New TLA president looks to build on the success of his predecessors

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • While acknowledging he has some big shoes to fill, incoming Toronto Lawyers’ Association (TLA) president Mark Crane says he is looking forward to “working closely with the many talented people within this organization.”

Crane, a partner in the Advocacy Department of Gowling WLG, takes the reins of the presidency from Aitan Lerner this month after progressing through the association’s board of directors.

The TLA welcomed its new board members following its annual general meeting on May 6. Joining the new president are vice-president Anna Wong, treasurer Robin McKechney, secretary Margaret Pak, assistant secretary Julie Stanchieri and assistant treasurer Jennifer Arduini. Lerner remains on the board as past president.  The TLA represents the interests of more than 3,700 members who practice law in all disciplines across the Greater Toronto Area.

“I joined the board of the TLA in 2014,” Crane tells LegalMattersCanada.ca.  “I advanced up the ladder and had the benefit of working with many terrific past presidents. Serving on the executive really gives you an opportunity to understand the mechanics of the organization and the personalities involved.”

Extensive on-the-job training

The job of TLA president provides extensive on-the-job training. After joining the executive board, it takes five years for someone to assume the top position.

“Gaining institutional knowledge as you work your way up the ladder is important to the success of the incoming president. It also ensures there is continuity in the role,” says Crane. “Those who came before me were all different people but what they all had in common was the utmost respect for the TLA and representing its membership. They worked hard, they collaborated well and they were strong leaders.

“The TLA is in a great place today because of all those who have served,” he adds. “The association is taking positions on important issues and it is making a difference.”

Lerner says he was encouraged by the work done by the TLA in the past year, adding his time leading the association went by quickly.

“It is bittersweet coming to the end of the presidency,” he says. “As time-consuming as it is, it is just so satisfying. The TLA stands on three pillars – knowledge, advocacy and community. You really see that gel with all the services and programming we provide.

Working toward a common goal

“My time was very fulfilling. I was enriched by the people I worked with,” Lerner adds. “It was actually extremely humbling. You see all the hard work people put in to improve the legal community whether it was the Report on Civility and Professionalism or our other projects. It is just amazing to see people who are so bright and so dedicated working toward a common goal. They are concerned citizens. They are concerned lawyers. It is uplifting.”

He says he has received feedback not only about the civility report but also about the services and educational programs offered by the TLA.

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“For the life of me, I cannot understand why there are lawyers in Toronto who are not members of the TLA,” says Lerner. “In all the many years that I have been involved, I cannot remember when we introduced some sort of initiative that wasn’t greeted with positive reviews, whether from other lawyers or the judiciary.

“I am a very proud member of the TLA and look forward to continue being a proud member of the association. I will always wear the TLA on my sleeve with extreme pride.”

Lerner praised the TLA board, describing them as “bright individuals who care so much and put in so much effort.”

‘I always love going into board meetings’

“I always love going into board meetings,” he says. “You know you are going to come out feeling slightly differently once you hear from all these intelligent people who have a way of putting forward positions that make sense.

“We also have the most incredible support staff who make the job so much easier starting with executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang and her team,” Lerner adds. “They are all just incredible, each one in their own right. Aside from the members, they really are the core strength of the TLA. They are glue who keep it all together and functioning so well.”

Crane echoed Lerner’s appreciation for the board and staff “who work so hard and care about the TLA.”

“There is a great deal of pride in this organization,” he says. “The TLA dates back to 1885 and it has a rich tradition. There are many distinguished people who have served us well.

Doing meaningful work

“You don’t have to look further than our annual Awards Gala to understand the spirit of the organization and the support for it,” Crane adds. “Our committees are doing meaningful work  and I hope to lead with the same enthusiasm and high standard of those who have come before me.”

In the coming year, he says he would like to build on the success of the civility report and continue to advocate on behalf of the legal profession and the TLA’s membership.

“We have done good work with the civility project and continuing in that arena is a priority,” says Crane. “We heard from the legal community – both from the bench and from other stakeholders – that this is an important initiative. It must be supported.