Law Times

LAW TIMES 10 COVERING ONTARIO'S LEGAL SCENE | MARCH 25, 2019 www.lawtimesnews.com BY SHANNON K ARI For Law Times A pple Inc. disclosed at an industry conference last summer that, at that time, there were more than half a mil- lion different podcasts avail- able for downloading on iTunes alone. Even if it sometimes ap- pears that it is a phenomenon dominated by true crime shows and advertisers for job recruit- ing, mattresses or easy-to-make meals, there are shows on virtu- ally every kind of topic and in many different languages. The range of options also in- cludes podcasts focused on legal issues or the practice of law — an increasing number of which are based in Ontario. The question in 2019 is whether there are practical ben- efits for a firm, especially one that is smaller in size, to develop a podcast in such a crowded field of choices. "It is a chance to talk to inter- esting people," says lawyer Nata- lie Worsfold about the initial de- cision at Counter Tax Lawyers to start a podcast. She co-hosts the "Building New Law" program with her colleague Peter Aprile, who founded the Toronto-based tax law firm. The podcast speaks to guests on topics such as practice man- agement, billing and the use of technology within a firm. Its stated goal is to challenge tradi- tional law firm structures. "We started it because it was an opportunity to speak to people who want to do law dif- ferently, who manage their prac- tices in innovative ways," says Worsfold. "It has also been a way to con- nect with others in the legal pro- fession." "I am not certain there has been a return on investment on it," says Worsfold, but she adds that that has not been the goal of the podcast. "It is a lot of work. You need to be excited about it," she says. Practically speaking, she says, lawyers may have some "natural training" in terms of hosting what is essentially a do-it-your- self form of radio. In terms of the technical re- quirements, however, if there are sufficient funds available, it is good to seek outside help, ac- cording to Worsfold. "Invest in the right equip- ment. Hire an expert," when starting up a podcast, says Wors- fold. For small firms or even sole practitioners, it is possible to develop a podcast on a relatively small budget with sufficient production values to attract lis- teners, says Ottawa criminal de- fence lawyer Michael Spratt. "We do it in our living room, after the kids are in bed, with one microphone," says Spratt about "The Docket," the podcast he co-hosts with his wife, lawyer Emilie Taman. Websites for podcasts can be created with inexpensive software and a local songwriter agreed to the use of one of his songs to start each episode, says Spratt. Nearly five years and 90 epi- sodes since it began, Spratt says there have been nearly 500,000 downloads in that time. A pod- cast with a modest budget can still be available on iTunes and other providers as long as an RSS feed is set up and an appli- cation is sent that outlines what it is about. "It has been a slow build, mostly by word of mouth," says Spratt, who jokes that he hopes to turn a room in the basement into a proper studio for the pod- cast. The Docket focuses on crimi- nal justice issues, the Supreme Court and often whatever the high-profile political issue is at that time in Ottawa. While the podcast may have resulted in some additional cli- ents seeking out his legal ser- vices, Spratt says that was never the reason he started it in 2014 with fellow defence lawyer Leo Russomanno. In the legal field, it is also a forum to pass on knowledge in a specialized area to a broader au- dience, he says, such as Goldblatt Partners LLP's "Injustice" and "A Podcast Called Intrepid" hosted by professors Stephanie Carvin and Craig Forcese, as just a cou- ple of other examples of podcats in Ontario. For some firms, a podcast may also be a better way to com- municate its lawyers' expertise Natalie Worsfold says a podcast she co- hosts focuses on topics such as practice management, billing and the use of technology within a firm. Do-it-yourself form of radio Podcasts a unique way of getting word out "We want to put the information out there and it is also a good way for our lawyers to think about the issues and also to think on the spot." Paul Trudelle FOCUS See Practical, page 12 Canadian Law List 2019 gives you immediate access to: • An up-to-date alphabetical listing of more than 80,000 barristers, solicitors and Quebec notaries, corporate counsel, law firms and judges across Canada • Legal contact information for all federal and provincial courts, law societies, law schools, Legal Aid and other important law-related offices • Government contact information for Canada, the provinces and territories including cabinet ministers, departments, boards, commissions and Crown Corporations Order your copy today! Call 1.800.387.5164 or visit www.store.thomsonreuters.ca for a 30-day no risk evaluation copy. Hardbound • Published .BSDI On subscription $184.50* • One time purchase $205* 0SEFS/PL7798-8406 • ISBN 978-0-7798-8406-3 Multiple copy discounts available *Plus shipping/handling and applicable taxes. Prices subject to change without notice. 2019 Canadian Law List Untitled-4 1 2019-03-07 10:47 AM

• Cover