TLA expects better times in the coming year

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • As president, Brett Harrison steered the Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) through one of the most tumultuous times in its 135-year history but as Michael White takes the helm, he sees brighter days ahead.

The TLA welcomed new board members following its annual general meeting with White taking over as president. Joining him are vice-president Erin O’Donovan, treasurer Aitan Lerner, secretary Mark Crane, assistant secretary Anna Wong and assistant treasurer Robin McKechney. Harrison remains on the board as past president.

“Like many organizations, the pandemic forced us to rethink the way we provide services but it allowed us to do that on a much broader basis,” says Harrison. “I would say we not only survived but thrived because of the nimbleness of the organization and the hard work of the staff and all of the committees. Their efforts allowed us to pivot quickly to continue to serve our membership. Next year, we will be even stronger.”

White praises Harrison for his efforts in a trying time.

‘Committees were firing on all cylinders’

“The committees were firing on all cylinders and the organization continued to run at a high level,” White tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “It was pretty clear that the TLA came out ahead of where it was a year earlier, despite all those challenges.”

Along with the issues brought on by the pandemic, the TLA also had to deal with the decision by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) to reduce funding to courthouse law libraries across the province.

“We were dealing with the biggest one-time funding cut in the history of our organization and we are facing the prospect of ongoing cuts to our libraries,” says Harrison. “That has been extraordinarily challenging.”

White says lobbying against the cutbacks is on the TLA agenda for the coming year.

“The association is continuing to fight. We are very pleased that Brett is staying on in his capacity as past president and has expressed an interest in assisting us,” he says. “He has demonstrated strong leadership on this issue and we’re really fortunate that he is going to be around for the coming year.”

Courthouse libraries will see budgets reduced

Large courthouse libraries across the province will see their budgets reduced by 14 per cent this year as a result of the LSO decision. When the plan was announced last fall, Harrison questioned how it served the public interest and access to justice.

“Cutting fundamental services such as libraries does not provide access to justice. In fact, it is the antithesis of the principles articulated in the Ontario Law Society Act by which the LSO is formed,” he said at the time.

The TLA is working on a white paper with the Federation of Lawyers Association to present to the Law Society.

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“One of the LSO’s main objectives is to ensure lawyers are competent to provide legal services to the public and law libraries play a role in that,” says Harrison. “We provide the local bar with research and the library resources that they need but cannot afford. It’s of the main pillar of all the associations across Ontario.

“We are hoping to educate the benchers who have a different approach than the TLA on the value of courthouse libraries,” he adds.

Along with the funding issue, the TLA’s priorities this year include keeping members engaged, remaining relevant and being fiscally responsible.

The commitment to continuing education is also important to the association as well as keeping members up-to-date on the latest developments in all areas of law through the Toronto Law Journal and other TLA publications.

Programs will feature high profile members

“We have specialized programs and one-on-one sessions with high profile members of the legal community in the coming year,” says White.

He says the TLA also intends to maintain its close relationship with the Lawyers Feed the Hungry program. 

“We know that it’s been a tough year, but it’s but even a tougher year for those who are disadvantaged,” White says.

Despite the economic challenges brought on by COVID-19 crisis, TLA membership retention remained close to 90 per cent, he says.

“We are encouraged that our members continue to see the value that membership in our association provides,” says White.

He says the last time members were able to meet in person was the annual awards gala in March 2020. Since then, social distancing protocols have kept all events on the video screen.

However, White says they are looking at resuming their regular social routine early next year.

“Hopefully we will soon be able to look in the rear-view mirror at this crisis and return to a sense of normalcy,” he says. “I believe we’re going through what we hope is the last of the challenging times. There is much optimism within the organization and the board  that the year ahead will be one where we’re able to overcome and thrive.”