Debundling of legal services - excerpt from my response to the LAWTIMES

The debundling of legal services and encroachment into areas of practice by non professionals. We earned our status as members of a ‘profession’ through years of education. Our role in the dispensation of legal services is sacrosanct just as the doctor's role in providing medical care. Parceling off legal services and allowing those with less training to intrude into areas of law reserved for lawyers risks commoditizing legal services, the esteem in which the profession is held, and the quality of service offered to the public. Non lawyers have an important role just as nurses do in the medical profession, but not by acting as substitutes to lawyers.

On Access to Justice - excerpt from response on LAW TIMES

This is a complex problem that will require the profession to address a number of external issues as well as internal ones. Access to justice can be denied by the court system as people with valid claims can be scared away by the specter of paying substantial costs to the other side if they lose. Access to justice can be denied to people who cannot find lawyers who speak the same language. Access to justice can be affected by the adversarial system and the unwillingness of either counsel or client to make concessions thereby prolonging dispute and making it prohibitively expensive for less wealthy parties. High legal fees can also be a barrier to justice. However, simply reducing fees can ultimately lead to the degradation in the quality of legal services. Instead, just as the advent of the video conferencing, email, and online researching tools reduced overheads while increasing efficiency, the profession should be looking for new ways to implement current advances to ameliorate legal costs through efficiency. I also believe that lawyers do provide legal assistance pro bono every day without realizing it, we are problem solvers by nature. We would likely do more if we practiced law on our own terms.

What I Want to Accomplish as a Bencher

1. The formation of a  pension plan and availing all members of voluntary work interruption insurance;
2. Enhancing the esteem of the profession through public ad campaigns;
3. Increasing the bursury limit to make CLEs more affordable;
4. Ensuring transparency of the Law Society;
5. Expanding the tools and resources available to members to help make the delivery of legal services more efficient and affordable.

A Convocation that is Dynamic

Voter particaption in prior bencher elections suggests apathy within the bar. Perhaps we are too busy or maybe we feel that convocation is uninterested in what we have to say. Shouldn't members be more concerned with the body that governs their professional lives. I think there would be more interest in a convocation that is energetic, proactive and dynamic; a convacation made up of newer calls and seasoned veterens, bay street and main street, men shoulder to shoulder with women, all contributing their unique perspectives to improve the profession and those who practice within it.

Maximizing Technology

The profession lags behind the forefront when it comes to innovation in providing a services and in embracing the latest technology. There is tremendous potential to improve in this area by leveraging readily available tools to get ahead of the curve.

3 Tech Tips you can use for free:

1. Dropbox: This application can be downloaded to your PC, phone, or laptop. When you save a document to a particular folder it is automatically updated on all computers where the software is installed providing you with numerous backup points. 

2. Dragon Dictation for Iphone: I am pretty impressed with this app. Download the software, hit record and speak. Words are translated into text fairly accurately and there are options to email or text the file to another computer or phone. Part of this blog entry was done using this app.

3. Google Talk or Instant Messaging: These apps have been around for a while but they can be indispensible for communication with staff and colleagues. If you have a network of colleagues, send a quick question by sending an IM instead of picking up the phone or email.

The Focus of the Law Society

The Law Society can aim to prevent fires before they happen in addition to putting them out. Disciplinary action, when necessary, is reactive and may carry a negative message to the public. Providing support structures, increasing resources to the bar and improving quality of work life are proactive ways of diminishing some of the factors that can lead to disciplinary action.

Voting in the 2011 LSUC Bencher Election

You can vote througout the month of April. The last day to vote is April 29, 2011