubtedly change as a result of these and other advances, the need for creative and innovative counsel is not going away.
Access to justice and the need to engage in the reconciliation process with Canada's Indigenous peoples punctuated Minor’s talk. She encouraged the audience to be mindful of the systemic barriers inherent in Canadian law, regardless of the specific role that each individual plays in the administration of that law. The importance of correcting attitudes and culture pervades all roles in and beyond the public sector and requires individual effort and responsibility to supplement the institutional responses of governments and other organizations. Although the reconciliation process is still in its early stages, Minor expressed hope and optimism about the potential of this transformative work.
The takeaway from Minor’s presentation was for young lawyers to say yes to the opportunities that they encounter throughout their lives and careers, as these challenges are where the potential for satisfaction lies. The articling students and LPP candidates in the audience got the opportunity to apply this advice after the discussion, having the opportunity to speak with lawyers from a diverse range of public sector backgrounds. A wide range of organizations were represented, including municipalities, provincial tribunals, and regulatory bodies. When all was said and done, the soon-to-be lawyers in the room left with the impression that a wealth of opportunities awaits any lawyer who chooses to pursue a career in the public sector.
About the authors
Jeremy Henderson and Ginger Zhang, Articling Students, Ontario Securities Commission
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ontario Securities Commission.