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Some days, practicing law feels energizing and exciting. Other days, it can feel exhausting and frustrating. If more days are falling into the latter category, you might wonder if you are in a slump or approaching burn out. In her article, Keagan Davis-Burns addresses this question and reflects upon the joys of the legal profession that helped reinvigorate her love for the law.

Young lawyers may find themselves working closely with clients who have experienced trauma. In her article, Ningjing Zhang discusses how young lawyers can provide effective and meaningful assistance to these clients, particularly by practicing empathy and addressing the complex ways trauma might manifest during the solicitor-client experience.

In this article, James McCarthy provides insight into some of the realities of navigating the legal profession as a member of the 2SLGBT+ community.

In this article, Caroline Bedard provides an overview of why and when litigators should request a protective order over documentary productions. Used properly, these orders can be a useful tool in litigators' pockets. However, it is imperative that lawyers and parties understand when protective orders are appropriate.

If thoughts about student debt consistently creep into the back of your mind, causing you anxiety and uncertainty, you are not alone. Many simply don’t know where to begin navigating this unknown and uncomfortable territory. The first step? Talking about it.

The Supreme Court of Canada recently released its anticipated decision in Yatar v. TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, providing its latest substantial commentary on judicial review in Canada. In the face of recent pronouncements about the importance of upholding judicial economy and avoiding multiplicities of proceedings, the Court endorsed the opportunity for parties to proceed with parallel statutory rights of appeal and judicial review.

As the presence of artificial intelligence ("AI") tools in the legal community grows, conversation around appropriate use of AI tools grows too. In this article, Emma Huang discusses the balance to be achieved between using AI to increase efficiency and access to justice in law, while protecting against the less appealing features of this technology.

The first several years as a lawyer are full of challenges. As she enters her fifth year of practice, Keagan Davis-Burns provides five important insights into how young lawyers might navigate the rollercoaster first years of their careers.

There are many elements to a successful mediation. In my view, each one must be approached thoughtfully. In this article, I have collected tips on these very elements from the Masters of Mediation — seasoned lawyers and mediators alike. Things like what makes for effective and compelling mediation memoranda, the do’s and don’ts of opening remarks, how to prepare your client for mediation, negotiation strategy, and everything in between.

For employment lawyers pondering the question of mitigation, Jessica Byles-Nolet provides a thoughtful summary of a recent Court of Appeal decision that considers the duty to mitigate in relation to independent contractors.

In this article, Olivia Koneval-Brown provides an insightful overview of considerations -- both practical and legal -- that newly separated individuals should take into account before jumping to purchase a new home.

The legal sphere’s neoteric fascination with artificial intelligence is ubiquitous. It is in the interest of the legal community to draw from experts outside of the law to make comprehensive sense of how we should perceive AI in its initial stages. I had the opportunity to discuss AI developments with one such expert, Mark Daley, who was recently appointed as Western University’s inaugural Chief AI Officer.

In his bestselling book, Think Again, Adam Grant encourages readers to think like scientists by routinely testing our most common assumptions and beliefs. This means relying less on our often flawed instincts and heuristics, and making objective evaluations of even the most basic subjects we consider 'common sense'. Can a lawyer think like a scientist?

Communicating with opposing counsel can be tricky when procedural and practical issues arise in a given matter. In her article, Geneviève Fauteux reviews recent caselaw focusing on best practices, and requirements, for how lawyers should act when faced with reasonable requests for extensions.

It is a universal truth that every law student and young lawyer has, at one point, sat down to tackle a research question and been left staring at a blank computer screen, wondering where best to begin. Luckily, James McCarthy has five great pointers to help get the research started.

The application of new technology to the legal field has been an important topic in recent years, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, Kanon Clifford provides a thoughtful review of how the latest technology - generative AI - may help and hinder legal professionals.

In this article, Ashley Bennett explains why reviewing a condominium status certificate is a crucial step to assist clients in purchasing residential condos. Further, she highlights how litigators can use status certificates to assist purchasers who experience issues after closing.

There are many "firsts" as a young lawyer: a first client intake meeting, first case conference, first motion etc. In this article, Jill Lewis breaks down top tips to keep in mind when preparing for a mediation for the first time.

When attempting to determine liability for the actions of a corporation, two common law doctrines come into play: the doctrine of lifting the corporate veil and the corporate attribution doctrine. Both are employed when the status of a corporation as a separate legal entity requires a distinction from the acts of its officers, leading to exceptions to the principle of limited liability or separate legal entity. However, these doctrines diverge in their applicable tests.

In this article, Mark Asfar provides young lawyers with practical tips on how to make the transition from private practice to in-house counsel.

Covid-19 fundamentally changed the way we work and practice law. Now, as the world opens up again, I've repeatedly asked myself: how do you build a practice in a world of hybrid work? Here are a few tips that I've picked up from friends and colleagues as I've been trying to answer this question.

In this article, Keagan makes a compelling argument for why everyone should be shutting down sexism in the legal profession.

Many people consider their pet to be a member of the family, but what happens to the pet when there is a breakdown in the human relationship? In this article, Olivia sets out the factors that a Court will look at when determining pet ownership after a separation.

James shares his insights on client relationship-building from his experience in the non-profit sector.

In this article, Jessica sets out the key reasons that shareholders ought to enter into a Unanimous Shareholder Agreement at the outset of the business relationship and the remedies that are available to those who have not.

A mentor once told me that he knew it was time to do his own thing when he grew to dislike the colour of the walls at the firm where he worked. At that instant, he wanted to change everything about where and how he worked. He wanted to choose the colour of the walls in his office. He wanted to call the shots; he wanted to work for himself. My mentor is not alone. Here are practical tips from lawyers who have gone out on their own and found incredible success in establishing their own firms.

There is a popular saying that goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In recent years, a group of engineers in California have revolutionized this expression with their innovation of DALL-E and its successor, DALLE-2. This article describes DALL-E and some core contracting considerations for lawyers advising clients who leverage the technology.

Going from law school to articling is a big, but important, step in most new lawyers' careers. In this article, Nehmet Bedar sets out small ways that can help you go from the classroom to practice with ease.

In this article, Vanessa Carment sets out the basic terms and conditions that must be included in every commercial lease for the agreement to be enforceable.

Understanding severance packages is not only beneficial for those lawyers practicing specifically in employment and labour law, but to all litigators. In this article, Jill Lewis breaks down what to look out for when a severance package comes across your desk.