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Young lawyers have plenty of opportunities to volunteer in non-legal, or what I call “law-adjacent,” capacities. In fact, I would suggest volunteering “outside the law” in conjunction with taking on some pro bono work or legal volunteering, or just volunteering in a non-legal capacity. Let me explain why...

Selina Mamo and Kate Julien are Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Ontario Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Central. In August 2019, they each welcomed their first baby and began a 12-month maternity leave. Selina and Kate sat down for a fireside Zoom chat to compare experiences and discuss advice for other young lawyers considering taking parental leave.

The practice of law is much different than it was ten years ago. It demands more specialization and discipline in order to be successful in today's marketplace. However, as a sole practitioner, your future can be molded to your desire and your ability to pivot and adjust to your external circumstances are within your control. 

The decision to open one’s own practice is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it is also not for those who do not know how to be humble and appreciate that their success rests squarely on the generosity of others. Whether it be our clients or our colleagues, we innately depend on others for our professional survival.

We all know that mistakes are common. They are an inevitable part of the human existence. So why have I increasingly come to feel like mistakes are incompatible with the legal profession? In my opinion, this distorted perception of mistakes stems from the nature of legal work and the personalities of people within the profession. 

Ontario’s public health measures may have slowed down the spread of COVID-19, but they have also had a huge impact on people’s lives and their ability to make a living. Fortunately, the government tabled legislation in September, which introduced three new temporary Canada Recovery Benefits aimed at providing income support to the self-employed in the coming months and other workers, while promoting economic recovery.

Lawyers and other legal professionals have a strong tradition of giving back to their profession and the community through volunteerism, and that tradition does not need to be interrupted by the pandemic. There are still plenty of ways to get involved and give back, and in many cases, it is now easier than ever to volunteer.