Resources, Articles, & Advocacy
Legislative Update | June 05, 2026
Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 1
Ontario Legislature Rises for 21-week Break: The Ford government ended its spring session two days early and has started an extended 21-week break. Government House Leader Steve Clark shared that politicians won’t return to Queen’s Park until Oct. 27 as returning earlier could “interfere” with local mayoral races around the province.
Article | June 05, 2026
The 2026 Canadian In-House Counsel Report: A Profession Under Load
The 2026 Canadian In-House Counsel Report is now out. This report is published annually by CBA In-House Lawyers together with Mondaq and Legal 500, and is intended to provide insight into the priorities and challenges facing in-house lawyers today. It was released in February 2026 and draws on nearly 500 responses from lawyers across the country, with the largest provincial cohort being Ontario at 36%. These reports are a timely pulse on the state and trajectory of the legal profession. The key theme of this year’s report is that in-house counsel are asked to do more without the adequate resources.
Article | June 05, 2026
Mentorship, Community, and the Power of Connection
One of the most rewarding aspects of my professional life today is supporting internationally trained lawyers who are beginning their own requalification journeys. Through my involvement with Osgoode Professional Development and the broader internationally trained lawyer (ITL) community, I regularly speak with lawyers who are considering, or are in the midst of, the process of qualifying to practice in Canada.
Article | June 05, 2026
AI Competence Is Now a Professional Obligation
Artificial intelligence is now embedded in everyday legal practice, with widespread adoption by lawyers—often even without formal approval. The rise of “shadow AI” highlights a growing gap between how quickly employees are using AI tools and how slowly organizations are implementing governance and safeguards. Professional obligations have not diminished in response to these developments; they have intensified. Competence requires not just using AI tools, but using them responsibly.
Article | June 03, 2026
Why Where You Post Legal Career Opportunities Matters More Than Ever
In hiring lawyers, context, credibility, and connection can shape better outcomes for employers and candidates alike.
Article | June 02, 2026
You May Be Ready for Mediation, But Make Sure Your Client Is Too
Successful mediation outcomes depend on more than legal preparation - they require clients who are emotionally ready and engaged in the process. In this article, mediator Stuart Rudner shares practical guidance on how counsel can bridge the gap between being prepared on paper and being prepared at the mediation table.
Article | June 02, 2026
Tailoring a Tort: Minding the Gap
In Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2026 SCC 16, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) customised a new tort of intimate partner violence (IPV) in response to what it described as the “pernicious social ill” of coercive control in intimate relationships. In doing so, the SCC granted family law litigants and survivors of IPV a powerful civil remedy; and practitioners, a comprehensive and structured primer on the advent of novel torts, marking a first in Canadian law. Although this decision arose in a family law dispute, it is expected to shape the development of tort law well beyond the confines of family law, making it an essential read for all civil litigators. This article focuses on the SCC’s preion governing the evolution of new torts.
