Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee

How has watching Bridge of Spies helped OBA President Colin Stevenson stay so calm in even the most stressful situations? Hear how preparedness and a sense of humour can help keep things in perspective despite challenging times.

OBA Past President Orlando Da Silva started a conversation about mental health in the legal profession and checks in with us in this episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee to remind lawyers to manage their expectations and be patient with themselves. You don’t need to find your new normal right away.

What’s the virtual equivalent of a workplace water cooler conversation? In this episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee, OBA 1^st Vice President Charlene Theodore provides some great tips on how to maintain strong online connections for both morale and balance in your workday.

In an age of physical distancing, what are some ways we can accommodate family gatherings and time with loved ones? Hear how OBA Secretary Kate Manning plans to celebrate Passover and Easter this year in this episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee. 

Lynne Vicars, OBA Immediate Past President, knows how to have fun, and in this episode, she shares some of the ways she’s taking time away from work to maintain balance and have a little fun too. You’ll also be warmed to hear the personal story behind her favourite mug!

Sometimes the missing piece to the wellness puzzle is simply a note-to-self to remind you to keep things in perspective. In this episode, find out how Matt Certosimo of BLG is reliving his high school days, supporting his clients and keeping his family close.

As a visionary and an innovator, Peter Aprile of Counter Tax Lawyers sees the opportunities that moments of tension and disruption can offer. They can be small or large, but just looking for these opportunities have the ability to positively change your mindset.

Remembering a childhood game her mother used to play with her is helping Osgoode Hall law professor Signa Daum Shanks keep things in perspective during this challenging time. Find out how the resilience of others gives her strength and how she is finding ways to put a positive spin on the things that sometimes get her down.

A busy lawyer who typically goes to live music shows as his “time out from the law” must find new ways to refresh and recharge during a global pandemic. In this episode, hear what new hobbies criminal lawyer, Jody Berkes, is continuing to take time out from the law by picking up some new hobbies at home.

With a full cup of coffee in hand, lawyer Rachel Sachs discusses how strong social ties are essential for people of all ages and abilities. While some days may require you to channel the elusive magic of a unicorn just to get through, taking time to connect and support one another remains an essential element to enriching our everyday lives.

OBA Treasurer and Partner at Bennett Jones LLP, Ranjan Agarwal, brings out a very special mug for this episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee and encourages a thoughtful approach to thinking about and empathizing with others – now during these challenging times and always.

A long-time supporter of public television, Chair of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association, Daniel Bourque encourages us to find the positives in today’s climate – from an unprecedented and united global act of humanity to the hard work and talent being poured into finding a cure for COVID-19, Daniel reminds us that the good news is out there; we just need to look for it.

Chris Bentley, former Attorney General of Ontario and current Managing Director of the Legal Innovation Zone and Law Practice Program at Ryerson University has spent years running and has found that moving, getting outside and disconnecting from the pressures of our day to be one of the best ways to pursue happiness. Get inspired by watching this episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee. 

Need something besides caffeine to rejuvenate you? Join us for this unique coffee break, where meditation instructor and lawyer Ari Kaplan takes viewers through a short mindful meditation moment. This episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee, will help you stop, take a breath, observe the ebb and flow of our day, and then proceed with your work feeling refreshed and recharged.

Ontario’s Chief Justice imparts sage advice in this special edition of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee, encouraging us all, and especially new lawyers, to use this time wisely because preparing ourselves for the challenges we’ll inevitably face, leaves us better equipped to deal with the good times and the bad.

Robert Shawyer, Founder and Principal at Shawyer Family Law and Mediation Professional Corporation, knows the value of community and staying connected. Hear how he’s staying in touch with his colleagues and keeping them motivated in group settings and with individualized attention.

Drawing on her experiences during Hurricane Sandy, Chair of the OBA’s Equality Committee, Sojourner King, talks about how important it is spend time with yourself, to make time for your family, to take time away from the news and to get some fresh air to help you stay positive.

How is entertainment and media lawyer Bob Tarantino replicating everyday office interactions in a digital work environment? This episode features one firm’s experience in using technology to keep corporate work flowing but simulate a fun office-like environment too.

Knowing just how fortunate we are to be in Canada, to have our health, and to be able to do our jobs from home, Angela Swan, Counsel for Aird Berlis, describes how managing the loneliness during the pandemic has been difficult and how the OBA’s Mindful Moments help keep her connected.

Law firms, like Pallett Valo LLP, where lawyer Jeffrey Percival, practices are giving careful thought and taking flexible approaches to bringing lawyers, staff and clients back into the office setting. Recognizing that the pandemic is affecting people in different ways, this episode looks at ways law firms can adapt to the needs of their people as they ease into reopening and recovery.

With advice for both practising lawyers and students preparing for licensing exams, Ugo Ochonogor, who will soon be called to the Ontario bar, shares some of the hobbies she’s picked up during quarantine and how scheduling her daily activities has helped her stay on task and accomplish all she needs to do.

Lawyer, Gary Kalaci, CEO at Alexa Translations, has a 13-year old son who is a real inspiration in today’s COVID climate. Printing face shields with his 3-D printer for Sick Kids Hospital and other charitable groups, we find out more about the inspiration and the impact behind this impressive work in this episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee.

In one of his last activities as Treasurer of the Law Society of Ontario, Malcom Mercer joined us on Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee to share three very practical tips that he’s using to help cope with the challenges of today: be kind, manage your emotions and worry only about the things that are in your control.

Bucking all forms of convention, OBA Past President Quinn Ross isn’t drinking coffee, considers four-day work weeks and discusses how practice team meetings can be a platform for joke-telling in this episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee.

While nothing could have prepared any of us for the events of 2020, CBA President Vivene Salmon quotes Maya Angelou and talks about the importance of putting one foot in front of the other each in an effort to rise above our struggles and challenges.

In times of crisis, we can always find helpers, and in this episode of Lawyers on Zoom Drinking Coffee, Ontario’s Attorney General Doug Downey, highlights for us some of the ways that people and communities are coming together right now as a way to help us shift our mindset and try to see things in a more positive light.  

While we may want to curb our news consumption these days, we also rely on social media to keep us connected. Lawyer and social media strategist Eva Chan provides some helpful hints on how to sift through all of the information that is available and make social media more purposeful for you.

With a coffee mug that serves as a happy reminder of what’s possible when it comes to technology, Chief Justice of Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice, the Honourable Geofferey B. Morawetz, describes how the use of technology is helping the justice sector get through today’s challenging times.