Articles 2024

Following are our summaries of the Court of Appeal for Ontario released during the week of January 27. The theme of the week was real property and condominiums.

As a personal injury lawyer, I looked forward to the changes to Rule 76 of the Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 76 is also known as the Simplified Procedure Rule. There were several changes that positively impact my clients.

In the face of a lengthy and often conflicting to-do list, the thought alone of having to take the time to prioritize can be cause for paralysis. Deciding what to do right away, what can wait, and what can even slide is no easy task. For those also struggling to prioritize with ease, hopefully the following tips and considerations can be of use.

As a young lawyer, I shied away from the idea of using ADR. I held the mistaken belief that time in court was the sole way to develop the necessary skills to be a litigator. My misperception changed quickly when I shadowed several ADR files. ADR is not only beneficial for the client and the backlogged courts. ADR also provides young lawyers with many additional benefits, four of which are described in this article.

While you may be inclined to prioritize sleeping over socializing after a long day at the office, there is a reason that “networking” is so vigorously encouraged. The legal community is close knit and building relationships with your peers will benefit you personally and professionally in the long haul. Here are five quick tips for making the most of your networking experience.

How do you maintain serviceability while managing the expectations of multiple “internal clients?” In the spirit of the New Year, I consulted with some of my colleagues and came up with the following strategies to assist you to continue to meet expectations while not compromising the quality of your work. Here are some strategies that have proven useful over the past few years.

“Where are you from?” Have you been asked this question before? If so, who asked you? Was it someone you just met? Was it at a networking event, a client meeting, a job interview, or something along those lines? Did the person who asked you the question look anything like you? The question “Where are you from?” remains prevalent, which I find troubling. Here is why.

What are the key anticipated developments for Canadian class actions in the year ahead? This article provides some important insights.

After you start practising law, is it ever too late to change your practice area? In this article, the author shares her experience changing her specialty as a litigator from insurance defence to family law. By emphasizing transferable skills and experience, you can make a successful transition. Read on for more details about how one lawyer shifted her practice and found her fit.

Prior to October 1, 2019, the only lands to which a lien could not attach were federally and provincially owned lands. Municipal lands, other than public streets or highways owned by a municipality, were subject to lien registrations just like any other privately-owned land. Effective October 1, 2019, liens no longer attach to any municipal lands, which means that registering a lien against municipally owned land is not an option.