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www.canadianlawyermag.com 19 Canadian Lawyer's seventh annual Readers' Choice awards recognizes outstanding products and services related to the sector. We have perfected our research over the last few years and feel confident that our readers can give us insight into the best products and services for lawyers. From 26 July to 20 August, our research team surveyed our readership and received 3,200 votes. The ballot consisted of categories encompassing areas such as ADR mediation chambers, financial services and consultation, legal research, legal technology, litigation support and consulting, recruiting, staffing and outsourcing, and real estate. Once the research period is over, our team reviews the results to see which entrants received the best grades. In total, 459 products and service providers were listed on the official ballot and voters were also allowed to write-in any businesses not listed. We have named the top three vote-getters in each category (in some cases four, if there was a tie) and listed them in alphabetical order. Categories with more than three winners indicate a tie. Canadian Lawyer thanks participants for sharing their thoughts. These opinions are reflected on the pages that follow. If you do not see your favourite business recognized, please be sure to vote next year. METHODOLOGY incentive to use arbitrators rather than go the far lengthier litigation route. COVID-19 has also caused the legal industry to take a step back and evaluate the time and cost of current models. Arbi- tration chambers have ramped up their ability to provide services virtually, which is less expensive than travelling to in-person arbitration and often held in far-flung places that can be difficult to get to because of vaccination requirements — never mind the risk of travelling during a pandemic. J. Brian Casey, the co-founder of Bay Street Chambers, another winner in the ADR mediation chambers category, notes that as the world becomes more "globalized," arbitration can help lessen any nationalistic tension. More than 150 countries have rati- fied the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards of 1958 (the "New York Convention"). Once both sides agree to the arbitration process, the perception is that neither has "home court" advantage. A helping hand for lawyers' clients when times are tough This has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging times for those involved in personal injury and medical malpractice cases, says Jeffrey Gottheil of Nudorra Capital Litigation Loans. Many are simultaneously suffering physically, mentally or emotionally, as COVID-19 has prolonged the court process for many matters and the economic impact of the pandemic has been hard. A winner in our Readers' Choice litigation loan category, Nudorra helps those involved in lawsuits to get through the tough times they might face while waiting for their case to be settled or dealt with in court. It's not neces- sarily for legal fees, as most lawyers in these cases work on a contingency basis so that those expenses would come out of any settle- ment or award. "They can put that money towards car payments, pay rent, put food on the table, take care of any medical treatment, anything they need," he says. Lawyers are prohibited from loaning money to their clients, so often, they rely on companies such as Nudorra to help fill the financial gap, recommending them when they feel the need. "I think law firms are looking for competitive rates for their clients, a company that is good to their clients in terms of quickly processing the loan," he says. "Once someone comes to us [and] fills out the application, we ask the lawyer for more details about the case. Once we have all the information, we can approve the loan, have the documents ready and then money in their bank account — all within 24 hours." "Translation is one of the strongest growing industries, increasing in the double digits every year." Gary Kalaci, Alexa Translations Making sure law firms aren't lost in translation While the pandemic has changed how the world has been getting things done for almost two years, it is also — like the song