Law Times

LAW TIMES COVERING ONTARIO'S LEGAL SCENE | JANUARY 28, 2019 5 www.lawtimesnews.com — and for hosting events with high-profile guests such as Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist. But the organization, co-founded by former governor-general Adrienne Clarkson, also closely studies how Canada's different professions treat immigrants — and that includes the legal pro- fession. A 2017 ICC report etitled "Closed shops: Opening Cana- da's legal profession to foreign- educated lawyers" reviewed the Canadian law school system, the bar exam, the Federation of Law Societies of Canada's NCA pro- gram, the on-campus interview experience and the process of articling or completing the Law Practice Program. The report found that many foreign-trained lawyers, for example, cannot take time off work to study for the bar exam and often have to study alone. It also found that "[e]mployers of- ten favour Canadian applicants because they are familiar with the quality of their legal creden- tials, and are confident they un- derstand Canadian law." The organization spoke with internationally trained lawyers — even those who were Canadi- an citizens — who said they felt "unwanted, isolated, discour- aged and depressed" due to un- necessary barriers in Canada's licensing and employment pro- cess. "Currently, Canada's legal system is not structured to en- sure all competent lawyers — re- gardless of their jurisdiction of training — are able to make their best contribution to Canadian organizations and society," said the report. It included a slew of recom- mendations for the legal profes- sion, including better transpar- ency on the licensure process, microloans for licensing candi- dates, a Fairness Commissioner study of employment trends and "match rates," creating online job application portals acces- sible to candidates who are not articling or summering, and al- lowing foreign-trained lawyers to qualify as paralegals. While Naqvi was not CEO when the report was released and could not comment on the specific research, he does recall the "confidence" he gained from getting Canadian citizenship in 1992 while living in Hamilton, Ont., after arriving in Canada from Pakistan at age 15 and completing high school. "I distinctly and vividly re- member the very first time I voted: It was the same year [as] the referendum on the Char- lottetown Accord. It was a very empowering moment for me, an adult, a Canadian citizen, and I had the opportunity, that I exercised, to vote on the con- stitutional future of my country as an equal citizen. To me, that moment still very much reminds me of the strength of our citizen- ship and I really felt that I be- longed here. "I had that right, that instru- ment, in my hand," he says. Naqvi says his inspiration to join the legal profession was his parents, who were both lawyers in Karachi, Pakistan. "One trait we see among law- yers is we believe in democratic institutions and rule of law, and so they were obviously no strangers to that. And, in fact, as a result, my father spent nine months as a political prisoner because he led a pro-democra- cy march in the 1980s. I was 10 years old at that time, so it is ob- viously a very defining moment in my life," he says. "Subsequently, my parents immigrated to Canada with the children, and they really wanted to live in a country like Canada that is based on the principles of rule of law — where the justice system treats everyone the same and is independent; where rights are guaranteed and protected." Before his career as a Liberal politician, Naqvi was a senior associate at Lang Michener LLP and an associate and partner at Flavell Kubrick LLP. "I am somebody who has re- ceived top-notch education, has practiced law, has been elected. . . . I feel the culmination of all those experiences is by virtue of the fact that I am a Canadian," he says. "I feel that I belong . . . now, my experience does not relate to ev- erybody's experience, but I think we need to make sure that it be- comes everyone's experience. I'm not saying everyone should become a lawyer or a politician. But they should be able to pursue any direction they want to go." For the past six months, Naq- vi has taken time to spend with his family, after 11 years in elect- ed office had him working seven days a week for long stretches. Although he will be travelling frequently for his job at ICC, the former international law pro- fessor will begin the role with a Tuesday citizenship ceremony in Toronto. "To me, my Canadian citi- zenship is a powerful tool and that's why I'm so excited to be the CEO of the institute, be- cause I want to strengthen that tool," says Naqvi. "We in Canada have a very important perspective to share. We are starting to find that globally people are looking at Canada to say, 'How do you do it here? Is there a toolbox or a pol- icy framework and values that could be adopted or replicated in different parts of the world?' I look forward to engaging not only Canadians but our friends around the world." LT Naqvi draws on law background at ICC NEWS © 2018 Thomson Reuters Canada Limited 00255NF-95034-CM Print + ProView eBook* Order # L95983-65203 $537 2 volume looseleaf supplemented book + eBook* Anticipated upkeep cost – $480 per supplement 4-6 supplements per year Supplements invoiced separately ProView eBook* only Order # L95984-65203 $505 Shipping and handling are extra. Price(s) subject to change without notice and subject to applicable taxes. Cited by the Supreme Court of Canada Canadian Employment Law Stacey Reginald Ball "The most comprehensive text on employment law in Canada. It is carefully constructed and accurate." Canadian Bar Review More than 7,000 cases cited Canadian Employment Law is a one-stop reference that provides a thorough survey of the law and analysis of developing trends, suggesting potential avenues of attack as well as identifying potential weaknesses in the law. Canadian Employment Law has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada, in superior courts in every province in Canada, and is used in law schools throughout Canada. With methodically organized chapters covering the complete range of employment law, Canadian Employment Law provides the kind of detailed examination of the facts you can count on. The work includes a Table of Reasonable Notice — a chart that groups together comparable types of positions so you can easily compare length of notice awards. All topics are illustrated with extensive case law and useful footnotes. The eBook* version is available through your web browser, or can be downloaded to your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Learn more at store.thomsonreuters.ca/ProView. *eBook not available to trade bookstores, third-party distributors, and academic institutions. Available risk-free for 30 days Order online: store.thomsonreuters.ca Call Toll-Free: 1-800-387-5164 In Toronto: 416-609-3800 Also available online on WestlawNext® Canada EmploymentSource™ 82 Scollard Street, Toronto, Canada, M5R 1G2 Excellence in Employment & Labour Law • Counsel in Leading Cases • • Author of Leading Treatise • Wrongful Dismissal Employment Law Human Rights Post Employment Competition Civil Litigation Appellate Advocacy Disability Ball Professional Corporation Referrals on behalf of employees and employers respected Contact Stacey Ball at web: www.staceyball.com (416) 921-7997 ext. 225 or srball@82scollard.com all_LT_Nov7_11.indd 1 11-11-08 11:44 AM Continued from page 1 Yasir Naqvi says his background as a law- yer will be 'instrumental' in his new role as the CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. CanadianLawyerMag.com Fresh Canadian legal news and analysis available on any device. Get More Online

• Cover