library@tlaonline.ca
- New TLA events and educational programs on tap this year - February 2, 2024
- TLA closes out 2023 with some excellent educational sessions - November 10, 2023
- TLA has educational programs for new starts, experienced lawyers - August 23, 2023
By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) is offering a slate of added value educational programs and a popular Supreme Court of Canada panel discussion in the coming weeks that should not be missed, says executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang.
“We have some interesting programs on the horizon and because they are virtual, people can take part from wherever they are,” Rataic-Lang tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “That’s the case for any of our online programs. They’re available to anybody anywhere across the province. And all sessions have a question-and-answer component. That’s really important.”
She says lawyers can access previous TLA presentations on CPDonline to help them meet their requirements. One such session features former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Louise Arbour, one of the panellists sharing personal reflections on unconscious bias in litigation. The video can be found here.
“It was so well received. Louise Arbour is one amazing woman,” says Rataic-Lang.
Helping lawyers meet professional challenges
She says TLA programs are designed to help lawyers tackle the challenges of the profession and what lies ahead. One example is a session on November 10 from noon to 1 p.m. called DBplus – a Defined Benefit Pension Plan for Law Firms.
Only 47 per cent of Canadians have pension coverage and most of those are defined contribution pensions that are subject to the whims of the market, the TLA states. The numbers for law firms are even bleaker.
“I believe it is essential for lawyers to learn about their options,” says Rataic-Lang.
Dawn Marchand, president & CEO, CBIA/Lawyers Financial, a non-profit organization, is the speaker for this Zoom session. For registration information, click here.
On Nov. 16 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. moderator Sarah Sweet, senior associate, BLG LLP, leads a webinar called Virtual Business Generation in the New Norm. The panel includes Jasmine Daya, managing principal at Jasmine Daya & Co.; Fernando Garcia of VP Legal; Julie Stanchieri of Stanchieri Family Law; and Waheeda Ekhlas Smith of Smith Employment Law.
‘People want to learn how to use virtual methods effectively’
“This program examines the question of how to develop business,” Rataic-Lang says. “How do you build relationships and connections and network when people have gotten used to doing things virtually. There are less lunches. There are less meetings. There is less of that in-person activity. People want to learn how to use virtual methods effectively to connect and start building their businesses.
“Now that we are coming out of the pandemic, the world is not going to go back to the old way of doing things. It’s a new paradigm and people need to adapt to that.”
For more information, click here.
Next up on Nov. 23 from 5 to 6 p.m. is The Cost of Not Listening and How to Overcome It, moderated by Sandra Bekhor, practice development coach and consultant with Bekhor Management with speaker Rae Buchan, president of Context Realty Advisors.
“We often hear relationships break down because of communication,” says Rataic-Lang. “A lawyer-client relationship is important and so is the lawyer’s relationship with their staff. Effective communication is fundamental. If you don’t have the right skills, you could be making mistakes.”
To register for the program, which will help participants learn why and how to listen, click here.
Avoiding the Wire Fraud Nightmare
On Dec. 2, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. the TLA is offering Avoiding the Wire Fraud Nightmare – What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself and Your Clients.
“It’s a really common problem,” Rataic-Lang says. “Lawyers are a target. We are trying to educate as many people as possible so that they can help themselves.”
The speakers are: Juda Strawczynski, director of practicePRO, LAWPRO; Mouna Hanna, of Dolden Wallace Folick LLP; Ray Leclair, LAWPRO vice president of public affairs; Victoria Crewe-Nelson, LAWPRO vice president of underwriting and customer service and secretary; and Tannis A. Waugh, of Tannis A. Waugh Professional Corporation. They will offer advice on how to stay a step ahead of the latest wire scams. For registration information, click here.
Also coming up on Dec. 2 is The Supreme Court of Canada 2021 Roundtable: Latest Trends and Landmark Cases.
“This is a great forum because the panel is a real mix of practices. The Supreme Court releases decisions on regulatory, civil and criminal law and this panel is reflected in that,” says Rataic-Lang. “We have done something a little bit different this year and included Globe and Mail justice writer Sean Fine, who will be the moderator.
“This is one program people really enjoy. To be a good lawyer, you should have a broad knowledge. If you don’t know what the Supreme Court is up to, you could be missing out.”
The panel includes: Danielle Robitaille, partner with Henein Hutchison LLP; Sarit Batner, partner with McCarthy Tétrault; and Nader Hasan, partner, Stockwoods LLP. The session runs from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. For more, click here.
More from the Toronto Lawyers Association:
Law Society of Ontario approves budget increase for law libraries
