- Garry J. Wise, Toronto
Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net
TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW • TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION • TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE
Showing posts with label legal profession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legal profession. Show all posts
Monday, March 5, 2012
Why like social media?
I am quoted in this article on the legal profession's utilization of social media: Why like social media? - Lawyers Weekly
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
"The 24"
It was a thrill to be included earlier this week in The 24: Canada's Top Legal Social Media Influencers from Lawyers Weekly.
Many thanks to writers Warren Smith and Jordan Furlong for this real honour.
Check out their list and by all means, follow the whole group on Twitter for a wide variety of takes on current issues, events, news, and opinions affecting the legal profession and often, all Canadians.
Many thanks to writers Warren Smith and Jordan Furlong for this real honour.
Check out their list and by all means, follow the whole group on Twitter for a wide variety of takes on current issues, events, news, and opinions affecting the legal profession and often, all Canadians.
- Garry J. Wise, Toronto
Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net
TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW • TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION • TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thinking of Making the Switch from Facebook to Google+?
Are you thinking of switching to Google+?
Eweek takes on this question today, and provides ten compelling reasons to make the change. Most convincing to me are:
- The ease of directing and limiting your shared items to specified groups of contacts, and
- Google+ introduces revolutionary video chat capability that enables instant video conferences involving up to ten participants (or more, I suppose, if multiple people are on camera at any of the participating locations).
The only problems so far, however, are that practically nobody can really figure out how to use Google+, and virtually nobody is using it.
Lots of people are apparently exploring, according to media reports - 10 million users in two weeks is certainly not shabby. Still, there's not a lot of activity going on yet, outside of the unapologetic geekosphere, which has been drooling non-stop since this service was launched.
My early review is that this newest social media giant is here to stay. I suspect it will ultimately develop a peaceful co-existence with Facebook and Twitter as competing networks with very different identities and distinct purposes.
I'd be very surprised to see any mass exodus from Facebook, as some are now predicting. Google+ will not topple the others simply because it exists, no matter how sexy, shiny and new it may now be.
As its real points of difference from the other sites emerge, however, it will likely be a very strong, permanent player.
What will the Google+ identity and culture ultimately be? I think it's way too early to tell, but I am quite sure this service will slowly and convincingly continue to evolve.
At very least, I suspect it will emerge as a central social media hub for lawyers (and businesses generally), due to its built in integration with other Google services. Its video conferencing capability is certainly going to be extremely tempting, as well, for limitless commercial applications.
The virtual courtroom, for example, could be much closer to reality than we think.
Imagine arguing procedural motions from the comfort of your own office via Google+ video sessions that involve all counsel and the presiding judge. All of this, free of charge, and no waiting time wasted before you are reached on the Court's list.
For what its worth, the official Google+ iPhone app is now available. Google+ Mobile download information for all platforms is here.
The iPhone version is quite sleek and I'm sure it will get lots of use.
(If we can figure this darned Google+ thing out, that is).
My Google+ profile page is here, if you'd care to share.
- Garry J. Wise, Toronto
Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net
TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW • TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION • TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Articling, Access to Justice, And Lakehead University's New Law School
Two recent related news items - the Law Society of Upper Canada's approval of a potential new law school at Lakehead University and Michael Johnston's remarks upon becoming chairman of the Ontario County and District Law Presidents' Association - made me think about the larger articling process, especially given Mr. Johnston's comments on the matter:
Of course, that's a glib summary, but the articling shortfall is very real and getting steadily worse - and it is directly related to Mr. Johnston's other concern. Simply put, articling positions in smaller communities are a relatively scarce resource. For the articling job seeker, this is admittedly partly a case of confirmation bias: articling opportunities in smaller communities are scarce because lawyers operating in those communities don't advertise their articling opportunities widely (if at all).
If you want to put on an economists' hat, this makes sense. There are less opportunities for lawyers in smaller communities by simple virtue of numbers, and articling students are more likely to initially practice in areas where they have articled than otherwise: small-town lawyers are, on some level, thus theoretically disincentivized to hire articling students because of their potential to become competition.
One can argue instead that the problem exists because students are less interested in articling opportunities outside of large cities, and this probably has some merit to it as well - articling jobs in Toronto and Montreal typically pay much better than articling jobs in Medicine Hat or Saint John - but if jobs in smaller communities are advertised, then they will get applicants.
There is a "glut" of students graduating from law schools in Ontario and elsewhere looking for places to article in Ontario, but there are not enough spaces, he noted.So what we seem to have here is the legal community recognizing the abundance of graduating law students who cannot find articles, and rushing to create more graduating law students to exacerbate the problem.
Another critical issue is what Johnston calls the "greying of the bar," the aging of the legal profession's membership, causing concerns over succession.
That's a particular problem in smaller communities, which could soon face a lawyer shortage much as they are now facing doctor shortages.
Of course, that's a glib summary, but the articling shortfall is very real and getting steadily worse - and it is directly related to Mr. Johnston's other concern. Simply put, articling positions in smaller communities are a relatively scarce resource. For the articling job seeker, this is admittedly partly a case of confirmation bias: articling opportunities in smaller communities are scarce because lawyers operating in those communities don't advertise their articling opportunities widely (if at all).
If you want to put on an economists' hat, this makes sense. There are less opportunities for lawyers in smaller communities by simple virtue of numbers, and articling students are more likely to initially practice in areas where they have articled than otherwise: small-town lawyers are, on some level, thus theoretically disincentivized to hire articling students because of their potential to become competition.
One can argue instead that the problem exists because students are less interested in articling opportunities outside of large cities, and this probably has some merit to it as well - articling jobs in Toronto and Montreal typically pay much better than articling jobs in Medicine Hat or Saint John - but if jobs in smaller communities are advertised, then they will get applicants.
Speaking from personal anecdote alone, one hotly discussed position among third-year students, when I was in school and looking for articling jobs, was a reasonably well-compensated position with a sole practitioner in Kenora who was looking for an articling student to transition into an eventual junior lawyer position. (Given that the advertisement was taken down after a month, I assume he found his candidate.) Given the necessity of articling to join the bar, students will eventually accept any articling position they can realistically afford, or see their upwards-of-$40,000 investment in law school (and usually much more than that) go to waste.
If the articling process is going to remain a valuable part of legal education - rather than be tossed aside as it has been in practically every other jurisdiction in the world - then it has to be readily available to law school graduates. In his comments, Mr. Johnston addresses two major problems facing the legal community: lack of access to legal service by the general public and a shortage of lawyers in smaller communities.
Both of these are issues easily solved in one sentence: increase the supply of lawyers. However, if the articling process is hindering that goal - which increasingly appears to be the case - then it must either be fixed (perhaps by making articling commitments less optional for practicing lawyers than they currently are) or done away with so that some other form of practical legal education for new lawyers can be instituted. Otherwise, the ongoing legal access crisis in Ontario will only grow worse.
If the articling process is going to remain a valuable part of legal education - rather than be tossed aside as it has been in practically every other jurisdiction in the world - then it has to be readily available to law school graduates. In his comments, Mr. Johnston addresses two major problems facing the legal community: lack of access to legal service by the general public and a shortage of lawyers in smaller communities.
Both of these are issues easily solved in one sentence: increase the supply of lawyers. However, if the articling process is hindering that goal - which increasingly appears to be the case - then it must either be fixed (perhaps by making articling commitments less optional for practicing lawyers than they currently are) or done away with so that some other form of practical legal education for new lawyers can be instituted. Otherwise, the ongoing legal access crisis in Ontario will only grow worse.
(And an aside: the term of chairman of the Association lasts only eighteen months? Does that seem particularly short to anyone else? Crafting policy changes is a task usually costed in years, not months...)
- Christopher Bird, Toronto
Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net
TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW • TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION • TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE
Monday, May 16, 2011
Articling, Access to Justice, And Lakehead University's New Law School
Two recent related news items - the Law Society of Upper Canada's approval of a potential new law school at Lakehead University and Michael Johnston's remarks upon becoming chairman of the Ontario County and District Law Presidents' Association - made me think about the larger articling process, especially given Mr. Johnston's comments on the matter:
Of course, that's a glib summary, but the articling shortfall is very real and getting steadily worse - and it is directly related to Mr. Johnston's other concern. Simply put, articling positions in smaller communities are a relatively scarce resource. For the articling job seeker, this is admittedly partly a case of confirmation bias: articling opportunities in smaller communities are scarce because lawyers operating in those communities don't advertise their articling opportunities widely (if at all).
If you want to put on an economists' hat, this makes sense. There are less opportunities for lawyers in smaller communities by simple virtue of numbers, and articling students are more likely to initially practice in areas where they have articled than otherwise: small-town lawyers are, on some level, thus theoretically disincentivized to hire articling students because of their potential to become competition.
One can argue instead that the problem exists because students are less interested in articling opportunities outside of large cities, and this probably has some merit to it as well - articling jobs in Toronto and Montreal typically pay much better than articling jobs in Medicine Hat or Saint John - but if jobs in smaller communities are advertised, then they will get applicants.
There is a "glut" of students graduating from law schools in Ontario and elsewhere looking for places to article in Ontario, but there are not enough spaces, he noted.So what we seem to have here is the legal community recognizing the abundance of graduating law students who cannot find articles, and rushing to create more graduating law students to exacerbate the problem.
Another critical issue is what Johnston calls the "greying of the bar," the aging of the legal profession's membership, causing concerns over succession.
That's a particular problem in smaller communities, which could soon face a lawyer shortage much as they are now facing doctor shortages.
Of course, that's a glib summary, but the articling shortfall is very real and getting steadily worse - and it is directly related to Mr. Johnston's other concern. Simply put, articling positions in smaller communities are a relatively scarce resource. For the articling job seeker, this is admittedly partly a case of confirmation bias: articling opportunities in smaller communities are scarce because lawyers operating in those communities don't advertise their articling opportunities widely (if at all).
If you want to put on an economists' hat, this makes sense. There are less opportunities for lawyers in smaller communities by simple virtue of numbers, and articling students are more likely to initially practice in areas where they have articled than otherwise: small-town lawyers are, on some level, thus theoretically disincentivized to hire articling students because of their potential to become competition.
One can argue instead that the problem exists because students are less interested in articling opportunities outside of large cities, and this probably has some merit to it as well - articling jobs in Toronto and Montreal typically pay much better than articling jobs in Medicine Hat or Saint John - but if jobs in smaller communities are advertised, then they will get applicants.
Speaking from personal anecdote alone, one hotly discussed position among third-year students, when I was in school and looking for articling jobs, was a reasonably well-compensated position with a sole practitioner in Kenora who was looking for an articling student to transition into an eventual junior lawyer position. (Given that the advertisement was taken down after a month, I assume he found his candidate.) Given the necessity of articling to join the bar, students will eventually accept any articling position they can realistically afford, or see their upwards-of-$40,000 investment in law school (and usually much more than that) go to waste.
If the articling process is going to remain a valuable part of legal education - rather than be tossed aside as it has been in practically every other jurisdiction in the world - then it has to be readily available to law school graduates. In his comments, Mr. Johnston addresses two major problems facing the legal community: lack of access to legal service by the general public and a shortage of lawyers in smaller communities.
Both of these are issues easily solved in one sentence: increase the supply of lawyers. However, if the articling process is hindering that goal - which increasingly appears to be the case - then it must either be fixed (perhaps by making articling commitments less optional for practicing lawyers than they currently are) or done away with so that some other form of practical legal education for new lawyers can be instituted. Otherwise, the ongoing legal access crisis in Ontario will only grow worse.
If the articling process is going to remain a valuable part of legal education - rather than be tossed aside as it has been in practically every other jurisdiction in the world - then it has to be readily available to law school graduates. In his comments, Mr. Johnston addresses two major problems facing the legal community: lack of access to legal service by the general public and a shortage of lawyers in smaller communities.
Both of these are issues easily solved in one sentence: increase the supply of lawyers. However, if the articling process is hindering that goal - which increasingly appears to be the case - then it must either be fixed (perhaps by making articling commitments less optional for practicing lawyers than they currently are) or done away with so that some other form of practical legal education for new lawyers can be instituted. Otherwise, the ongoing legal access crisis in Ontario will only grow worse.
(And an aside: the term of chairman of the Association lasts only eighteen months? Does that seem particularly short to anyone else? Crafting policy changes is a task usually costed in years, not months...)
- Christopher Bird, Toronto
Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net
TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW • TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION • TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Fodden Frowns on (Email Disclaimer) Footers
Slaw's Simon Fodden assesses the utility of lawyers' email disclaimer footers that purport to prohibit just about everything:
All in all, these things seem useless, only serving to perpetuate the stereotype of lawyers as wordy nincompoops. So suck it up and take it off. That’s my advice.
He includes a disclaimer of his own (of course), that shouldn't be missed.
And for what its worth, Walter Olsen at Overlawyered agrees: Legal boilerplate appended to email
- Garry J. Wise, Toronto
Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net
TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW • TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION • TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)