Fresh approaches allow the TLA to keep going during virus lockdown

By Paul Russell, LegalMatters Staff • Innovation and a willingness to embrace new technology allow the Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) to continue its work amid the coronavirus crisis, says executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang. 

“While the practice of law is an essential service, our association is not, so we had to close our office and library at 361 University Ave.,” says tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “But that does not mean we have stopped operating, as our staff now work from home as we reinvent how to virtually provide lawyers with the information and resources they need.”

Before the lockdown, Rataic-Lang says the TLA used technology to make operations as efficient as possible; now technology will have to be used in other ways.

“Thanks to platforms such as Zoom, we are working at rescheduling education programs and even social events,” she says. “With live-streaming services, we think we can still retain that personal touch that is such an important part of the in-person programs we usually provide.”

Live streaming for Women in Law event

The first major test of that will come on May 12, when Building Your Full Circle Leadership is live-streamed on Zoom.

“This Women in Law event will basically be the same program we would have done in person, with a panel of experts leading discussions on how female lawyers can advance their careers,” Rataic-Lang says. “The difference is that TLA members can take part from the comfort of their own homes.”

When the coronavirus crisis passes, she anticipates members will be more willing to participate in online events.

“I’m sure there will be a real change in how we provide services and meet our members’ needs,” Rataic-Lang says. “We’re hoping people will be supportive of this new way of doing things, as I’m confident they will discover that virtual events really do work.”

Since network building is an important function of the TLA, social events planned for the spring will now be held on virtual platforms, she says, such as the annual Young Lawyers Bench and Bar Social.

‘New and improved TLA’

“We will also hold our annual general meeting online for the first time and we plan to offer group mentoring online,” Rataic-Lang says. “We will learn from all these experiences, and I’m positive that will result in a new and improved TLA.”

Since many small and medium-sized law firms rely on the association’s library for research and access to legal texts, she says she is pleased Canada’s two largest legal publishers have stepped in to fill that void.

“Thomson Reuters has extended our licence and given us access to a wider range of material than before, for no charge,” Rataic-Lang says. “The publisher is doing this as a good corporate citizen, but also because we have built a respectful and co-operative relationship with them over the years, and they know we need these resources.”

She also praised LexisNexis for offering TLA members a free 30-day trial of Lexis Advance Quicklaw, allowing them to do legal research in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

“LexisNexis recognizes that people used to come to the library to access this service, so now they are encouraging TLA members to sign up for a free 30-day trial,” Rataic-Lang says. “This stop-gap measure is really appreciated, as it recognizes that lawyers provide an essential service, and they need to continue to work.”

A resourceful staff helps

She praised TLA staff for their diligence and creativity as they remotely assist lawyers with background research, such as finding statutes and sourcing commentary.

“They do an amazing job to fulfill research requests,” Rataic-Lang says. “That has been shown in the great feedback we have received, as people seem genuinely surprised at what we are able to do as we work off-site.”

She notes that good researchers are naturally inquisitive and resourceful, qualities reflected in pop culture characters such as Della Street in Perry Mason or Penelope Grace Garcia in Criminal Minds.

“Librarians are good at figuring out where the information is, as they help lawyers make decisions involving the cases they are working on,” Rataic-Lang says. “It is pretty impressive what someone with the right skills can do with a computer.”