The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1315159
Creating a culture where you trust and respect your mentors is difficult when you never see them in person. www.canadianlawyermag.com 1 EDITOR'S DESK UPFRONT www.canadianlawyermag.com EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Tim Wilbur Senior Editor Elizabeth Raymer Editor Zena Olijnyk Canada News Editor Aidan Macnab Production Editor Patricia Cancilla Writers Bernise Carolino, David Kitai CONTRIBUTORS Neill May, Charlene Theodore ART & PRODUCTION Art Director Marla Morelos Customer Success Manager Amie Suttie Production Co-ordinator Kim Kandravy Global Production Manager Alicia Chin (on leave) SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT VP, Media and Client Strategy Dane Taylor Sr. Business Development Manager Steffanie Munroe Business Development Manager Lynda Fenton National Account Executive Abhiram Prabhu CORPORATE President Tim Duce Events and Conference Manager Chris Davis Chief Information Officer Colin Chan Human Resources Manager Julia Bookallil Global CEO Mike Shipley Global COO George Walmsley EDITORIAL INQUIRIES tim.wilbur@keymedia.com NAUK SUBSCRIPTIONS CO-ORDINATOR Donnabel Reyes tel: 647 374 4536 ext. 243 donnabel.reyes@keymedia.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES legaladvertise@keymedia.com F inishing law school and entering the legal profession has never been easy. But this year, law students and young lawyers are facing unprecedented challenges. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive to the entire legal profession, the long-term impacts could be the most damaging to new lawyers. In this issue, we spoke with law deans about how they are managing to deliver legal education during a pandemic (p. 30). Law students face a new reality as they deal with a shift to full or partial online learning. Despite the challenges, law schools are innovating with virtual classrooms and safe in-person instruction. Like the justice system, educators are discovering that things they would normally have thought needed to be done in person — such as mock trials — can be done effectively online. Law firms are facing similar challenges in keeping younger lawyers engaged. As we our found in our best legal workplaces survey (p. 20), employers have been forced to be more flexible with work arrangements and firms are focusing much more on output than on old-fashioned input measurements of productivity such as "face time." In other words, the "old way" of doing things is no longer going to work. While the risk of losing talent existed before the pandemic, with young lawyers isolated and dealing with daily uncertainty, law firms must step up their game. Yet our research indicates that young lawyers rate their law firm lower on respect and trust than older lawyers. This gets to the nub of the problem for young lawyers and law students in the age of COVID: Creating a culture where you trust and respect your mentors is difficult when you never see them in person. "The challenging part is to build up community experience under difficult circum- stances," says Donna Young, dean at Ryerson's law school. "It's heartbreaking that I could pass by one of my students on the street and wouldn't know it." From adversity, though, comes opportunity. For the educators and law firms that persist and take every opportunity they can to engage the new generation, the payoff will be a loyalty that cannot be bought. The future of our profession depends on it. Tim Wilbur, Editor-in-Chief Now is the time to engage young lawyers ISSUE 44.10 | DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 Canadian Lawyer is published 10 times a year by HAB Press Limited. KEY MEDIA and the KEY MEDIA logo are trademarks of Key Media IP Limited, and used under license by HAB Press Limited. CANADIAN LAWYER is a trademark of HAB Press Limited. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted without written permission. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the publisher. Information presented is compiled from sources believed to be accurate, however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Canadian Lawyer disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. Publications Mail Agreement #41261516 ISSN 0703-2129 ©2020 GST/HST Registration #703184911RT001 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESS TO: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5H 3G8 RETOURNER TOUTE CORRESPONDANCE NE POUVANT ÉTRE LIVREÉ AU CANADA AU SERVICE DES PUBLICATIONS 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5H 3G8 HAB Press Limited 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor Toronto, Ontario M5H 3G8 tel: +1 416 644 8740 www.keymedia.com