What to do about sharp rise in self-represented litigants
October 12, 2020 | By Julius Melnitzer Increased funding for legal aid to help with the dilemma of self-represented litigants (SRLs) isn’t in the cards — at least not anytime soon. “I and many others who have advocated more funding for legal aid just have to be realistic,” said professor Nicholas Bala of Queen’s University […]
McMillan bulks up competition group with Joshua Krane
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 | By Julius Melnitzer Competition lawyer Joshua Krane has joined McMillan LLP as a partner in the Toronto office. Recognized as a future leader by Who’s Who Legal, Krane advices on pricing, marketing and contracting practices. He counsels clients on relationship management with customers, suppliers and other market participants. Krane has […]
When law firms need lawyers, whom do they call?
September 21, 2020 | By Julius Melnitzer This is the second of a three-part LegalWriter.net series on lawyers who represent lawyers When lawyers get into trouble, the reputation of an entire firm may be at stake. But the concerns of the individual lawyer and the firm can diverge. They may have different views of the […]
COVID-19 forces changes on majority of law practices: Survey
September 16, 2020 | By Julius Melnitzer A new survey of 400 legal professionals across Canada reveals that 67 per cent of those surveyed expect to see, or are currently experiencing, practice-related changes due to COVID-19. “The report tells us that COVID-19 will see core businesses decline, with many lawyers looking to expand into new […]
IIROC publishes best practices for electronic proceedings
September 16, 2020 | By Julius Melnitzer The Investment Industry Regulatory Association of Canada has published its Best Practices for Electronic Proceedings. COVID-19 saw the IIROC postpone in-person hearings or convert them into virtual hearings. The guidelines are aimed at extending greater access, and enhancing transparency and confidence in the system. “We anticipate that virtual […]
When lawyers are in trouble, to whom do they turn?
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 | By Julius Melnitzer This is the first of a three-part LegalWriter.net series on lawyers who represent other lawyers. So many people don’t like them. No surprise, then, that lawyers need lawyers. The problem is that more than a fair number of lawyers don’t care for or respect each other. So […]
Today’s law firm recruiting takes massive stakeholder co-operation
Tuesday, September 1, 2020 | By Julius Melnitzer A monumental, pressure-packed collaboration has headed off the threat that COVID-19 presented to the 2020 law firm recruiting season. In a concentrated endeavour that began in March, law firms, public sector employers, legal departments, law students, law schools and law societies have come up with a solution […]
Will COVID turn lawyers from Luddites to leaders?
Lawyers are known for their resistance to change. But COVID-19 has forced a great deal of change, technological and otherwise, on the profession. The key question is whether the evolution will continue. And that’s where reluctance to change becomes an asset: after all, reluctance to change and reluctance to change back are, if you ask […]
Bucking the trends: BCF’s model for sustainability breeds profitability
This is the second in LegalWriter.net’s continuing series Bucking the Trends: Lawyers who make a difference – – – their own way Growth – – – organic, sustained and profitable – – – has hardly been the order of the day for Canadian law firms in the last decade or so. So forgive me for […]
Bucking the trends: the gentle way to fierce advocacy
August 19, 2020 This is the first in legalwriter.net’s continuing series called Bucking the Trends: Lawyers who make a difference – – – their own way “Gentleman”, “lady”, or “stand-up comic” is rarely found in the lexicon describing the virtues of great counsel. That’s especially true in an era when regulators keep reminding lawyers that […]