Law Times

PAGE 2 NEWS LSUC debates articling options BY HEATHER GARDINER Law Times W hile the Law Society of Upper Canada is look- ing at solutions to the articling crisis, practical training remains a key requirement, says the head of its articling task force. "In the formation of a compe- tent and ethical lawyer, some form of practical speaking at a training is essential," said Tom Conway, chairman of the LSUC's articling task force. Conway was public consultation on articling in Toronto on Jan. 18 to discuss the options suggested in the task force's recent report. In an effort to address Ontario's shortage of articling positions, the law society has proposed five options for the province's licensing process: 1. The status quo. 2. The status quo with quality assurance improvements. replacement of 3. The a pre- licensing transition requirement Practical training is essential, says Tom Conway. Photo: Heather Gardiner with a post-licensing transition requirement. 4. A choice of either an articling requirement or a practical legal training course. 5. Only a practical legal training course. There was widespread sup- port for Option 4 from audience members at the consultation. Although no one said so explic- itly, it seems that the law society is leaning that way as well. Bencher Barbara Murchie men- tioned that Option 4 would better suit students planning to practise at a small firm or become a sole practitioner as the law society would encourage those types of lawyers to provide the placements. Ontario Bar Association past president Lee Akazaki explained why he endorses Option 4. "I think No. 4 is the only viable option. Numbers one, two, and three are all dependent upon market variables . . . and it's not the law society's role to tinker with the legal market and the ability of law firms to provide these placements." Aaron Rankin, a third-year stu- dent at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and president of the Students' Law Society, says stu- dents should get to choose the kind of practical training they receive. "I think that students would appre- ciate the choice to have a third year that lets them engage in clini- cal work [and] helps them along their licensing requirement at the same time," he says. "Some other students I'm sure would still prefer to pursue academic legal studies more. I think students should have that choice." LT CLA gets first president from outside Toronto BY KENDYL SEBESTA Law Times T he Criminal Lawyers' Association has elected Ottawa lawyer Norman Boxall as its new presi- dent, a move that puts someone who's not from Toronto in the role for the first time in the organiza- tion's history. Boxall, founding partner of Ottawa-based Bayne Sellar Boxall, received support from CLA mem- bers focused on expanding the association's regional programs in order to counter perceptions of a Toronto-centric executive board at its recent conference. "I don't plan on any major changes at this point but I am looking to increase and improve regional programming and in- volvement with the CLA," says Boxall. "There has been some perception that the organization is Toronto-centric and I think this will be a good opportunity to show members outside Toronto what the CLA has to offer while providing the opportunity to en- hance what we already do well." Every past president of the CLA has been from Toronto, but other members of the executive have come from other areas of the province, says association execu- tive director Anthony Laycock. 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"I've seen it take its toll on past predecessors, but the tremendous amount of time put toward the task and the amount of time put in by all the CLA members really allows us to punch way above our weight when it comes to being heard, which is very important." For Boxall, legal aid will con- tinue to be a key concern at the CLA. "You can't take this role without having a deep concern for legal aid," he says. "It's really a No. 1 concern among our members. They see its effects every day, and while there won't be drastic changes, I hope to work toward improving the system and liaising with legal aid to make positive changes in the future." At the same time, Boxall says he'll also spend his time focusing on issues such as regional expan- sion and developing a support network for the CLA's volunteers, which may include exploring the idea of an additional articling stu- dent to assist the president. "Until this term, I wouldn't have entertained the thought of accepting this role," says Boxall. "It would have been impossible as an active parent and lawyer, but now that my children are out of the house, it has freed up a few hours that I can devote to this task. Still, the work is very demanding, so I have been looking to try to pro- vide some assistance to the role, but we've got a very talented and dedicated board that puts in a sig- nificant amount of hours without recognition that are really a great support." LT January 23, 2012 • Law Times

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