Monday’s Mix

Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award­-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible.

This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Great LEXpectations 2. Canadian Class Actions Monitor 3. Robichaud’s Criminal Law Blog 4. Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog 5. Precedent: The New Rules of Law and Style

Great LEXpectations
New King’s Bench Practice Direction

Where an individual seeks a variation of an order for release issued by the Court of King’s Bench under s. 520, s. 521, s. 522 or s. 525 of the Criminal Code and the Crown consents to the variation, an application may be made in writing, without the necessity of a court appearance, using the attached form “Application to Vary by Consent” (see link: application_to_vary_by_consent.pdf). The form is to be completed by the applicant’s counsel or the applicant, if self-represented, and submitted to the Crown for consent. The form can then be submitted to the court. The judge may require a hearing if not satisfied on the basis of the form that a variation is appropriate. If the judge approves the variation, the applicant and any surety must attend the court office to sign the variation form before it becomes effective. …

Canadian Class Actions Monitor
McCarthy Tétrault Partners Martha Harrison, Raj Juneja, and Michael Rosenberg named among Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada for 2026

McCarthy Tétrault is pleased to announce that Partners Martha Harrison, Raj Juneja and Michael Rosenberg have been selected as three of Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada for 2026. This annual list celebrates leaders who, in addition to being outstanding lawyers, are shaping the profession through exceptional leadership, innovative thinking and meaningful contributions to clients, communities and the broader legal landscape. The Top 25 recognizes lawyers whose work is influencing major business decisions, driving reform and helping shape how the law evolves in response to the issues facing Canadians today. …

Robichaud’s Criminal Law Blog
The Legal Challenge to Ontario’s “Cash Bail” Provisions

On August 31, 2026, Justice Chalmers of the Superior Court of Ontario granted an injunction pausing the effect of the Ontario government’s new law requiring “cash bail”. An Application was brought jointly by the Criminal Lawyers’ Association and the Civil Liberties Association to strike down s. 8.0.1 of the provincial Bail Act. They argued last week that Ontario is infringing on the Federal governments’ jurisdiction to legislate with respect to criminal law. The Criminal Code of Canada clearly holds (and has for decades) that when a person is released on bail, they and/or their sureties will normally not be required to deposit the promised amount (“cash bail”), but if they have reasonable recoverable assets, that they can pledge the amount. …

Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog
Does Canadian Labour Law Protect Concerted Activities by Employees?

David Smith called two of his colleagues at a company called Raven Clinical Research to complain to them about not being paid on time and asked them if they too had been paid late. Another employee heard about this discussion and informed the employer that Smith had been telling coworkers that he is not being paid on time. In response, the employer fired Smith for “HR related discussions with other personnel.”

Precedent: The New Rules of Law and Style
How Akosua Matthews built a social-justice practice

This summer, Akosua Matthews opened a solo practice with a clear mission: to take on a caseload of her own choosing, in her own way, for her own reasons. It’s a calculated bet. Now 13 years into her legal career, she attracts a stable influx of clients in two arenas. The first focuses on cases that hold the state—police boards in particular—accountable for civil negligence or unconstitutional conduct, often on behalf of the marginalized. The second is a niche area within the world of workplace investigations. When an institution hires someone for a role that’s meant for an Indigenous person, she substantiates that the candidate is indeed Indigenous. It’s a unique combination of files. …

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*Randomness here is created by Random.org and its list randomizing function.