‘We ensure our voices are heard’: new TLA president

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By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Incoming Toronto Lawyers’ Association (TLA) president Aitan Lerner says if you want to get something done give it to a busy person – an appropriate adage considering his new role.

Erin O’Donovan, outgoing president, hands over the mantle of command to Lerner, an Assistant Crown Attorney with the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Guns and Gangs Unit.

“In our structure, the incoming president starts to sit in on bi-weekly meetings prior to their term to see how things are unfolding. It is a great ramp-up,” O’Donovan tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. 

“I will stay on the board for another year so that we also have that continuity, but I doubt Aitan is going to need it.

 “I am extremely grateful to have him on the executive. He has very strong views and speaks with conviction on many of the issues that matter to the TLA,” she adds. “But what is nice is that he always keeps an open mind. I have been fortunate to be able to debate issues and bounce things off him. From the association’s point of view, I doubt there will even be a hiccup. It is going to be a smooth transition and Aitan will do a great job.” 

Lerner says his transition to president has been aided by his time on the TLA board of directors.

‘It is a tremendous responsibility but we have a great system’

“It is a tremendous responsibility but we have a great system in place. After you join the executive,  it takes five years until you get to the role of president,” he says. “There is certainly plenty of on-the-job training. The president has the support of the executive and the broader board of directors. It is demanding and there is a considerable amount of work but it is not a lonely job. It is extremely collegial. 

“Anything I achieve is only because Erin and the other previous presidents paved the way for me,” Lerner adds. “I am standing on incredible shoulders.”

During her year as president, O’Donovan dealt with several hot-button issues, including the Law Society of Ontario’s (LSO) proposal for a Family Legal Services Provider (FLSP) licence for paralegals. The original plan didn’t win approval but resurfaced last December in a scaled-down version allowing paralegals to provide some family law services.

“This issue was obviously a huge concern for many of our members who wanted to ensure that the representation provided by paralegals is competent and in no way harms the public,” O’Donovan says. “While we didn’t object to the FLSP licence that was ultimately approved by Convocation, we are skeptical that it will meaningfully address access to justice concerns.”

Metrolinx subway station a major issue

The Metrolinx subway station on the grounds of Osgoode Hall was also in the association’s crosshairs in the past year. 

“We should be concerned about the integrity of this building. It is a national heritage site,” O’Donovan said in December. “People are well aware of how little green space there is in the downtown core. The Osgoode grounds are an oasis not just for the legal community, but for the general public.”

She says the association also kept up the fight for “adequate, stable funding of the law library system across the province.”

“The TLA runs the library at 361 University Ave. and we know firsthand how important it is to have these services available,” says O’Donovan. 

Lerner says the association has always “been at the forefront of advocating not just for our membership, but on behalf of all Toronto lawyers.”

“We ensure our voices are heard in the halls of power. That’s why I am excited about doing this job and being involved with the TLA. I am passionate about it,” he says. “This is an incredible organization. And I believe it is the oldest law association in Canada at almost 140 years. The TLA has incredible panache because of the fact that it has been around for so long and the results it delivers for its members.”

He says the association leans heavily on its three pillars – knowledge, advocacy and community

State-of-the-art library with incredible staff

“In terms of knowledge and advocacy, we have a state-of-the-art library and incredible staff,” says Lerner. “What I find interesting is that many people don’t seem to realize what a powerful library we have in terms of the research staff. I would love to see us get the word out more about that excellent service.

“We have our monthly Toronto Law Journal, which discusses current legal issues,” he adds. “We have the TLA update, which goes out weekly with information about the association and its many activities and our advocacy. Of course, there is also our informative website.”

Lerner says helping the community is what really drives him.

“It is an area that I am extremely passionate about, specifically with TLA’s involvement in the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry as part of the Law Society Foundation,” he says. “It is a wonderful program.”

During his term, Lerner says he would like to establish a mentoring program, matching up senior members of the bar with those new to the profession.

“There has been much talk about the decline in civility among legal professionals,” he explains. “There is no empirical data but it has been observed that many younger lawyers have not been in a courthouse for a few years because of COVID and that is where you learn from more senior lawyers about proper decorum and how to comport oneself when dealing with the judiciary or opposing counsel.

‘The legal practice not just a profession’

“The legal practice is not just a profession. It is also a tradition,” Lerner adds. “And the best way to relay tradition is from one generation to the next. I know when I started practicing, I learned a great deal by having that tradition passed on.”

Looking to the future, he says the TLA is “extremely nimble and able to adapt and shift priorities based on what we are hearing from our members. 

“We have incredible engagement by our membership who are happy to be involved on our different committees that do fantastic work for Toronto’s lawyers and the community,” says Lerner.

O’Donovan agreed, adding she encourages people to make the most of their membership.

“I believe our members are hungry for the opportunity to make connections within the legal community, especially now that COVID restrictions have been lifted,” she says. “I have really enjoyed seeing more people participating in programs and events in person. There has been a resurgence of people coming out and getting involved.”