Unbundled legal services are one solution to the complex issue of access to justice and are likely to become more commonplace. Being aware of the risks of unbundled legal services will help you reduce your exposure to a malpractice claim. Here are several steps you can take to reduce your exposure to a claim when providing legal services on a limited scope basis. This was excerpted from an article in the January 2012 edition of LAWPRO Magazine, and so often refers to the Ontario Rules of Professional Conduct, but the advice could apply to any lawyer looking to . . . [more]

It was a toss up this time whether to write about the media controversy around Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s cancellation of telecommuting and the subsequent criticism that she has betrayed women in the workforce, or to jump into the hot debate around Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s new book “Lean In” on how women can overcome internal barriers that can keep women out of leadership positions. 

However, after downloading the Sandberg book the day it was released and reading it in two days, the topic for this column became an easy choice. The many, many book reviews, columns and blogs debating . . . [more]

Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from forty-one 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. First Reference  2. Library Technician Dialog  3. Kelly Santini LLP’s Employment Law Blog for the Suddenly Unemployed  4. Le Blogue du CRL  5. Michael Geist’s Blog

First Reference
Theft is no reason to violate an employee’s rights
Imagine you were working as a clerk in a grocery store, and . . . [more]

I have an OCD-like compulsion of checking to make sure my phone is on me or nearby at all times. Although I have a passcode lock on it, losing my phone is of great concern, and I’m certain I’m not alone.

There are ways to remotely wipe your phone, but if I did lose it I would probably just want it back. The first step there is knowing where it can be found.

Dom Deltorno of London, England lost his MacBook on Feb. 4, 2013 when it was stolen from his home apartment. In April 2013 the tracking service showed . . . [more]

Summaries of selected recent cases are provided each week to Slaw by Maritime Law Book. Every Sunday we present a precis of the latest summaries, a fuller version of which can be found on MLB-Slaw Selected Case Summaries at cases.slaw.ca.

This week's summaries concern: Search warrants / Ojibway Treaty 3 / Repudiation of contract:

On the second Sunday in each month we bring you a summary from Supreme Advocacy LLP of recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers a weekly electronic newsletter, SupremeAdvocacyLett@r, to which you may subscribe.

This first entry is a summary of all appeals and leaves to appeal granted (so you know what the S.C.C. will soon be dealing with) from January 1 – April 12, 2013. For leaves, both the date the S.C.C. granted leave and the date of the C.A. judgment below are added in, in case you want to track and check . . . [more]

Excerpted from LAWPRO Magazine, Student Issue #1, 2012

There isn’t a simple magic formula for mapping out a career in law. You will make some decisions on where you would like to go, but there are many things outside your control which will impact on where you will end up. Factors such as economic conditions, personal circumstances, where you articled and even a bit of luck will affect the career path you will follow.

This article outlines some of the 20 tips that will help you find your way to a satisfying and successful legal career.

1. Ask yourself what . . . [more]

Some readers of Slaw will be saddened to hear that Ralph Scane has died. His death notice is in today’s Globe & Mail.

I was a colleague of Ralph for some 20 years at U of T and I remember his kindness, integrity and wide and eclectic legal knowledge. He came to the Faculty from practice and brought with him a refreshing, real-world point of view. At the same time, he was a meticulous scholar and teacher. He was, I think, the first Associate Dean we had and clearly demonstrated his strong administrative abilities; he did much to make the . . . [more]

One-third of the nearly 23,500 lawyers in private practice in Ontario are sole practitioners. As a solo, it’s great to have the freedom that comes with being your own boss, but you also have full responsibility for all aspects of the operation of your law practice.

Do you have what it takes to be a sole practitioner? The 2012 Student Issue of LAWPRO Magazine included a self-assessment test to help identify your strengths and weaknesses and gives you a better idea of whether you’re cut out for solo or small firm practice. It asks you to rank your skills (in . . . [more]

We’re proud indeed to announce that a third great provider of legal content, Eugene Meehan’s firm, Supreme Advocacy, has agreed to provide us with summaries for our Summaries Sunday feature. As Slaw readers will doubtless know, Eugene Meehan Q.C. has been publishing the weekly SupremeAdvocacyLett@r for a good many years, keeping lawyers up to date on developments at the Supreme Court of Canada. He has agreed to provide us with a summary of his newsletter’s content once a month — on the second Sunday of the month — and as well four times a year he will craft for . . . [more]

I couldn’t sell immortality at half price. I just don’t have the skills that are necessary to persuade people to part with their money. Which may explain my fascination with the pitchmen at markets and fairs. Not that I’m a sucker for all things that dice, slice, mince and macerate — though it’s always sensible to have the consumer equivalent of a “sober companion” standing near me as they begin to demonstrate the havoc that the SlashEeze knife might wreak on innocent vegetables or the shine that AmazoGlop could put on my car with only a simple wipe or two . . . [more]

As winter turns to spring and hockey gives way to baseball and soccer, I can’t help but think about the role of referees and umpires and wonder why we don’t use them more for commercial dispute resolution.

Every competitive sport needs a referee or umpire. Even in recreational leagues, players know there will be disputed plays, broken rules and conflicts.

Business is highly competitive. Technology projects, in particular, need on-the-spot umpires who can make calls quickly and settle conflicts efficiently.

Contracts for large, complex projects typically require disputes to be escalated to senior executives or a project steering committee before . . . [more]