Law Times

Law times • OctOber 26, 2009 NEWS Slowdown adding to firm woes Continued from page 1 Julia Hanigsberg Centre a beginning, prof hopes Continued from page 1 "Sure, we'd like a law school, but there are more immediate oppor- tunities for undergrad growth in those areas as well," he says. Indeed, one of the main cata- lysts for the new law research centre is the chance for faculty from diff erent departments to collaborate. At the moment, le- gal scholars in management and business law at the university, as well as those teaching courses in other areas such as media law and occupational health and safety, don't currently have a forum where they can work to- gether, Levin says. "What the centre gives us is a focus for those relationships and, in particular, one of the plans for the centre is to have an external advisory commit- tee. Th at will be composed of people from the profession, from diff erent parts of the pro- fession, and will help and ad- vise us on our research agenda," says Hanigsberg. Bay Street fi rms may also not be aware that Ryerson is current- ly carrying out legal research in areas such as privacy law, Levin points out. "A centre like this would be a good way to generate awareness among the legal pro- fession generally," he says. Th e centre, slated to launch this academic year, will seek funding from external sources rather than from the university itself. While those involved have not yet secured potential sources of funding, Levin says the Law Foundation of Ontario could be one body that supports some of the work the centre does as well as the Social Sciences and Hu- manities Research Council. For the moment, those involved in the centre are also reaching out to the legal community to put together the advisory commit- tee and are currently seeking to appoint research fellows and an academic director. One area in which Levin says the centre won't be com- peting with other institutions is the crowded fi eld of continuing legal education. Instead, those involved hope to do the oppo- site by drawing on people from the profession who are looking to work with academics, teach adjunct or carry out research in particular areas. "For us, hopefully this is a fi rst step in a longer process," adds Levin. LT Federal & Ontario Pension Leg [LT 1-3x4].indd 1 the Windsor offi ce of Raphael Partners LLP, which began the process of dissolution in the last year due to problems with succession planning. He now works as a sole practitioner in association with some of his former partners. As time went on for the fi rm, he says, the diffi culty was in fi nding people who wanted to become part of the partnership, invest in the fi rm, and had the same sort of mindset in terms of the growth of the practice. "We found that it was diffi - cult to fi nd those components in other people in our commu- nity when in fact the commu- nity was going through great change," he says. Th e issue is cyclical, at least in Windsor, where Hrastovec saw a similar phenomenon when he started practising in 1984. Hrastovec, who has a focus on employment and labour law and commercial litigation, says the trend of fewer lawyers tak- ing on articling students also is indicative of the economy and the way law practice is going. "Th e diffi culty, of course, in this community is [that] because opportunities are somewhat limited, younger students from this law faculty here in Wind- sor and elsewhere decide either not to stay or come to this com- munity and go to Toronto, go to larger centres with the hope of at least gaining some experience maybe with the thought of com- ing back here at some point in time. But no one is really com- mitting," he says. While there has been an economic draw to Toronto for many lawyers, Bocock notes that an otherwise desperate situation in the economy may in fact provide some benefi ts to the legal profession outside of the province's biggest city. "I suspect that the economic slowdown may in fact ebb that tide somewhat and present a window of opportunity to try and expand the opportunities and the benefi ts of locating in smaller communities outside of Toronto," he says. Hrastovec, too, says he re- mains optimistic for the future and believes that when he does retire, there will be someone who will be able to take over. "I'm not at all concerned that there's going to be a lack of good people available. It's a question of being able to nur- ture them and work with them and bridge the gap basically and give them that opportunity to be able to carry these practices and these fi rms forward." LT your OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY source PAGE 5 The Philips Digital Pocket Memo 9600 features voice commands, on-board fi le encryption and password protection. Coupled together, the 9600 and the 7277 Transcription Kit are the ultimate in digital dictation. Please quote "PLT09" Effective until November 30, 2009. 100% Contact Murray Cheng at murray_cheng@dyedurham.ca to receive this special offer Untitled-1 1 Since 1998 10/19/09 9:48:55 AM Federal & Ontario Pension Legislation 2009-2010 The first-ever publication to merge federal and Ontario pension legislation into one comprehensive resource Inside find federal pension legislation… • • • • • , • applicable provisions of the …and Ontario pension legislation • • • • and regulations and regulations Also included are selected forms and guidelines from the: • Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI) • Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) • Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and regulations Order your copy today! Perfectbound • 952 pp • October 2009 Standing order $89 • P/C 0802140000 Current edition $99 • P/C 0802010000 • ISSN 1920-5880 For a 30-day, no-risk evaluation call: 1.800.565.6967 Canada Law Book is a Division of The Cartwright Group Ltd. Prices subject to change without notice, to applicable taxes and shipping & handling. www.lawtimesnews.com 10/22/09 9:57:07 AM LT1026 Consulting Editor: Susan G. Seller Pension Benefits Standards Act Pension Benefits Division Act Pension Fund Societies Act Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act 1985 Income Tax Act Public Service Pension Act Pension Benefits Act Teachers' Pension Act Ontario Public S ervice Employees' Union Pension Act, 1994

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