When Mentoring Disappears
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels By Murray Gottheil | August 11, 2024 Many new lawyers start their own practices soon after graduation or join firms that offer little mentoring or training. I attribute this to a number of factors, including the law firm model falling into disfavour over issues of work/life balance and mental health, and prejudice […]
What should employers know about Quebec’s pension legislation?
By Julius Melnitzer | August 3, 2024 Businesses that are planning to establish themselves in Quebec by way of expansion or acquisition should be aware of some unique aspects of the province’s pension and benefits laws. Employers are required to make a voluntary retirement savings plan available to their employees. In addition, provincial legislation prohibits […]
Bare Bones Briefs: Federal Court grants injunction protecting kosher meat supply | CLIO breaks Canadian software financing record with $900 million funding
By Julius Melnitzer | July 28, 2024 CFIA’S SLAUGHTERHOUSE GUIDELINES MAY INFRINGE JEWS’ FREEDOM OF RELIGION RIGHTS Federal Court Justice Guy Régimbald has granted an interlocutory injunction against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s enforcement of guidelines that have reduced kosher beef production in Canada by 55% and kosher veal production by 90%. Canadian law has […]
Toxic Productivity Update
By Murray Gottheil | July 25, 2024 Coming on two years ago, I posted about toxic productivity on Linkedin. Among my pithy comments were the following nuggets: I am retired. I live in the country near a lake and the weather is lovely. I could be going for a walk, reading a book or paddling […]
BARE BONES BRIEFS: Abusive firm leader disbarred for insulting juniors | Vancouver bar icon dies before facing laundering charges | Trending: return to office | UK Court of Appeal: ANNs not patentable | Arbitrator: Taking a diving course counts as “union business”
By Julius Melnitzer | July 24, 2024 TREAT JUNIOR COLLEAGUES WITH RESPECT – OR ELSE! Domenic Pisano, a lawyer with 23 years’ experience and a director of Domenic Levent Solicitors in London, has been disbarred by the UK’s Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for “offensive, intimidating and insulting” behaviour towards junior colleagues. His sins included shouting at […]
The Business Development Question
Photo by Anna Shvets at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | July 23, 2024 I speak to a number of newly called lawyers looking to secure associate jobs. I tell these applicants that they should be ready to answer questions about business development. Here are my tips: And then there is the famous, “Do you have any questions […]
Being Brilliant is Over-Rated
Photo by Mart Production at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | Juily 22, 2024 Way back before the cell phone, we had a telephone in our reception area for clients to use. At the same time, my doctor had a sign in his reception area advising patients that the doctor’s phone was for his staff’s use and […]
BARE BONES BRIEFS: Litigation funder out $2.1 million when client discontinues litigation | Dentons gets menopause accreditation | UK regulator: lawyers who swear betray the public trust | Musk compensation foes seek $7 billion in legal fees
By Julius Melnitzer | July 17, 2024 DIVORCING PARTIES STIFF LITIGATION FUNDER FOR $2.1 MILLION The Law Society Gazette reports that Level, a litigation loan provider, found itself without remedies to recover the $2.1 million it had advanced in an eight-year long divorce proceedings when the parties reached a settlement that did not include repayment […]
Ontario court rules employer not obligated to preserve past service benefits
By: Julius Melnitzer | July 16, 2024 Ontario’s Small Claims Court has ruled that an employer’s letter, which described the benefits coverage that would exist following a divestment as ‘comparable’ to prior levels of coverage, didn’t create a contractual obligation to preserve past service benefits. “The decision makes a clear distinction between an informational announcement or […]
You Need a Shrink
Photo by Cottonbro Studio at Pexels By Murray Gottheil | July 8, 2024 For years I delegated work to Mindy, who was very competent, productive, generous, and warm. But when I walked into Mindy’s office to ask her to do something, I never knew whether she would be her usual lovable self or would bite my […]