Articles

The very things we often rail against when confronted with the bureaucracy of our government may very well be the secret of its success.

What role does self-interest play in self-regulation? Do Crown prosecutors have ethical obligations different from other lawyers? What is the best way to regulate judicial conduct? How are law firms regulated in today’s multi-jurisdictional reality?

On May 26, 2017, lawyers gathered to honour Voy Stelmaszynski with the Ontario Bar Association’s 2017 Tom Marshall Award of Excellence for Public Sector Lawyers.

On June 15, 2017, Sara Blake (Ministry of the Attorney General) and Jeff Cowan (WeirFoulds) hosted a group of lawyers at the OBA to provide insightful analyses of six recent cases from the public sector.

On April 4, I chaired a program which explored three areas of understanding that are important in interactions with political staffers by both lawyers and non-lawyers: the training and regulation of staffers; the Law Society’s Rules of Conduct that are engaged when lawyers interact with staffers; and political acuity.

Margaret Drent recaps the February 10 OBA Institute program, "Being a Lawyer in Politics".

The federal government appointed the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation in June 2016 and released a discussion paper to inform the work of the Task Force. The report sets out nine public policy objectives, the most important of which is to keep marijuana out of the hands of children and youth, and to keep profits out of the hands of criminals.

Joy Hulton, Regional Solicitor for York Region, discusses various issues that municipalities should consider before appointing a municipal ombudsman.

On November 23, 2016, the OBA Public Sector Lawyers Section held its annual welcome reception for articling students and LPP candidates. The Honourable Madam Justice Andromache Karakatsanis, the keynote speaker at this year’s reception, provided valuable insights through personal reflections on her long and distinguished career in public service.

On October 21, 2016, a group of public sector lawyers and attendees gathered for an afternoon program on the delegation of provincial and municipal authority.