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16 www.canadianlawyermag.com FEATURE CROSS EXAMINED OBA RESPONDS TO COVID When the pandemic hit, the Ontario Bar Association responded by providing the following virtual services: Virtual boardrooms: Used for client meetings, team huddles or for a casual get-together with colleagues from the office Remote arbitration and mediation service: More than 60 arbitrators and mediators operate from across Ontario Virtual witnessing: It's a way to help virtually witness a will or power of attorney Court virtual hearings: Virtual courtrooms were opened and more than 300 judges were provided training on their use. Approximately 350 OBA virtual courtrooms were in service across all three levels of court in Ontario at time of writing. OSGOODE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION Do you have the specialized skill set and tech know-how to resolve disputes remotely and virtually? This intensive 5-day program will help you modernize your dispute resolution practice and shift your skills to effectively deal with conflict using technology and online platforms. Along with premier ODR experts, you will participate in: · Live demonstrations of leading online platforms · Discussion on ODR best practices and challenges · Hands-on simulations of common scenarios faced by ODR practitioners · Post-program follow-up and networking opportunities Dates & Times October 5-9, 2020 Online - Live & Interactive Program Director Deborah Pressman, Legal Counsel, Office of the Chief Justice – Ontario Court of Justice, Educator, Mediator, Arbitrator and Appeals Officer, FSCO (former) Advisory Board Nicole Aylwin, Tribunal Member, Condominium Authority Tribunal (ON) Colin Rule, President and CEO, Mediate.com Shannon Salter, Chair, Civil Resolution Tribunal, BC Martha Simmons, Academic Co-Director, Winker Institute Darin Thompson, Legal Counsel, BC Ministry of Attorney General Nicolas Vermeys, Associate Director, Cyberjustice Laboratory THE OSGOODE CERTIFICATE IN ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Eligible Ontario CPD hours: 35h CPD (27h 45m Substantive; 7h 15m Professionalism). OsgoodePD has been approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the LSO. Register today at: osgoodepd.ca/odr-cert sector are one I call capitulation — so, the people who say 'Look, this is happening, so just get used to it.' "I think . . . the OBA can play a role . . . in shaping what technology in the sector looks [like by] not just capitulating to what it might look like." Hall says that lecturing lawyers to "get on board" without providing support is likely to be counter-productive. "I think it leads to a sort of a dangerous evolution where you have experienced people who are very good at the practice of law, who are very good at their trade [but] don't have the technology to keep up with the changing requirements." While Hall has worked on several initia- tives at the OBA, including a year-long gender equality initiative, it was not until COVID-19 hit that her years of experience working with stakeholders across the profes- sion really came into play. As the courts ground to a halt, Hall logical change. "What is important to me is to get what I call the 'lawyer technology partnership' right. Sometimes, the mistakes of innovation in the