Law Times

PAGE 16 March 26, 2012 • Law TiMes u BIZARRE BRIEFS By Viola James ITALIAN LAWYERS HIT PICKET LINES ROME — Ontario lawyers who think they have it rough might want to look to Italy to see how dif- ferent things can be. According to Reuters, Italian lawyers have gone on strike — again — and they say that in their struggle for better working conditions and pay they are looking for inspiration to none other than Mahatma Gandhi, the little lawyer who lib- erated India. "Lawyers are going through difficult times," said Maurizio De Tilla, president of the United Lawyers Organization, as he led a protest of about 2,000 lawyers outside one of Rome's main court buildings. "Out of 230,000 of us, more than 100,000 are in difficulty; we have insecure jobs and we are underpaid," he said. Around him, hundreds of other lawyers held up pastel-coloured balloons bearing the words "The Constitution" on them, Reuters reported. While the idea of lawyers striking for job secu- rity and better pay might raise chuckles elsewhere, Italy's lawyers say they are deadly serious. At the protest that at times resembled a chil- dren's garden party on a warm late winter day, lawyers stood their ground against what they call "savage" plans by Mario Monti's government to increase competition in their profession. Lawyers' guilds say the reforms will only increase legal costs, undermine the protection of the weak, reduce expertise, and unleash an uncontrolled market in fees. "The reforms worsen the situation rather than improving it and that is absurd," said De Tilla, as a pink balloon floated behind his head. According to Reuters, the lawyers oppose the abolition of minimum fees, which the govern- ment says will reduce costs for citizens. They also oppose plans to extend a fast-track conciliation procedure for minor civil cases — similar to small claims court in the United States — that would not require the use of lawyers. De Tilla says most lawyers are idealists, not the stereotypical money grabbers or ambulance chasers. "Gandhi was a lawyer. We want to imitate his way of protesting — silent, well-mannered, civilized, but determined — and we shall not stop until lawyers are given back the role and the profile that they have always had," he said in tones similar to a summing-up speech at a trial. Lawyers are among the most powerful of Italy's lobbies due to their political influence and their sheer numbers. There are some 230,000 lawyers for 60 million people, compared to 54,000 in France with its slightly bigger population. They are by far the biggest profession repre- sented in Italy's parliament and critics say they are only trying to protect what many, including consumer groups, see as entrenched and outdated privileges. But lawyers believe the deregulation measures will undermine professional standards by cutting the length of probation periods for graduates and allowing businessmen to hold a majority interest in legal practices. MEMO TO AIR PASSENGERS: LEAVE SWORDS AT HOME NEW YORK — You'd think people would know they can't take land mines, grenade launchers, swords, and mortar shells on a plane. But according to Reuters, those are among some of the more dangerous items air security authorities are finding in people's luggage. Not only does the U.S. Transportation Security Administration confiscate four handguns a day among the contraband it takes from airline cus- tomers, its agents once seized a stun gun con- cealed as lipstick and found a dagger hidden inside a hairbrush, according to weekly updates on The TSA blog. "If I'm going with the weirdest, it would have to be the guy who had all the snakes in his pants," recalled Bob Burns, 41, who writes online for the agency as Blogger Bob. When a 350,000-volt stun gun disguised as a tube of lipstick was found in a carry-on bag, Burns wrote, "This particular lipstick is known to leave your lips looking stunning." The items gathered from passengers are shipped to their homes, used as evidence or sold for revenue for the state, said TSA spokesman Greg Soule. LT u The INSIDE STORY LAWYERS RAISE FUNDS FOR AFRICA The Lawyers International Food Net- work will host a live musical variety show to raise awareness of and funding for child poverty in Africa. The show will take place at the Lula Lounge in Toronto on May 24. Featured bands will include the Tokyo Giants, The One Shot Band, Mo Vista, Noto- rious Road, and Quammie aka Greybeard. Tickets are $100 with a tax contribution made to either World Vision or the Ste- phen Lewis Foundation. Founded in 2010 by Shields O'Donnell Jonathan Lisus MacKillop LLP partner Malcolm MacKillop and Lax O'Sullivan Scott Lisus LLP litigator Jonathan Lisus, the network aims to address poverty among children in sub-Saharan Africa by raising awareness and funds among fellow lawyers and judges. PROF NAMED LCO SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE Osgoode Hall Law School pro- fessor Stephanie Ben-Ishai has been named the OHLS LCO schol- ar in residence for 2012-13. Ben-Ishai will conduct research related to her work on the debt-relief industry in Ontario and will focus on debt regulation and non-profit credit counselling organizations. Ben-Ishai will also conduct con- sultations and organize a sympo- sium during her research and hopes to produce background and final papers with law reform proposals. OBA LOOKING AT JUSTICE SECTOR EFFECTIVENESS The Ontario Bar Association has created a task force on justice sector effectiveness and is seeking input from the bar. The task force will focus on cut- ting spending and increasing rev- enues in the province's justice sector and will provide advice to the gov- ernment on potential savings. The task force will conclude with a report to Ontario's attorney gen- eral later this year that will detail the OBA's and participants' ideas. Members of the bar will have the option of being on the list of report participants if the task force uses their idea. To submit an idea, e-mail ef- ficiency@oba.org with a descrip- tion of a cost-saving idea and an explanation of how it will save the province money. For more infor- mation, see oba.org. EXTENSION FOR LAO CERTIFICATES Legal Aid Ontario has extended the expiry time for its online cer- tificates. Starting March 18, LAO is ex- "Gambling is gambling!" tending the certificate expiry period to 180 days from 90 days from the date of issuance. Aſter 180 days have passed, FEEDS LEGAL LegalFeeds_Cl_Jan_11.indd 1 A daily blog of visit www.lawtimesnews.com unacknowledged certificates will automatically expire and a notice will be sent to the client. The case will be closed the following day. EQUITY ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS SOUGHT The Law Society of Upper Can- ada is asking paralegals, paralegal students, and representatives of paralegal organizations and asso- ciations to join its equity advisory group. The group provides advice to the law society on equity issues and is responsible for identifying, re- viewing, and reporting on diversity matters in the legal profession. The law society is seeking ap- plicants with a background in is- sues related to, among others, ab- originals, racialized communities, and women. The group meets each month in person or by teleconference. For more information, con- tact the LSUC's equity initiatives department. CROSS-BORDER LEGAL SUMMIT The Ontario Bar Association and the New York State Bar As- sociation are holding a conference in two countries this week. The event will take place on March 28 in Toronto and March 29 in Buffalo. The agenda includes programs related to mergers and acquisitions, immigration, em- ployment law, child support, estate planning, tax law, health-care data privacy, and alternative dispute resolution. Speakers include New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman and Ontario Chief Justice Warren Winkler during a plenary session on professionalism and access to justice on Wednesday aſternoon in Toronto. For more information, see LT oba.org. Canadian Legal News 1/6/11 11:44:49 AM canadianlaw yermag.com/ legalfeeds

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