The Law School Show (The Law School Show)

In the 10-Minute Series, Rishi and Chris answer the 9 most common questions they've received since starting The Law School Show. One question per instalment answered in under 10 minutes. Short and sweet. In this first instalment, the question is: What is the goal of 1st year and where should I focus my energy? Enjoy!

In the 10-Minute Series, Rishi and Chris answer the 9 most common questions they've received since starting the Law School Show. One question per episode. Short and sweet and helpful. In this second instalment the question is: What should I do during first year summer? Enjoy!

For a Law School Show Letter on the topic click HERE

In the 10-Minute Series, Rishi and Chris answer the 9 most common questions they've received since starting the Law School Show. One question per episode. Short and sweet and helpful. In this third installment the question is: What are your top 5 tips for success during the on campus interview process? Enjoy!

In the 10-Minute Series, Rishi and Chris answer the 9 most common questions they've received since starting The Law School Show. One question per episode. Short and sweet and helpful. In this fourth installment the question is: What advice do you have on extracurriculars' in upper years? Enjoy!

In the 10 Minute Series, Rishi and Chris answer the 9 most common questions they’ve received since starting The Law School Show. One question per episode. Short and sweet and helpful. In this fifth installment the question is: what are the top 5 things to remember as a second year summer student working in a firm? Enjoy!

In the 10-Minute Series, Rishi and Chris answer the 9 most common questions they’ve received since starting The Law School Show. One question per episode. Short and sweet and helpful. In this sixth installment the question is: What are the top 5 tips for networking as a student? Enjoy!

How do you get the most out of Career Connections 2015 and other networking opportunities? This year’s event includes 19 social justice roundtables, 66 mock interviews, 11 panels and an afternoon career fair. We asked legal professionals attending Career Connections for some networking tips. This episode features Natalie Zinman from Gowlings' Toronto, Jessica Fullerton from Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP, Andrew Astritis from Raven Cameron Ballantyne & Yazbeck, Michael Bossin from Community Legal Services-Ottawa, Stacy Keehn from Career and Professional Development office of the University of Ottawa Law School, and Jason Mercier, a third-year student with a Career Connections success story. Enjoy!

Money is a tool and getting better at using it takes knowledge. In this episode, Greg Moore shares his financial acumen for the benefit of past, present and future law students. Greg is Manager of Professional and Small Business Banking at Scotiabank. He talks about the best way to set-up financing and banking in preparation for law school. Then, he shares ways to manage your money throughout law studies in order to graduate with as little debt as possible. Finally, he gives advice on how to repay your loans after graduation. For more information, you can email Greg at grega.moore@scotiabank.com.

Our conversation with Professor Anthony Daimsis lays out everything you need to know about Mooting! This is Part 1 of our conversation.

Professor Daimsis is the Common Law Moot Court Coordinator and a professor at the University of Ottawa. He has been coaching University of Ottawa moot teams for over a decade and his coaching has led teams to achieve exceptional results both nationally and internationally. To learn more about Professor Daimsis’ mooting successes, visit: http://commonlaw.uottawa.ca/15/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7972&Itemid=891

This episode covers a wide range of topics including the importance of mooting during law school and things to do in 1st year to better position yourself for success in competitive mooting in upper years. We also discuss how to excel during the moot tryouts, steps to take once you receive the problem, and how to become a better team member. This episode features all this and more – tune in!

 

Brittany Twiss’ career trajectory is not a straight line. She combatted sexual exploitation of children in Thailand, practiced at prominent family law boutiques in Canada and then became the Executive Director of Canadian Lawyers Abroad in 2013. Listen to her honest and candid advice on how to make smooth transitions in a legal career. If you are interested in more than one area of law, this episode is for you.

Stay tuned for Part II of this interview to learn more about CLA and the field of international law.

Our conversation with Professor Anthony Daimsis lays out everything you need to know about Mooting! This is Part 2 of our conversation.

Professor Daimsis is the Common Law Moot Court Coordinator and a professor at the University of Ottawa. He has been coaching University of Ottawa moot teams for over a decade and his coaching has led teams to achieve exceptional results both nationally and internationally, including winning the Willem C Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in 2011 and 2015. To learn more about Professor Daimsis’ mooting successes, visit: http://commonlaw.uottawa.ca/15/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7972&Itemid=891

This episode focuses on various topics including preparing the oral arguments, structuring arguments, and tackling questions. This episode features all this and more – Tune in!

Following the graduation of the inaugural LPP class, Assistant Director, Work Placement Office, André Bacchus, discusses feedback from students and employers, hire-back rates, job placements and what's in store next for the LPP. 

We tapped into the archives and exercised production skills to build a highlight reel. Listen in to get advice and perspective from 4 accomplished, and honest, in-house practitioners. To listen to full LSS interviews with General Counsel: Ep 28 - Dan Ciraco: Senior Legal Counsel at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Ep 23 - David Allgood: EVP and General Counsel at the Royal Bank of Canada Ep 20 - Michelle Moldofsky: General Counsel at St. Michael's Hospital Ep 14 - Fernando Garcia: General Counsel at Nissan and Infiniti Canada

Emilie Nicholas was involved in sports her whole life. Then she went to law school. She had experience articling at a big firm and working in house all before starting at MLSE. Now Emilie has come full circle and has one of the best sports related law jobs out there. Learn how Emilie navigated the career waters to end up in a fitting role.

Want to work in international law? The Executive Director of Canadian Lawyers Abroad tells us that it starts in law school. In this episode, you’ll find out how to improve your chances and how Canadian Lawyers Abroad can help. This is part 2 of Episode 33 - How to make smooth career transitions in law with Brittany Twiss.

This action packed episode is a highlight of the various recruitment focused interviews that we have conducted. Tune in for honest advice from recruiters, students, and practitioners about how succeed in any recruitment process!

For a list of our Recruitment focused episodes, please visit: http://thelawschoolshow.com/listen/category/podcast/recruitmentinsider/

The Law Job Exchange Group lives by the motto of "Share a Job, Pay it Forward!" The LJEG is much more than a legal job posting site with A+ curation and search functionality. It is a basis of community within which job seekers can connect.  Litsa built the site from the ground up. She talks all about how she did this, why she was motivated to create the service and how students and junior associates are benefiting from it every day.

Honourable Paul Crampton practiced competition law, authored a leading text on the subject and lectured at several law schools prior to getting appointed to the Federal Court in 2009. He attributes his successes to his ability to remain “switched on” - passionate, involved, active and committed to surpass expectations. In this interview, Chief Justice Crampton discusses the importance of staying “switched on” and offers other tips for success.

We are excited to bring to you an insightful episode with the University of Ottawa's Common Law Dean, Nathalie Des Rosiers. She shares her failures and challenges she faced along the way and shines light on what it means to be a Dean of a law school. This is an inspiring episode that teaches about how to learn from your failures and come out on top!

Andre Garber works at the forefront of law and technology. In this episode we learn how he arrived there. Andre also shares spot on tips for law students and articling students. Plus, talks about how he found his groove within law and followed it to his current role as Director of the Dentons Canada Startup Program.   To learn more about Andre and the Dentons Canada Startup Program visit:  

http://www.techstartupcenter.com/startup-program-0

The Program provides legal services to fast moving startups. Dentons has leveraged its vast precedent base and global law talent to craft a one-stop shop for startups. In this episode, Andre walks us through the Program and speaks to it in detail. If you're interested in technology, legal tech, startups and entrepreneurial ventures, this episode is for you. Enjoy!   To learn more about Andre and the Dentons Canada Startup Program visit:   http://www.techstartupcenter.com/startup-program-0

The Legal Innovation Zone is an incubator fostering the growth of startups. The LIZ is challenging the status-quo of the Canadian legal industry. Hersh Perlis is Director of the LIZ and in this episode he talks about why the job appealed to him and what skills he brings to the table. Hersh also unpacks the LIZ detailing what support it provides startups, how you can get involved if you have an idea and what direction the LIZ is taking as it continues to grow at a super pace.

To learn more about the Legal Innovation Zone and Hersh Perlis visit: http://www.legalinnovationzone.ca/

Map Your Property has streamlined due diligence for land development. Using an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing interface, MYP provides access to information such as by-law zoning and planning regulations in three clicks. MYP can do in five minutes what would normally take multiple hours. In this episode, Devin Tu, Co-founder of MYP, talks about how he came up with the idea, the struggles and sacrifice involved in growing a startup, and the excitement involved in gaining traction.     For more information about Map Your Property visit: http://www.mapyourproperty.ca/

Elsa Ascencio, Jasmine Landau, Harpreet Sidhu, and Brad Yaeger are four successful 2L students at the University of Ottawa. We took the opportunity to speak with them and discussed their reactions when they received their first law school mark back, how to create a good summary, and how to conduct an effective study group. Stay tuned for Part 2 on their tips on how to prepare for law school exams!

Would you like to apply for a clerkship? We spoke to three students who secured clerkship positions: Samantha Cass (will be clerking for the Ontario Court of Appeal), Nick Howard (currently clerking for the Federal Court) and Erika Vandervoort (currently clerking for the Superior Court of Justice). Check out what they had to say about the application process and the work involved. 

Part 2 of the Exam Prep Roundtable with Elsa Ascencio, Jasmine Landau, Brad Yaeger, and Harpreet Sidhu (2L students from the University of Ottawa).  In this podcast, we discuss how to to study for a law school exam, emergency study tactics, and strategies for writing the exam.

Inaccessibility of legal services is symptomatic of an overloaded and inefficient court system.  In an attempt to bridge this gap, Selena Lucien created the Ontario Small Claims Wizard - an online tool where litigants can prepare and compile their materials for Small Claims Court.  In Part I, we discuss how the Wizard came about and how it helps self-represented litigants.   

Selena Lucien created the Ontario Small Claims Wizard – an online tool where litigants can prepare and compile their materials for Small Claims Court.  In Part II, Selena and Marco extend their conversation into how legal technology tools are redefining law practice and the role of legal professionals.

Josh Smith and Karen Cheung sat down with two UOttawa students who were successful in the 2016 Toronto Summer Recruitment process. The four of them share their insights, reflect on the experience, and talk about methods to keep you sane throughout it all. 

Thomas Cottier is an Emeritus Professor of European and International Economic Law at the University of Bern and a founding and former Managing Director of the World Trade Institute. He has taught in Geneva, Germany and China and was also a member of the Swiss National Research Council from 1997-2004 and served on the board of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) Rome during the same period. In addition to academics Prof. Cottier als oserved Baker & McKenzie law firm as Of Counsel from 1998 to 2005. Most notably, Prof. Cottier served in the Swiss negotiating team of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tarrifs and Trade (GATT) a seminal piece of multilateral international law that governs international trade between the signatory nations. 

 

Prof. Cottier sat down for a short conversation with Josh Smith to speak about his career as both a practitioner and academic. In this candid, thoughtful interview Prof. Cottier offers up his well-rounded opinions on legal career paths, careers in private practice v. academic research, academic collaboration, climate change, why law school debt and competition might be a ‘good’ thing and how to use one’s law school skills to shape the law, as well as one’s career. 

 

If you’re thinking of choosing private practice or academics – you may want to listen to this podcast!

Professor Craig Forcese is an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law. He teaches national security law, public international law, administrative law and public law legislation. Following False Security: The Radicalization of Canadian Anti-Terrorism, a book he co-authored with Kent Roach, Professor Forcese has been referred to by many, including Maclean's Magazine as a top law professor in the country in the field national security law. In our conversation with him, we discussed his experience writing his recent book, work - life balance, how to build networks and relationships, his morning routine, and so much more! This episode is filled with some invaluable insights for law students and young professionals about mentorships, following opportunities, and not being afraid to reach out. 

Artists' Legal Advice Services has been providing free summary legal advice to artists for 30 years. To say the not-for-profit is successful is a wild understatement. ALAS embodies the ethos of helping that is so valuable in law. Listen in and learn from Paul Sanderson, ALAS Co-founder, Director and Duty Counsel, and Warren Sheffer, ALAS Director and Duty Counsel, as they describe ALAS's evolution over the past three decades, the elements integral to its continued high-calibre service and the legal needs of artists in today's market. For more information visit: ALAS website About Paul Sanderson  About Warren Sheffer 

Ever wonder if joining the law review is right for you? Curious about what responsibilities you'll have and if they are worth it in the long run? Both noble representatives of the Ottawa Law Review, Matthew Quintieri, Editor-in-Chief and Cassandra Ma, Executive Director, answer all these questions and much more. Get a look inside the workings of a team that shares top rate legal scholarship. And learn about the opportunity, struggle and learning that comes along with it.

This is a relaunch of Episode 29 where we discussed bar exam preparation. This episode lays out everything you need to know about the bar in a concise and information packed discussion with Marco Figliomeni. Marco wrote and past the bar in 2014. He tells you about the materials - what they consist of and how they are laid out. He tells you exactly how he prepared his index, how he approached studying, and he describes the day of the exam. We hope you find this episode useful and wish you the best of luck for the upcoming bar exams. Enjoy!

Susanne Gabriele and Andreas Kalogiannides are young entertainment lawyers who contribute to The Redline blog.  With the blog, and in our discussion, Susanne (who also provides private wellness counseling) and Andreas share their stories on how mindfulness and authenticity help them each lead enriching professional and personal lives.

We know that there are acts and regulations, but have you ever wondered how they come to be? Who drafts them? How do you even become a drafter? Professor John Mark Keyes has been a lawyer, a drafter, the Past Chief Legislative Counsel of the Legislative Services Branch at the Department of Justice, and the author of Executive Legislation. In this episode (Part 1 of 2), he shares with us the world of drafting, the tips to becoming a successful drafter, and his inspiration for his book. He also tells us how to be passionate outside of the area of law and how to manage change in one’s career. Have fun and tune in for Part II of this interview to learn more about drafting! 

Highlights of the episode:

 

1:08 - Life outside of law

4:12 - How to balance his interests with his career

6:40 - Law school experience (overall thoughts, first year of law school)

9:13 - What would he have done differently in law school?

10:05 - Why law school?

11:42 - How did he develop his interest in drafting?

13:39 - Articling at the Ministry of the Attorney General

16:57 - Ruling out other interests

19:11 - Advice to law students who are still looking for their interests

21:09 - Transitioning from the Ministry of the Attorney General to a small law firm

27:30 - How a Drafting Program led to working at the Department of Justice

30:14 - What does a drafter do?

Part 2 of 2 of this interview continues with Professor John Mark Keyes' experiences. We delve further into his responsibilities as the past Chief Legislative Counsel of the Legislative Services Branch at the Department of Justice. He also shares the crucial skills needed to be a good drafter. Finally, he talks about his transition as a professor and shares his inspiration for Executive Legislation. Enjoy Part Two of this interview!

Highlights of the episode:

0:48 - What was his drafting experience like?

6:00 - Challenges in drafting

7:00 - How do you manage the different clients' expectations?

10:23 - Responsibilities as a junior drafter

12:20 - The importance of teamwork within federal drafting

13:20 - How important is knowing French as a drafter?

13:43 - What skills are important to be a good drafter?

16:59 - Transitioning to the role of the Chief Legislative Counsel of the Legislative Services Branch

18:55 - Management responsibilities

22:25 - Are there other skills needed to be a good manager?

24:00 - Other managerial responsibilities

26:00 - What was his inspiration for his book?

30:10 - What motivated him to become a professor?

31:45 - Best parts and challenges of being a professor

35:52 - Recommendations of resources for people interested in drafting

37:28 - Career goal

Timothy Sullivan is a family lawyer and civil litigator in Ottawa. In this wide ranging discussion, we talk about Timothy’s journey from law school to lawyer, the challenges of starting his own solo practice, and much more. If you are considering practicing in family law, civil litigation, or starting your own practice, this episode is for you.

For more information on Timothy, visit http://sullivanlaw.ca/ or follow him on twitter at @SullivanLawCA

Stéphane Teasdale is a partner at Dentons Canada LLP with a fascinating career in that has allowed him to travel to many countries. He is the chair of the global Franchise and Distribution Law group and also co-leads the Corporate and Commercial Law group of Dentons' Montreal office. In this episode, we discuss how he went from being a litigator to a solicitor, what qualities good litigators and solicitors possess, what it is like practicing franchise and distribution law, and more. If you're not sure whether you should be a litigator or a solicitor, this episode may help solve your dilemma! Episode Highlights: 1:20 - Introduction 6:00 - How he became exposed to franchise and distribution law 9:40 - How to stand out in interviews 15:00 - How to know if you are more of a litigator or a solicitor 18:00 - Traits of a solicitor 20:30 - From a lawyer to a partner 23:00 - Best parts of his job  26:00 - Working abroad  30:00 - Work-life balance 31:45 - Women and the partnership track

In this episode Rishi and Chris reflect on their articling experience at Stikeman Elliott LLP. They discuss topics such as typical hours, what they would have done different, and key pieces of advice. Tune in to give it a listen. 

Nathan Fox is the founder of Fox LSAT, an LSAT tutoring company. We discuss Nathan’s law school experience and his decision to pursue a non-legal career after graduation, his own LSAT experience, and some very useful LSAT tips. You can find additional tips at Nathan’s podcast at www.thinkinglsat.com/blog/. You can also find Nathan’s contact information on his website at www.foxlsat.com. Enjoy!

Incoming or future 2Ls, you’re  wondering what to expect for 2L right? Of course, you’ve likely heard of on-campus interviews (OCIs). You’re probably also wondering how to succeed in them or how to do better in 2L in general. This episode featuring David Lu, a 3L and one of the hosts of this show, will answer your questions and/or worries! Enjoy! Highlights of the episode:

1:15 – 3L course selection tips: take interesting courses or take courses that will be tested on the bar exam

2:46 – Tips for 2L

7:23 – Do 1L summer experiences matter for OCIs?

9:52 – OCI experience

12:37 – Do grades matter for OCIs?

14:19 – Government OCIS

17:03 – OCI logistics

20:50 – Firm tours and networking before OCIs

24:40 – What if OCIs don’t work out for you?

27:20 – Articling search experience

29:30 – Call day

It’s still the beginning of the school year and we hope all of the 1Ls are adapting to law school well! Of course, there are still questions that are lurking. In this episode, David and Angela will be talking about effective ways to study, work-life balance, things we wish we knew in 1L and more. Tune in now!

2:34 - What would I have done differently in 1L?

4:25 - Legal writing challenge

5:20 - How to read cases

6:50 - Exam writing tips

9:45 - Time management advice

12:50 - What really helped in 1L

16:28 - Taking notes by hand or by computer?

19:40 - What are classes like in 1L?

22:00 - Mooting in 1L

26:55 - How to pick courses in 2L

Days ago, the Law Society of Upper Canada Professional Development and Competence Committee recommended ending the Law Practice Program following the completion of its current year. In this episode, André Bacchus, Assistant Director in the LPP Work Placement Office, speaks to this development. Plus, André describes with statistical support how the LPP has delivered success for its candidates and served the public by preparing skilled lawyers. If you have an opinion on the future of the LPP we urge you to share it with the LSUC.

To email the LSUC before the October 19, 2016 deadline: policy@lsuc.on.ca

 

The Law Practice Program Report “Three Years of the LPP”: 

 

Law Society of Upper Canada Professional Development and CompetenceCommittee “Report on Convocation September 22, 2016"

 

Law Practice Program Candidate Experiences and Employer Perspectives VIDEO 

 

LPP Experience VIDEO – Candidate Conversations 

 

Other Law School Show Episodes featuring the Law Practice Program:

Ep 8 – Andre Bacchus, Assistant Director LPP Work Placement Office,RyersonU 

 

Ep 58 – The Law Practice Program – up close and personal. 

 

Ep 35 – News and Reviews about the Law Practice Program with AndreBacchus. 

In this episode we talk with Victoria Wan about her experience working at a legal clinic. Victoria is a 3rd year law student at the University of Ottawa.  She spent her second year and the subsequent summer working at a community legal clinic. Victoria is involved in many extra-curricular activities including being Co-Chairperson at the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers – University of Ottawa Chapter.

This interview features Linda J. Godel, a partner at Torkin Manes LLP. She practices not-for-profit and charity law and also chairs the firm's practice group. In this interview, we talk about overcoming the challenges of developing one's practice, the important skills and characteristics in succeeding in law, and more. If you're interested in practicing charity law or just want to learn more about it, tune into this episode!

Are you interested in learning more about corporate finance and securities law or mining law? Then tune into this episode featuring Linda Misetich Dann. She is a partner and Co-Head of the Capital Markets and M&A group at Bennett Jones LLP. She shares her journey as a law student to a partner, the challenges she faces within these practices, the qualities needed to succeed in these areas of law. This is a very interesting episode, so please tune in!

In this exciting interview, we sit down with one of the founders of Legal Cafe, a startup looking to enhance the communication between legal professionals. 

Co-founded by Shaunt Tokmakjian and Ari Comert, LegalCafe, as the name suggests, is a warm and inviting place for lawyers to connect and support each other quickly and easily, at home or on their smartphones. What makes this idea unique is that it fosters the creation of an online legal community through technological innovation, cost-effectiveness and profit sharing.

LegalCafe aims to solve the following three problems: (1) Poor support networks: Without strong networking, or large firm support, lawyers, especially new lawyers, are often left without a proper support network. This has the potential of impacting quality of service for clients. (2) Redundant Research and Cost: Often times lawyers are looking for answers hundreds of other lawyers have already researched. (3) Community: Memberships to the various legal bar associations can be cost prohibitive especially for new lawyers. In addition to the annual fees which range in the hundreds of dollars, members are often expected to pay for the various events they attend. The goal of LegalCafe is to leverage technological innovation to create an online and effective community with low cost to members.

If you want to learn more about LegalCafe, check out www.legalcafe.ca.

Are you curious to learn what a career as a trademark attorney entail? In this episode, we sit down with Ms. Andrea Pitts, a trademark attorney from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, and discuss how trademark prosecution is a niche, rewarding profession. Listen-in to gain advice and perspective from this accomplished in-house practitioner.

Sari de la Motte advises attorneys, corporations, and government organizations in the United States about non-verbal communication. In this informative episode, Sari gives tips on non-verbal communication for litigators in the courtroom and applicants at the job interview.

FORTE’s free voir dire guide: https://nonverbalforte.com/voirdireguide 

You can find more about FORTE here: https://nonverbalforte.com/

 

Ever wonder what it is like to work at TD Bank Group? Jeff Smolkin, a Managing Counsel, leads and manages TD Bank's online and mobile service offerings, innovation and mobile payment initiatives and strategy, such as UGO Wallet and TD Labs, as well as TD Bank's FinTech. He shares how he transitioned to IP law and some tips to succeess like being open to trying new areas of law. Tune into this episode to learn more!

What resources are available for first generation students who are studying law? In this episode Brooke Longhurst and Dianna Robinson will be talking to us about the First Generation Network and why this network was created.

Brooke is a second year JD student at the University of Toronto. Before law school, Brooke completed her Master of Philosophy the University of Cambridge. She is the founder of the First Generation Network, and President of the organization’s UofT Law chapter.

Dianna Robinson is a third-year JD/MBA student at Osgoode Hall Law School and Schulich School of Business. She is the president of a group established to provide support to students who are the first in their families to attend post-secondary education; the Osgoode First Generation Network.

The First Generation Network was created at Osgoode Hall Law School in December 2015 with the aim of reducing the professional, social and financial barriers to law school faced by students who are the first in their family to attend post-secondary education. The Network expanded to University of Toronto Faculty of Law in September 2016. The Network has a strong focus on activities that involve members of the legal community who were also the first in their family to attend post-secondary education.

If you want to start a chapter at your own law school, email: UTLFGN@gmail.com

Check out the First Generation Network at your school: Toronto, Osgoode, Western, Ottawa, Windsor, and Lakehead.

Sam Witherspoon is the Founder and CEO of MiraLaw - a legal tech start up based in Ottawa. Focused on leveraging technology to address access to justice issues, MiraLaw has created a product, Thistoo, that is intended to help mitigate the A2J issues faced by parties in Family Law.

In this varied conversation, we talk about Sam's journey from law school to founding MiraLaw, the idea behind Thistoo and Miralaw's other product Compass, the future effect of technology on the practice of law, and the challenges of founding your own legal tech start up.

Sam recommends the book The Hard Things by Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. You can also find more info on MiraLaw here.

In this episode, Chris sits down with Michelle Moldofsky (for the second time on the LSS) of the Moldofsky Professional Corporation. At the Moldofsky Professional Corporation Michelle provides legal advice in health law and corporate commercial law affecting not-for-profit health organizations. Prior to founding this company, Michelle was General Counsel at St. Michael's Hospital. Stay tuned to hear Michelle discuss her approach to making a successful career transition and the difficulties and opportunities she experienced along the way.

To learn more about Michelle visit:

Moldofsky Professional Corporation

Corporate Advisory Counsel, Law Practice Program

LinkedIn Profile

LSS Ep 20: Michelle Moldofsky, General Counsel at St. Michael's Hospital

Darcy is a Senior Associate at McMillan LLP (Ottawa) advising on all aspects of corporate and commercial transactions, general contract law, financial institution regulation and insurance matters. Darcy also has experience in the area of payments, having spent 3 months working with the team responsible for Canada’s essential payments systems on a secondment basis. Darcy is an alumni of the University of Ottawa where she obtained her LL.B. in 2010. She then went on to practice out of McMillan’s Toronto office for 5 years before returning to the nation’s capital. When not in the office, you might find Darcy hiking around Gatineau Park or otherwise relaxing at one of her favourite brunch spots.

In this episode, we have a candid conversation with Darcy. She tells us more about financial services, her transition from Toronto to Ottawa, and her experiences in law school. 

If you’re interested in litigation, especially in the area of IP, then this episode is for you! Andy Shaughnessy, a partner in Torys' Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice, focuses mostly on IP litigation and dispute resolution. He has advocated in front of numerous courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal. In this episode, he shares his most daunting experiences, the challenges he faces as a litigator, and more! Tune into this fascinating episode!

 

Start the New Year with a fresh perspective! In this episode, Minister Catherine McKenna shares her journey from being a law student to being appointed Minister of Environment and Climate Change. She discusses the importance of carving your own path, of surrounding yourself with people that inspire you, and the importance of not losing sight of your goals and ambitions. This is a very special episode that you don't want to miss!

 

 

The OBA Institute - the largest legal CPD event in Canada this year will take place between Feb 6 - Feb 11. With events happening in both Toronto & Ottawa, as well as availability online, there is something for every stage of one's legal career. In this episode, David chats with Kim Cunnington-Taylor & Tim Kennedy, the Ottawa co-chairs of the program. The conversation talks about why both Kim & Tim became involved with the OBA, and the programs and resources available for law students and young lawyers at the OBA Institute in Ottawa and Toronto.

DISCOUNT CODES: Attending in Ottawa, in-person (15%): OTTAWA15, Student promo code for webcast (85%) STUDENT85

More info: http://www.oba.org/Institute/Home 

 

In the 10-Minute Series, Rishi and Chris answer the 9 most common questions they’ve received since starting The Law School Show. One question per episode. Short and sweet and helpful. In this seventh installment the question is: What are the top 5 things to know about the bar exam? Enjoy!

Shane Murphy is co-founder of Law Scout - an online platform that connects small businesses to lawyers who work online for upfront, fixed fees.  Shane discusses how he transitioned from litigator to legal tech entrepreneur, the impact of technology on law practice and how new lawyers can develop their practice in this ever-changing terrain.  

Jay Kellerman is the managing partner at Stikeman Elliott's Toronto office. He has more than 25 years of experience as a corporate lawyer. In our conversation with him, we discussed his path to becoming a managing partner, what it means to be a managing partner, his perspective on leadership, and the importance of passion. Jay also shared invaluable advice for students and young lawyers. This is a must listen!

Aaron Wenner is a father, a graduate of Harvard, a graduate of McGill Law, a coder and an entrepreneur. In this episode, Aaron tells us about the product he created, aptly called CiteRight. CiteRight is an intelligent legal assistant that formats citations, assembles books of authority, and notes-up precedents. It saves lawyers’ time and clients’ money, and makes drafting litigation documents smarter, faster, cheaper. Aaron tells us about why he decided not to work in a traditional legal job and the process he has lived in getting CiteRight to market.

The Law School Show, Episode 1 – Susan Pak, Director, Student Programs and Human Resources, Stikeman Elliott LLP

In this episode we unpack Michael Bird's story of starting his own practice over 20 years ago and discuss decisions he has made along the way which have shaped his practice. He practices in the areas of real estate, civil litigation, mental health law, among others. For more information, you can reach Michael at: mpbird@ripnet.com.

Entertainment law. Sounds like something I would love, but what does it actually mean to practice it? How do you break into the game? What does it take to get established? David Steinberg is a preeminent Canadian entertainment lawyer with decades of experience and a practice that reaches into the US. In this episode of the LSS, he answers these questions with clarity and smile-making sincerity. Enjoy. For more information about David visit www.dentons.com/en/david-steinberg.

Warren Bongard has had his finger on the pulse of the legal market for nearly 2 decades. He is the President and Co-founder of ZSA Recruitment. Warren, a former lawyer himself, specializes in matching lawyers with career jobs. He knows exactly what employers are looking for and precisely what makes candidates stand out. And he graciously shares it all in this episode of the LSS. For more information about Warren Bongard and ZSA Recruitment visit: www.zsa.ca/consultants/profiles/warren-bongard/ 

What is the benefit of working 'in-house' and how do you become general counsel of a company? How is it different from working in-firm? Fernando Garcia is General Counsel for Nissan Canada and Infiniti Canada. He lays it all out for us and shares a compelling and eye opening discussion about his life and his career. Listen, learn, gain perspective and move forward!

Happy Holidays!  See you guys in the New Year!

Experience an example of somebody who married their personal interests with their law career. Discover that challenges will present themselves but they will also pass. It’s part of the scenery on the path to success. Listen to Tanya Woods’ story. Tanya is VP of Policy and Legal Affairs at the Entertainment Software Association of Canada. For more about Tanya and ESA visit: theesa.ca

Ottawa recruitment is fast approaching and you will benefit from knowing what Leeann Beggs has to say. Leann is the Director of Student and Associate Programs in the Gowlings Ottawa office. She is integral in deciding who the firm hires during recruitment and tells you exactly what she is looking for throughout the process.

Nathan Piche is a student who was hired by Gowlings during the 2014 Ottawa recruitment process. He gives crucial insight from the perspective of a candidate and shares precisely what made him successful. Nathan also talks about what he would have done differently in retrospect. Get the advantage that he himself didn’t have!

She identified what she was interested in, set on a path to achieve it and overcame adversity along the way. Michelle Moldofsky is General Counsel at St. Michael's Hospital. Her story is honest and inspiring. Tune in and better understand how to calmly move in the direction of your career dreams.

The Law Practice Program has revolutionized the lawyer licensing process. In this episode of the LSS, we speak with Anne Levesque, Director of the French LPP at uOttawa. Anne graciously and honestly answers all the important questions about the program and describes how it stacks up to traditional articles. Note, this episode is hosted by Olivia Lee and is in French. Enjoy. 

Imagine signing an offer letter to do articles. Locked. Only to have completed all but 70 days of 3L when you learn the firm you were committed to has folded. Leaving you jobless. How would you feel? What would you do? Will Tao tells us exactly what went through his mind and precisely what he did to kickstart and succeed in finding articles afresh. Will is currently articling at Larlee Ronsenberg Barristers & Solicitors in Vancouver. To learn more about Will visit http://www.larlee.com/lawyers/will-tao/.   

Illustrious doesn’t quite get us there. David Allgood’s career exemplifies the heights you can reach when you understand yourself, the intricacies of your profession and the needs of other people. Entering his last year as EVP and General Counsel of the Royal Bank of Canada, David is still hungry for challenge. The Law School Show wishes Mr. Allgood nothing but the best obstacles to conquer and most enriching learning in retirement. Listen to how a career of prestigious experience shapes advice. Enjoy. 

As the Director of Intelligence Policy, Ritu is responsible for providing insights which shape many of our country's laws. It's a rare treat to speak with a professional with this level of public influence. In this episode, she tells us how she got there and what it's all about. Ritu also talks with honesty about what makes a good boss and how not getting hired back after articles was hard but ultimately contributed toward finding success in line with her interests. She shares great insights about mentorship & the importance of following one's gut! Tune in & find out about a Special Announcement as well. 

If you are a law student in Ontario you should be a member of the Ontario Bar Association. OBA membership gets you networking opportunities, mentorship opportunities, access to specialized and practical learning…and so much more. Best of all, membership is free! In this episode David Sterns, Second VP of the OBA and Nicolas Joubert, uOttawa, Common Law English, Law School Student OBA Ambassador tell you exactly how you can get involved with the OBA and the direct career benefits that result. 

To get a hold of Nicolas you can email him at njoub083@uottawa.ca or follow him on Twitter at @uOttawaOBA

Here is a list of other important contacts at your law school: 

Student Division Executive

· University of Windsor - Elana Anzel-Sivkin (Chair)

· Queen's University - Leah Gensey (Vice-Chair)

· University of Western Ontario - Blake Jones (Past Chair)

Law School Student Ambassadors

· Lakehead University - Alison Morris

· York University (Osgoode) - Kate Julien

· University of Toronto - Billi Wun

· University of Windsor - Michael Ditkofsky

· University of Ottawa, English Common Law - Nicolas Joubert 

· University of Ottawa, French Common Law - Jessica Smith 

Articling Student Ambassadors

· University of Toronto - Arieh Bloom

· Queen's University  - John McIntyre 

· University of Ottawa - Zac Resnick

· University of Western Ontario - Alana Sharpe

Upcoming OBA events around you:

• Toronto
  • The Nuts and Bolts of Investment Canada Act Reviews for Young Lawyers – February 26, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm at 79 Wellington Street West, 33rd Floor, TD South Tower

  • More Bullet-Proofing for Your IT Law Practice: Professionalism, Ethics and the New Rules of Professional Conduct – March 2, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at Twenty Toronto Street Conferences and Events (20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor)

  • Your First Civil Trial – March 6, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm at Twenty Toronto Street Conferences and Events (20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor)

  •  Your First Franchise Law Client – March 10, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at Twenty Toronto Street Conferences and Events (20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor)

• London
  • Insight from the Bench: Practical Advocacy Tips for Young Lawyers – March 26, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at  The River Room Cafe & Private Dining (421 Ridout Street North) 

• Ottawa
  • Ottawa Outreach Event (Women Lawyers Forum) - February 23, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at BLG offices

  • The Risks and Rewards of Marketing Yourself Online – February 25, 7:45 am - 9:00 am at Nelligan O'Brien Payne offices

  • Career Connections –  February 26, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at Ottawa Convention Centre

  • War Museum Tour and Networking Reception - March 12 or March 26 (to be determined) from 6:15 pm - 9:00 pm at the National War Museum & Mill Street Brew Pub (1 Vimy Place and 555 Wellington Street respectively) - Put on by the Young Lawyers Division - East in collaboration with the Student Division Executive

  • Effective Administrative Tribunal Practice  – April 22, 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm at Army Officers' Mess - Main Dining Room (149 Somerset West)

 For all upcoming OBA events visit http://www.cbapd.org/province_en.aspx?prov=ON

 

 

We all have a feel-good memory that involves the CBC. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is a household name that delivers top notch content across the airwaves. A big reason for this is the people that work there - they believe in public broadcasting. Dan Ciraco is Senior Legal Counsel at the CBC. In this episode, he talks about what the job requires and how he got there, the culture at the CBC, and his secrets to prioritize and stay motivated.

 

 

To learn more about Dan and the programs he is involved in visit:

 

Intellectual Property Law and Technology Intensive Program

http://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/programs/jd-program/clinics-intensives/intellectual-property-law-technology-intensive-program/

 

Just Magazine

http://www.justmag.ca/editorialBoard.html

 

This is episode lays out everything you need to know about the bar in a concise, information packed discussion with Marco Figliomeni. Marco wrote and past the bar in 2014. He tells you about the materials - what they consist of and how they are laid out. He tells you exactly how he prepared his index and how he approached studying. Finally, he describes the day of the exam. To contact Marco: Marco FigliomeniStudent-at-Law at Costa Law Firm PCDal law grad (Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie)Follow on Twitter: @MarcoFig88Email: marco.fig88@gmail.comCan connect on LinkedIn To read Marco's publications:

• "The Song Remains the Same: Preserving the First Sale Doctrine for a Secondary Market of Digital Music” in the Canadian Journal of Law and Technology (available on LexisNexis Quicklaw and Westlaw)
• "Grassroots Capitalism or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Financial Risk in the Exempt Market and Love Equity Crowdfunding” in the Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies (https://ojs.library.dal.ca/djls/article/view/4755)

Leila is an example of what happens when you truly follow your interests. After graduating law school on her own terms she started a music business. Then she started a law firm. Then she started another business providing legal services along side her law firm. Today, Leila Banijamali surfs and provides high-end legal services to tech startups in the world mecca of tech startups, SF, CA. She tells us all about how she got there and what you can do to realize your career passions. To learn more about Leila visit: Her law firm's website at bedrocksf.com And her online legal services company at startupdocuments.com

How to be a child protection lawyer?

Vasu Naik is a family and child protection lawyer in Ottawa. She advocates for children and their families when Children's Aid gets involved. Vasu opened her own practice in child protection defence less than two years after she was called to the bar in Ontario in 2010. Before she moved to Canada, Vasu practiced intellectual property law in India, Singapore and Sweden. In this episode, she discusses child protection, social justice, international IP work and the secret to running an efficient practice.

In the lead-up to the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, the Public Law Group of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law hosted a panel discussion titled “A Conversation on the State of the Rule of Law in Canada.” The event was held on November 4, 2014. The panelists included Robert Walsh, The Honourable Justice David M. Paciocco, Irwin Cotler, MP, and Dean Nathalie Des RosiersFor more information: http://www.uottawa.ca/media/media-release-3070.html

Are you curious on how to leverage your law degree into a career in Canada’s film and television industry?  In this episode, Marco sits down with Allan Jolie-Coeur, the Vice President of Operations for the Shaw Rocket Fund.  Allan draws on over 20 years of combined experience in entertainment law and content production and distribution to demonstrate the importance of being nimble in a constantly changing industry. Guest: Allan Jolie-Coeur, VP Operations, Shaw Rocket Fund Learn more about Allan and the Shaw Rocket Fund here: http://www.rocketfund.ca/ *This episode contains references to the film Good Will Hunting, which was produced and distributed by Miramax Films.

The second cohort to enroll in the Law Practice Program hasnearly completed the experience. And the feedback is very positive. The LPP nowhas a proven track record of equipping licensing candidates with the skills andexperience necessary for success in today’s legal market. In this episode wehear from André Bacchus, AssistantDirector of the Law Practice Program Work Placement Office.  André discusses newadditions to the LPP including the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program, work placementsand hire-back rates, and how the LPP continues to refine its offerings in orderto be on the forefront of industry trends.

LPP Live Information Webinar – Wednesday March 16that 12:00pm EST.

 

The LPP ‘For Candidates’ info page including the ‘A Day inthe Life of an LPP Candidate video.

In this episode of The Law School Show, we bring to you a student round table in which students who went through the Toronto OCI Process discuss their experience and share insights about the application process, OCI, call day, infirm interviews, and the social events. 

In this episode, the LSS brings to you a student round table in which students discuss their summer experiences at the Ministry of the Attorney General, World Intellectual Property Organization and a Leading Business Law Firm.

In this episode we bring to you an interview with Kathryn Esaw. She practices commercial litigation with a focus on bankruptcy and insolvency law at Stikeman Elliott LLP. 

In this episode, we compiled a list of interesting/unique/obscure questions that students have been asked during the OCI and In firm interviews.

In this episode, we bring to you a checklist to go through a day before your OCI & In Firm Interviews and a checklist of items to keep in mind during your OCI & In Firm Interviews.

In this episode, we bring to you a conversation with Steven Birken. He shares his law school story, including insights about not getting a job through the 2nd year Toronto recruitment process and 3rd year articling recruitment.

In this episode we bring to an interview with André Bacchus, Assistant Director, LPP Work Placement Office, Ryerson University. Some of the topics of the conversation include the mandate of the LPP, the curriculum, work placements through the LPP Program and student feedback thus far. Hope you enjoy this insightful episode!

In this episode we discuss what it takes to build a law firm from the ground up. Jason Ward, founder of Wards PC, talks about his decision to leave Bay Street lawyering and start his own firm, the early challenges presented by the entrepreneurial venture and the keys to its success. To learn more about Jason and Wards PC visit www.wardlegal.ca and www.hauntyourhome.ca.

In this episode, we investigate toxic torts with Professor Heather McLeod Kilmurray. Professor McLeod-Kilmurray is a professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law who focuses on environmental issues and is a leading scholar in the area of toxic torts. Arguably, this is an area of torts, which can provide unique relief and remedies for negative environmental impacts to the public. Let's dive in! 

Professor McLeod Kilmurray's Bio: https://llmphd.uottawa.ca/en/about/faculty/mcleod-kilmurray-heather

Most of us believe that the obvious and safest route to practice once we graduate is to become an associate at an established firm. But “most of us” isn’t Nik Lust. Join host Matthew Takamatsu as he speaks with Nik, a solo practitioner, about everything you need to know about starting your own solo practice right after articling. The pair talk about the daily hustle of bringing in business, how to market yourself as a new lawyer, the importance of being confident in yourself, and a step-by-step breakdown of everything you need to do to start your own practice. They don’t teach you this in law school.

In this episode, join host Emma Huang in an interview with Canada’s Deputy Auditor General, Andrew Hayes. In this episode, Mr. Hayes — who holds an LLB from the University of Ottawa, and an LLM in Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall Law School — chats with us about his experience as a world champion bagpiper. He also shares tips for new lawyers, including a reminder to focus on your client's needs and the value of "learning how to learn" in law school. Finally, we discuss how those experiences and skills have helped Mr. Hayes in private legal practice and his career in the public sector, and what single piece of advice he would give to current law students just beginning their career.

Since the start of the pandemic, a lot of people have been considering the what, where, and why of legal work. Calgary-based startup Goodlawyer takes on these concerns by connecting lawyers with clients over an online platform. Matt Scrivens, Goodlawyer's Head of Legal Experience and the host of the Goodlawyer podcast (https://www.goodlawyer.ca/podcast), joined Jake Clark for a discussion about decentralization vs. centralization, what we can learn from blockchain, and how past practice models may provide guidance for the future. 

Join Amos Vang for the second half of a two-part interview with Roy Sengupta.

In this second part, Roy talks about his published work in the book Designing a Sustainable Financial System: Development Goals and Socio-Ecological Responsibility.  Specifically, Roy discusses the importance of improving the current global financial system, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missed the first half? Find Episode 144, released earlier this week, on our website, on YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.