Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Article | December 01, 2025
Tilly Norwood and the Future of Global Entertainment Law
As AI-native Generation Beta is born, meet Tilly Norwood, social media’s controversial new star. She’s an actor, a model, and a budding influencer with a rapidly growing online following who engages with her fans and collaborates with brands. She is also a complete fabrication, a "synthetic human" meticulously crafted by actor/comedian Eline Van der Veden’s London-based studio Particle 6. Norwood’s emergence is no mere novelty; it is a manifestation of the 2025 technological zeitgeist. As generative AI models produce increasingly coherent and sophisticated output, and the "uncanny valley" between the real and the artificial shrinks, she represents a new frontier - not just for technology, but for the law.
Article | November 27, 2025
Spotlight on Articling Student Hanaa Ameer-Uddin
Hanaa Ameer-Uddin graduated from the University of Ottawa and now articles at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Her interest in corporate law traces back to growing up in a family of entrepreneurs; from a young age, she noticed the impact of business decisions on people’s lives. In this conversation, she walks us through her path from undergrad to articling and shares practical advice for law students finding their way.
Advocacy | November 25, 2025
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of November 17
Province Targets Child Support from Impaired Drivers: Building on recent measures passed in the Safer Roads and Communities Act, 2024, the Ford government is developing new measures that would require impaired drivers to pay ongoing child support if they kill a child's parent or guardian. Attorney General Doug Downey explained in a statement that, "our government is looking at practical solutions that can ease their [surviving children's] burden in the wake of such tragedies and provide financial stability for children who are left behind."
Article | November 25, 2025
The Client Who Changed Me: A Lawyer’s Reflection on Parental Leave
Parental leave is often described as time away from one’s career, but for many lawyers, it becomes an unexpected chapter of growth, clarity, and transformation. In this candid reflection, Jessica Byles-Nolet shares how stepping back from practice during her first year of motherhood reshaped her understanding of identity, ambition, and balance. What began as a fear of losing her professional edge evolved into a profound realization: that legal skills can be strengthened outside the office, and that presence—both at home and at work—requires intention. Her story offers encouragement to lawyers navigating parental leave and redefining what it means to thrive.
Article | November 25, 2025
Bortolon: Regulators Must Provide Notice Before Imposing Orders Based on New Issues Beyond Original Investigation
This summary of the Divisional Court's recent decision in R v Bortolon, 2025 ONSC 3848, discusses key takeaways for health lawyers whose practices include professional regulation matters.
Article | November 24, 2025
Think Bigger: Three Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self
In this deeply personal reflection, Dr. Ningjing (Natalie) Zhang revisits her journey from living in a women’s shelter to becoming an immigration and refugee lawyer in Ontario. Inspired by a recent GROWL gathering, she shares three lessons she wishes she could give her younger self — lessons shaped by hardship, resilience, mentorship, and growth. This article invites lawyers, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, to rethink belonging, reject comparison, and embrace their unique stories as sources of strength.
Article | November 24, 2025
Ontario’s Immigration Crossroads: OINP Challenges and the Path Forward
Ontario’s immigration system is entering a period of major change. Over the past year, the OINP has expanded its enforcement powers, increased its discretion to return or cancel applications, and introduced new interview and inspection authorities through recent regulatory amendments and Bill 30. These developments have already resulted in the suspension and return of entire categories of applications, including the Skilled Trades Stream, largely due to systemic compliance concerns. At the same time, unresolved issues such as the treatment of restricted CPSO licences continue to limit eligibility for self-employed physicians despite critical labour needs. While the province is working to address some of these gaps, the overall system now faces heightened uncertainty. As Ontario moves into 2026, restoring transparency, predictability, and procedural fairness will be essential to maintaining a functional and trustworthy OINP for employers, applicants, and communities.
