In my last column, I wrote about the hidden economics of law firm student recruitment and the substantial investment firms make in attracting and hiring students. The conclusion was relatively straightforward. Most firms devote enormous attention to recruitment, but the return on that investment is largely determined after students arrive.
That return is shaped
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The Legal Cost of Cutting Librarians
On 6 May 2026, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) announced that it had eliminated 91 positions, including 45 layoffs, in response to a $15 million deficit. The deficit followed a $9.4 million reduction to NSCC’s operating grant by the Province of Nova Scotia earlier in the year and reduced international tuition revenue, due to previous
“A Security Is What the Law Says It Is”: Legislative Breadth and Judicial Purpose in Canadian Securities Law
Canadian securities law has long resisted narrow or technical definitions of the term “security.” Instead, both legislatures and courts have embraced an intentionally expansive and purposive conception, one designed to capture a wide range of investment arrangements rather than a closed set of financial instruments. The oft‑invoked proposition that “a security is what the law
Ontario v Doe: The 30 Hour Lawsuit
If you think civil lawsuits take way too long in Canada, you’re in good company. But one high-profile suit recently went from claim to final hearing in less than 30 hours. Ontario v Doe was certainly an unusual case, and one that has been widely debated for reasons that have nothing to do with
RECLAIM: L Is for Learning
In previous articles, I introduced the RECLAIM model as a cultural operating system for law firms and explored the first three elements: Respect, Equity, and Clarity. This month, I turn to L: Learning.
In February 2014, Satya Nadella stepped into the role of CEO at Microsoft. The company he inherited was dominant but
There’s Got to Be a Better Way! Law Societies’ Approach to the Regulation of Lawyers With Mental Health Issues
In recent years we have made significant strides in recognizing the prevalence of mental health issues amongst lawyers and attempting to defeat the stigma that discourages lawyers from disclosing their challenges and seeking support.
It is now well-known and accepted that “legal professionals are almost twice as likely to experience mental health issues like anxiety,
Ye Olde Law Publishing
I find it at the same time strange and reassuring that, looking primarily at law publishing within the jurisdictions which make up the British Isles, I seem to note the extent to which law book and periodical publishing, linked to electronic delivery and integration with electronic tools, appears to be still thriving, or
Meaningful Participation of Children and Youth in Justice: Voice Is Not Enough
Much of the work of the BC Family Justice Innovation Lab (FJIL) has focused on our Youth Voices initiative. Coming out of an intensive design process centering the lived experience of young people, the Youth Voices Initiative aims to improve the well-being of children and youth experiencing parental separation. An important lesson learned was that
How I Learned About Mentorship by Being “Exiled” to the Library
I learned what a “third place” was long before I knew the term. At the time, it didn’t feel like a lesson. It felt like a demotion.
When I was practising law at the City of Toronto, space was at a premium. New hires were placed wherever a desk could be found
As a junior
Notes to a Young AI Professional: On Speed, Status, and Sanity
Those familiar with my writing will know that I usually write about artificial intelligence in terms of regulation, governance, and risk. This piece is a slight departure. What follows is a set of reflections for young professionals working in AI, or considering work in the field, at a moment when the pace of change, the