Virtual TLA programs offer education and CPD credits

Legal Services /
Joan Rataic-Lang
Latest posts by Joan Rataic-Lang (see all)

By Paul Russell, LegalMatters Staff • A variety of programs being offered in the next few months will allow Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) members to learn new skills while earning Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits.

“These programs are reasonably priced and we always make sure we have high-quality speakers addressing topics of interest to our members,” says Joan Rataic-Lang, executive director/library director of the TLA. “And since all lawyers have to do CPD, this gives them the opportunity to complete their hours while learning about subjects of interest to them.”

Conducted remotely through Zoom, all programs are designed to be minimally disruptive to members’ workdays, she says, with one-hour lunch-and-learn sessions and others starting in the late afternoon.

“If those times don’t work, members can also watch selected programs online through our partner CPDOnline, as they become available approximately two weeks after the event,” Rataic-Lang tells LegalMattersCanada.ca.

Here are some of the programs slated for the coming months.

January

On Jan. 22 from 1 to 2 p.m., members can learn how to prepare temporary release and parole packages for both federal and provincial correctional institutions. The Parole, Temporary Release and Covid-19 session is led by Simon Borys of Borys Law, who was counsel for the Canadian Prison Law Association in a recent case that saw a man released from immigration detention through the writ of habeas corpus.

“I think this is going to be a very interesting meeting, especially for criminal lawyers,” says Rataic-Lang. “It will also include a discussion on how COVID-19 has impacted the temporary release and parole system and what steps counsel can take to maximize their client’s chances of release.”

On Jan. 28 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., a Serious Illness Planning workshop will focus on how lawyers advise their clients on the importance of planning for a debilitating sickness, particularly in the midst of the pandemic.

“Everyone talks about the importance of making a will, but what about making plans in case you get extremely ill, and all the considerations that have to be made in that situation?” says Rataic-Lang. “This will be an interesting program for wills and estates lawyers, or anyone with interest in family issues.”

Speakers will be Ian M. Hull of Hull & Hull LLP, Kimberly Whaley of WEL Partners and Dr. Daren Heyland, a critical care doctor and professor of medicine at Queen’s University.

Dr. Heyland has contributed to the development of two free online guides: planwellguide.com and myicuguide.ca. The course outline adds that “his motto is, ‘To live well, die well, you need to plan well!’”

February 

On Feb. 18 from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., TLA members can learn how to make the most out of social media network for professionals by enrolling in the Embracing LinkedIn: Make your Profile Work for You.

“LinkedIn can be a really valuable marketing and networking tool for law firms,” says Rataic-Lang. “Unlike other forms of social media, it is a professional social network that can really serve lawyers well.”

She says participants will be shown how to make their LinkedIn profile stand out.

“If you’re concerned your LinkedIn profile is pretty basic, that might be the reason you aren’t getting traction,” the course outline reads. “What can you do to stand out from the crowd? Attend this one-hour session to learn how to make the most of this opportunity.”

Speakers will be Sandra Bekhor, a practice development consultant at Bekhor Management, and Rataic-Lang. She adds that novice LinkedIn users will get the most out of this session.

On Feb. 25 from noon to 1 p.m., Top Practice Tips for the Commercial List will be discussed.

Justice Markus Koehnen and Heather L. Meredith, partner with McCarthy Tétrault, will share insights on the “unique procedural aspects of the Commercial List and how to put the ‘three Cs’ of the Commercial List into practice,” plus how to put a client’s case effectively into “real-time” litigation.

April 

On April 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., part 1 of Powerful Speaking Skills for Lawyers is offered, led by Bonnie Gross, CEO of SpeechScience International Inc. Parts 2 and 3 will be on April 20 and 27.

“Bonnie always puts on engaging workshops that always get fantastic reviews,” says Rataic-Lang. “People enjoy participating in her interactive sessions.”

According to course material, Gross uses “a series of interactive exercises together with audio, video and computer bio-feedback technology to provide individual feedback on how to develop your voice.”

On April 16 from 1 to 2 p.m., Pre-Trials for Young Lawyers will give those with less than 10 years of experience in the profession tips on how to prepare a case for a pre-trial conference and what strategies can be used in those conferences.

The speaker is Ontario Superior Court Justice Jasmine Akbarali, and Rataic-Lang is confident her insights will benefit those with less than 10 years of experience in law.

“It is great to hear from a judge on these matters. She can give advice based on what she sees in the courtroom,” she says. “All novice lawyers face a learning curve, but by attending this session, they may avoid making the mistakes that will be addressed.”

Some replays are available

TLA members who cannot attend a program can view it on the Past Programs and Web Replays page on the association’s website. That includes a popular December session titled Louise Arbour and Marie Henein Share Their Personal Reflections on Unconscious Bias in Litigation.

“We had 350 people registered for the event, and it was fantastic,” says Rataic-Lang. “Louise Arbour and Marie Henein were amazing speakers, plus everyone in attendance received Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Professionalism (EDI) hours for taking part.”

She notes that EDI hours were introduced three years ago and the deadline for completing them was December.

“The timing was impeccable for us to release an EDI program at the end of the year,” says Rataic-Lang. “We hit that one right out of the ballpark.”