Law Times

PAGE 16 April 11, 2011 • lAw Times Younger candidates promise new perspective Bencher hopefuls looking to bring fresh representation to Convocation BY OLIVIA D'ORAZIO For Law Times — are hoping to bring a fresh perspective to Convo- cation this year. A greying of the bar and Y an aging demographic at Convocation have left some young lawyers wondering how the Law Society of Up- per Canada can fully ad- dress their unique issues. Th ey include the struggle to fi nd an articling position and mounting debts due to increased law school tuition and a shrinking job market. "Th ese things put an in- credible amount of stress on new calls," says bencher candidate Robert Levan, 34. "I don't think it was perhaps felt as keenly in the past and is certainly not felt by those lawyers who are already estab- lished in their practice." While there's always tension between the value of experience and the importance of renewal, Robert Shawyer says he decided to run for bencher in order to address the shortage of articling positions. some younger candidates insist a more youthful representation at Convocation would not only shed light on those swelling issues but would also provide a better refl ection of the Ontario bar. "We need diversity in representation, oung candidates for bencher — both in age and career length not only in gender or race or ethnicity but also in age," says candidate Monica Goyal. Bencher candidate Robert Shawyer, 35, believes that without a younger represen- tation at Convocation, the law society risks dissuading new calls from joining the profession. "Th e profession is very top heavy," he says. "If we don't have enough new lawyers [joining the pro- fession], the Law Society of Upper Canada will become an irrelevant thing." Other issues such as the diffi cult licensing process and life-work balance while raising a family are also key for young lawyers. Convocation "needs to have those voices represent- ed, those who are going to be interested in the furthest reaches of the future that can be considered at this point," Levan says. A pressing matter that prompted Shawyer to get in- volved was the lack of articling positions he encountered after law school. "When I began trying to fi nd an articling posi- tion . . . I went to an informa- tion session and they explained that there would be over 300 students who would be unable to fi nd an articling position," he says. "I wanted to become a bencher to address that issue." For his part, Levan wants to bring a more consultative mod- el to Convocation by engaging in discussion with his peers in the profession to ensure it ad- dresses their concerns. "If elected, it's going to be incumbent upon me to repre- sent the interests of all lawyers," he says. "To do so, I'm going to need to reach out. . . . I'm going to be using social media [and] various other tools of interactiv- ity . . . to bring the voices of all my peers to the table at Convo- cation." Benchers stepping down for new lawyers to serve BY OLIVIA D'ORAZIO For Law Times A s the Law Society of Upper Canada imposes term limits on benchers this year, six people who could run again have voluntarily chosen not to seek re-election. Th e moves come as some members have voiced their concerns over low voter turnout in past elections. Th e 2007 bencher elections persuaded only one-third of eligible mem- bers to cast a vote. Th ere has also been talk about the so- called greying of the bar. In fact, the last vote saw the election of 40 benchers, more than 80 per cent of whom were over the age of 50. However, the upcoming elections could turn the tide. Th at's the result Bencher Th omas Heintzman, one of six people opting not to run again, would be glad to see. Heintzman says he decided not to seek re-election in order to allow younger lawyers to do so. "I inquired around [McCarthy Tétrault LLP] if others would like to run. And others did," he says. "I believe that younger people should run," he adds. "I'm happy to have someone younger serve in the law society." In addition to making way for new blood, current bench- ers stepping down hope others who haven't gotten involved before will now have more incentive to participate. "I had put in eight years of service to the profession," says James Wendy Matheson www.mathesonforbencher.com Torys_LT_Feb28_11.indd 1 www.lawtimesnews.com 2/23/11 9:36:16 AM Narrow 1/8 - 2X.indd 1 2/15/11 2:42:10 PM To advertise in an upcoming issue, contact our sales team: Karen Lorimer 905-713-4339 karen.lorimer@thomsonreuters.com Kimberlee Pascoe 905-713-4342 kimberlee.pascoe@thomsonreuters.com Caskey of Siskinds LLP. "It just seemed to me to be appropriate to allow another member of the profession a chance to serve." Among the benchers not running again is Doug Lewis of Lewis Downey Tornosky Lassaline & Timpano Professional Corp. He, along with Caskey and Heintzman, notes his fond experiences at the LSUC. "I have enjoyed the work and the issues that we've dealt with," Lewis says. "Th e law society staff is a fi rst-rate staff to work with, and the elected benchers are the crème of the profession." Heintzman adds: "A lot of what we talked about [at Con- vocation] was rejuvenation, and I felt I should put my money where my mouth was." Other benchers who chose not to run this year include Marshall Crowe, Bonnie Tough, and William Kaplan.

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