TLA celebrates success in another year of serving members

The Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) took on the important issue of funding for law libraries while providing its members with valuable educational and professional development courses throughout 2021.

TLA  president Brett Harrison began the year discussing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Ontario courts, noting everyone involved has made major strides to make the best of a difficult situation. “The Ministry of the Attorney General has moved quickly to adapt to the new reality. Is it perfect? No. Some things have fallen through the cracks, but we are in much better shape than we would have been if this had happened 20 years ago.” ‘It’s not a pirouette’ but our justice system pivoted in a new direction

Examining provincial legislation

In March, Harrison told LegalMattersCanada.ca the provincial government’s proposed Accelerating Access to Justice Act, 2021 has much to offer but falls short when it comes to judiciary appointments. Justice Act amendments come up short on judiciary selection

In April, the TLA welcomed new board members including new president Michael White, who said lobbying against the Law Society of Ontario cutbacks for library funding would remain a high priority for the association. TLA expects better times in the coming year

The TLA introduced its new Find-A-Lawyer website feature in June. Executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang said it is “a simple addition prominently displayed on the homepage but one that is also important. We often get phone calls from people looking for a lawyer. 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.” Looking for a lawyer? Check out TLA’s new feature

Law library funding was an important issue

In July, While said restoring funding to law libraries across the province is important to ensure a strong legal profession and access to justice. “There is little doubt that a well-stocked and funded courthouse library enables legal professionals to carry out research for their clients that’s required under their obligations.” TLA calls for reversal of funding cuts to ‘hugely important’ libraries

Later in July, Rataic-Lang noted that with the fog of COVID-19 slowly receding the association planned to bring Zoom-weary members together socially in the coming months. “We recognize the importance of being safe but we also realize people are missing people. They want some of that real human contact,” she said. TLA’s social calendar is about to get more interesting

In November, White told his members that law libraries would get a huge financial shot in the arm after the Law Society of Ontario reversed a 10 per cent budget cut, approving the spending of more than $8.5 million to bolster services across the province. “This is fantastic news. This is a validation of the important role that courthouse libraries play in the lives of all our members and it was recognized, obviously, by Law Society benchers,” White said. Law Society of Ontario approves budget increase for law libraries

The TLA ended the year with the announcement that former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour is the 2022 recipient of the association’s Award of Distinction in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the legal profession. She will be honoured at the TLA’s awards gala on March 20.