TLA can help get licensing candidates, new calls off on right foot

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Toronto Lawyers Association’s (TLA) Licensing and Articling Candidates Head Start program is part of a series of educational sessions designed to help licensing candidates succeed in their new profession.

“An articling student has an eight-month window of opportunity to prove their value to their principal or firm. It is an exciting time but it is not always easy,” says TLA executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang. “There are many skills licensing candidates will need to master if they want to stand out from the crowd and have their firm recognize them as a valuable future asset. We are offering an informative and entertaining three-part program that should not be missed.

“Getting first-hand accounts of how others have succeeded and what firms expect will help those at the beginning of their careers understand how they should be approaching the work environment.”

She says the association is presenting the 12th annual Licensing Candidates Head Start – From Articling Student to Lawyer on Sept. 16, 23 and 30. 

Helping new lawyers start their careers on the right foot

“We will also be presenting two in-person sessions for licensing candidates and/or new calls. We are offering the 19th annual Associate Judges’ Motions for Licensing Candidates and Recent Calls on Sept. 20 followed by the New Calls Foundation Day on Oct. 1,” says Rataic-Lang. “These programs will really help new lawyers start their careers on the right foot.”

She says there will be an opportunity for questions in each session, which can be invaluable for some participants. 

“It can be intimidating for an articling student starting at a law firm. You are constantly trying to make a good impression. You may be less inclined to ask questions if you think you are going to be judged,” Rataic-Lang says. “However, it is much easier to ask those questions in an educational setting.” 

The online Head Start program begins on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. with A Partner Telling It Like It Is: What, How and Why. Mary Paterson, a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, will discuss what she looks for when working with an articling student and how they can make themselves indispensable. She will cover a variety of topics including communication, collaboration, managing expectations, work habits and networking. 

Learn how to approach legal research

On Sept. 23, Rataic-Lang will be joined by Megan Strain, TLA reference and outreach librarian to present Legal Research – The Secret to your Success.

“Knowing how to approach legal research is an essential skill. Time is valuable so licensing candidates must be able to balance and manage everything they do,” says Rataic-Lang. “Most people will have to do legal research while articling and they need to do it efficiently and properly so they don’t miss anything. That is where libraries like ours can play a big role.

“We have years of experience and while we may not be lawyers, we can help get to the answer in the quickest, most efficient way. New lawyers may not know about all the resources or strategies. What could take them 10 hours to do may only take us an hour.”

The program concludes with Practice Tips & Avoiding Malpractice Claims on Sept. 30.

Rataic-Lang says it only makes sense for candidates to understand what their insurer says at the beginning of their careers.

Essentials of practice management will be discussed

Ray Leclair, vice-president of public affairs at LAWPRO, will discuss the essentials of practice management including avoiding malpractice claims, lawyering and practice management, what apps are available for the profession and technical tips. 

The cost for the program for TLA member licensing and articling candidates is $25 plus HST, while non-members pay $50. Licensing candidates can join the TLA for free. For more information on the program, click here. 

Articling students should also be attending the Associate Judges’ Motions for Licensing Candidates and Recent Calls session on Sept. 20 from 5-7 p.m., says Rataic-Lang.

“How to make Masters’ motions is not covered in many firms,” she says. “However, we have been told by many Masters that new lawyers need guidance in this area. This is an invaluable session for new calls and articling students.”

Associate Justices Linda Abrams and Jay Josefo will address the critical stages of a civil motion, including procedure, presentation, practice management, remote communications, professionalism and ethics.

Participants will learn how to avoid motions and how to prepare written matters, how to avoid pitfalls that can lead to adjournments and tips on making effective oral presentations. There will also be advice on making remote motions and ethical advocacy in this session, which will be moderated by Deputy Judge Mark Gannage, TLA director of special programs.

Session includes a mix and mingle

There will be a mix and mingle reception after the presentation and light refreshments will be served.   

For more information, click here.

The final session is for new calls. New Calls Foundation will be offered on Oct. 1  from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the TLA Lounge at 361 University Ave. 

“We have a stellar lineup of speakers who can talk about the stress and mystery of being a new lawyer and help those who are starting on their journey to be the best they can be,” says Rataic-Lang. “This is a chance for new calls to meet their peers, find their support network of fellow new calls, and learn all about how to survive and thrive as a new lawyer.”

Topics include excelling in practice, listening and being heard, time management and mental health, network building, personal branding and managing the workload. There will also be a session on tips and tricks for Law Society of Ontario Practice Reviews.

“We have also built in networking breaks into the program, which is important,” Rataic-Lang says. 

The registration fee is $149, which includes lunch. For a full list of speakers and more information, click here.