Looking for a lawyer? Check out TLA’s new feature

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Toronto Lawyers Association‘s (TLA) new Find-A-Lawyer website feature is not only an added benefit for members but a valuable public service, says executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang.

“It’s a simple addition prominently displayed on the homepage but one that is also important,” says Rataic-Lang.

“We often get phone calls from people looking for a lawyer,” she tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “And when they searched online for Toronto lawyers, our association came up as their first or second hit on Google. So that got us thinking that maybe we could do something to connect our members to potential clients.

“It is the only feature on the website intended for the public and we are pleased to be able to hopefully connect people with the lawyers they need.”

The directory is a recent addition, Rataic-Lang says, explaining the TLA couldn’t offer it on their old system.

‘We created a public-facing directory’

“We migrated platforms and now we created a public-facing directory on our website that any TLA member is welcome to join. It is a matter of simply ticking off one box on their profile and it automatically adds them to the directory,” she says. “It’s a nice addition to the website, especially for members who are sole practitioners or those in a small practice who don’t have the time for social media, marketing or have a limited web presence.”

Rataic-Lang says since the Find-A-Lawyer directory is their lone feature for the public, the TLA wanted to ensure it not only very visible but simple to use. A click on the tab brings the searcher to a list allowing them to choose by name, law firm, city and province and area of practice.

“It’s easy to navigate. Even the name is simple. We decided against a cute name. Call it what it is,” she says. “I’ve learned that over the years if something doesn’t really speak to you, then it won’t speak to anybody else.”

Contact information for participating lawyers is provided along with “the languages spoken because we are a very multiculturally diverse city,” says Rataic-Lang.

“Some clients may require their future lawyer to speak something other than English,” she says.

Randomized search results are displayed

The directory is set up to display randomized search results.

“It’s not alphabetical. The order changes with every search so that people with a name that starts with A are not always at the top of the list,” Rataic-Lang explains. “I learned about that at a conference and it really made sense. That ensures we’re being fair to everybody.”

She says they decided to keep the contact information simple for practical reasons.

“We have given enough to enable the public to make a connection,” Rataic-Lang says. “There are lawyer associations in the United States that actually play a bigger role and they are paid a finder’s fee. That can get more complicated.”

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She says she is hoping members will see the benefit in the directory and add their name.

“It’s an opt-in thing. We did not feel it was our place to make the decision to include every member so we leave it up to them,” Rataic-Lang says. “There were some people who jumped on it right away. If more people decide to join, I will be thrilled.”

She says the pandemic has taken its toll on some members and features such as the directory can be a way of making membership more attractive.

“Times are tough and we can see that there are some out there who are struggling,” Rataic-Lang says. “It is important that we recognize that and ensure that we’re giving them what they need.”

Educational programs provide added value

She points to the TLA’s educational programs as the type of resource that provide added value, encouraging members to check out the website for upcoming programs.

On June 2 from noon to 1:15 p.m. members can take part in Enforcing Foreign Judgments: Strategies, Tools and Tactics From the Trenches.

“One of our members said he attended this program in 2007 and still uses the materials from that session,” Rataic-Lang says. “This is a topic that can touch every practice, every litigator. Lawyers should be attending this just to ensure they’re on top of what they need to know.”

Toronto Real Estate Practice Issues will be presented on June 9 from noon to 2 p.m. The program is intended to help real estate practitioners better advise their clients on aspects of property and transaction issues. 

On June 17 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. the TLA is bringing together a panel of private practice and in-house lawyers with diverse backgrounds for The 360 on Business Development In The New Norm. The panel will share insights on driving business development in the new paradigm. 

For more programs and events, click here.