Articles

The following articles are published by OBA Sections, including the Student Section. Members are encouraged to submit articles.

Editor: Yoann Emian

Today
Today

Renting to Students and “Roommates”? Then Beware!

  • May 14, 2018
  • Joe Hoffer

The Landlord and Tenant Board has been declaring that instead of the single lease that the parties have entered into, there are deemed to be legally separate leases with each of the roommates. If a roommate vacates, that roommate’s share of the rent is no longer payable by the rest of the roommates. The landlord's only option to recover the lost income is to go to small claims court to recover the arrears from the roommate who defaulted.

Real Property Law, Student Forum

Getting Off the Record: When, why and how?

  • May 14, 2018
  • Laura A. Hunt

There are times in every litigator’s practice when he or she concludes that for one reason or another they can no longer act for their client. In order to get off record when a client does not agree, counsel must bring a motion seeking an order removing him or herself as lawyer of record. In doing so, there are three principal issues the lawyer must consider: when, why and how?

Student Forum, Young Lawyers' Division

Checking Out Growing Legal Innovation and Tech in Ontario

  • May 14, 2018
  • Mark Asfar

This year is shaping up to be a great one for legal innovation in Canada. For many lawyers and firms the task of updating their systems and processes to currently existing technology is an intimidating challenge, and the prospect of actually pursuing innovative or novel solutions is just not on the table. However, and despite this apparently ubiquitous problem, lawyers across the globe have finally begun to embrace technology.

Student Forum, Young Lawyers' Division

Law Society of Ontario to review the process for assessing a candidate's good character

  • May 14, 2018
  • David McRobert, Michael Fortier and Sari Graben of the Working Group on the Law Society’s Good Character Evaluation Process, with input from other members of the Working Group

At the Law Society of Ontario’s (LSO) Annual General Meeting (on May 9, 2018, Treasurer Paul Schabas, announced that the LSO will be conducting a review of the “good character” requirement for licensee applications. There is a need to ensure not a different or lower standard, but that the process for admission to the bar is fair and does not unduly prejudice Indigenous applicants.

Aboriginal Law, Student Forum

Fun in the Sun with a Side of Networking

  • May 11, 2018
  • Erin Page, Associate at Gowling WLG

The sun is finally starting to shine, and it seems that spring has arrived. With summer just around the corner, Ottawa has a number of great outdoor team sporting events coming up that you can get involved in with fellow young lawyers or even potential or existing clients.

Young Lawyers' Division, Student Forum

The Race to Declare Trans Mountain a "Work for the General Advantage of Canada"

  • May 11, 2018
  • Zackery M. Shaver, Library of Parliament

The race to seek a resolution in Kinder Morgan’s hard-fought Trans Mountain Pipeline saga is making headlines. Kinder Morgan, in news reports, has imposed a May 31 deadline, after which it will cancel its multibillion dollar pipeline project. Meanwhile, Alberta Senator Douglas Black has tabled a public bill that would see that the “Trans Mountain Pipeline Project and related works are declared to be works for the general advantage of Canada.”

Student Forum, Young Lawyers' Division

So You’ve Finished your Articles: Five tips for the post-articling transition

  • May 11, 2018
  • Calvin Hancock

The typical articling term involves a steep learning curve and long hours. It can be difficult to think about or plan for life after that ten-month end date. But once you’ve run the gauntlet and been called to the bar, it’s time to transition into life as an associate. The following observations and tips, learned through experience, can ease this transition.

Student Forum, Young Lawyers' Division
Federal Government Introduces Legislation to Address Violence and Harassment in the Workplace

Federal Government Introduces Legislation to Address Violence and Harassment in the Workplace

  • May 10, 2018
  • Matthew Craig

In the wake of the #MeToo campaign, which has grown to include several shocking revelations of sexual harassment on Parliament Hill, the Government of Canada has introduced Bill C-65 – An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment and violence), the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1.

Labour and Employment Law, Student Forum