Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/109031
Practising in southwestern Ontario Practising in southwestern Ontario JACQueLIne HORVAt, sutts strosberg LLP, Windsor + PROS: • Greater opportunities for students and junior lawyers to get involved with clients and large files earlier in their careers. • If you want to be a litigator, practising in a smaller centre will ensure you see the inside of a courtroom right out of the gate and allow yourself greater opportunity to hone your advocacy skills earlier in your career. • The region has the same court system applying the identical laws as apply elsewhere in the province, and we have the same privileges as all other practitioners to utilize the courts in Toronto when it is in the interests of our clients to do so. • Real estate prices in the extreme southwest offer a comfortable standard of living. • It's generally warmer and sunnier in Windsor than the rest of Ontario, with an average of about only one snowfall a year. • While Windsor is a relatively small city with a comfortable pace of life, just across the river Detroit has all that a big city has to offer. • The opportunity to land a contract for federal public prosecutors; these tend to be geographically limited to where there are no federal Crown regional offices, or where it is otherwise not cost-effective for staff counsel to handle cases. - CONS: • If you want to be in a big firm environment, there aren't many options in the region. • You will not survive the summer without an air conditioner and sunscreen! • The income level is generally lower than in Toronto. • Business client development is challenging if you're representing large corporations. LEADERS WANTED We're young, progressive, innovative and growing. And we've been named one of Canadian Lawyer's Top 10 Labour & Employment Boutiques for 2012/2013. GLenn MAttHeWs, siskinds LLP, London + PROS: • London offers its residents a smalltown feel with big-city amenities. We are fortunate to have a world-class arena, which is home to our London Knights OHL hockey team and anchors a rich cultural and entertainment district. The arena also attracts top-tier performing artists and other events normally reserved for larger centres. • Lawyers here enjoy a collegial bar and the city is small enough that you can truly get to know one another. Civility is likely aided by the fact that you can expect to bump into your colleagues at the mall or a restaurant. • The quality of life in London is superb. Lower billable hour targets, smaller firms, and an easy commute tend to contribute to a decent work-life balance. • Lower overhead results in lower fees and a competitive advantage in certain practice areas versus our colleagues in Toronto. • We are leaders in health care and education, which is not only a plus for residents of the city, but gives lawyers a variety of practice areas to specialize in. - CONS: ARE YOU IN? www.sherrardkuzz.com | 416.603.0700 | 24Hour 416.420.0738 32 Spring 2013 herrardKuzz_4st_Spring_13.indd 1 CANADIAN • As a business immigration lawyer with an international corporate client base, it is sometimes difficult to compete for business against lawyers based in major cities such as Toronto or Vancouver. • There are limited opportunities to practise in certain commercial areas such as securities or high-level M&A work. • Winter can be a challenge as London is in the snow belt! L a w y e r 4 students 13-02-04 3:20 PM