The TLA offering members the chance to be more social

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Toronto Lawyers’ Association (TLA) is inviting members to have some fun this summer.

“The TLA has three pillars, knowledge, advocacy and community,” says executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang. “After the reluctance to socialize due to the pandemic, I believe there is a need to enhance that feeling of community. We recently had a brainstorming session with our new lawyers committee and they discussed ways to bring people together. 

“With that in mind we are introducing some social events I believe will be a real hit,” she tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “They are more intimate get-togethers. These are the kinds of gatherings where you can really take the time to get to know a few people as opposed to a big ballroom with hundreds of people. That is part of what makes these events so special.”

First up is Speed Mentoring & Networking on July 13 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the TLA library located at 361 University Ave.

The program is a series of short, focused conversations about profession-related questions allowing participants to meet with several mentors. Members can “tap into the wealth of experience and knowledge of diverse Toronto lawyers” with the goal of enhancing their career development.

“This program was on hiatus because of COVID,” Rataic-Lang says. “We have a variety of practice areas represented in our membership so doing a full-on mentoring program is quite an endeavour. 

Opportunity to socialize

“Doing speed mentoring is a way of filling that gap,” she adds. “Participants will have 15 minutes with each mentor and then they move on to somebody else. And we are really trying to mix up who the mentors will be so we have a diverse group. There will also be refreshments and an opportunity to socialize afterward.”

Rataic-Lang says they are capping the number of attendees so everyone gets an opportunity “to go around the table and ask their questions and really be part of the conversation.”

“If there is a demand for this type of program we can do it again in the fall,” she says.

The program is free to members or $49 for non-members. Registration will close on July 10 at noon. To register, click here.

On July 27, the TLA is hosting a karaoke night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bar + Karaoke Lounge, 360 Yonge St.

“We are hoping to encourage members to leave the office and come out to socialize,” says Rataic-Lang. “This idea came out of our series of educational programs for young lawyers called Tuesday Tips. One of the speakers was from ZSA Legal Recruitment and the discussion evolved into social activities. They offered to sponsor a karaoke night so we jumped on it.

Karaoke night is a first for TLA

“This is the first time we have done karaoke and we are excited about it,” she adds. “Everyone will get a drink ticket. There will be some munchies. It should be a lot of fun.”

Admission is free for association members, including licensing candidates and new calls and $20 plus HST for non-members and Friends of the TLA. To register, click here.

The third event of the summer is the Sunset Social on Aug. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Porch, 250 Adelaide St. W.

“This event sells out every year so I am not expecting it to be any different this time. Our maximum capacity is 100 people so members are encouraged to register quickly,” Rataic-Lang says. “It is a gorgeous setting and if people hang around long enough, they will see a beautiful sunset. The air is different up there and you feel  removed from the rest of the world.”

The social, sponsored by BridgePoint Financial, includes food and drinks and is free to members. Non-members and Friends of the TLA pay $30 plus HST. The event is for lawyers, articling students and law school students only. There is indoor space in case of inclement weather. To register, click here.

Looking to expand social events

Rataic-Lang says plans are already underway for the TLA’s Annual Awards Gala on Feb. 29, 2024, and the association is also looking at social events for members who work outside the downtown core.

“Toronto is a big city and there are pockets of lawyers in areas who rarely come downtown,” she says. “We are thinking about doing smaller pub nights or satellite socials so we can connect to people in their own backyards.”

The TLA continues to consider new ideas to serve the membership professionally and socially, says Rataic-Lang.

“The association is always looking at how to respond to members’ needs. What do they want? What are they looking for? And if they are looking for opportunities to socialize or to network, we want to provide that,” she says.

More from the Toronto Lawyers’ Association:

‘We ensure our voices are heard’: new TLA president