Canadian Lawyer 4Students

Fall 2013

Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training

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COMPILED BY DAVID GRUBER THE PROS & CONS OF PRAC TISING... PE RS O N AL IN JU RY LAW IN B. C. IN TE RI O R IT LAW IN H AL IFAX Practising personal injury law nAnCY YOunG, Pace Law Firm, toronto + PROS: • Constant opportunity to advocate and negotiate — in court, in arbitration, with insurance defence lawyers, with insurance adjustors, even with own clients. There are endless opportunities to "play lawyer." • Getting to meet many different people from all walks of life — clients range all ages and all career paths. • Given that no two clients are the same, no two strategies are the same on a �ile. Keeps things fresh and interesting all the time. There is always something to learn. • The satisfaction of seeing a �ile from beginning to end. There is immense ful�illment of bringing a client's case through the litigation process to resolution. 32 fall 2013 CANADIAN L a w y e r 4 students – CONS: • Many times, the clients have been in life-altering incidents. As a result, they are often emotionally raw and very emotionally driven. Knowing how to deal with emotions is a big part of the job. • The job feels limiting at times. All the lawyer can do is obtain a fair settlement/decision for the client. The lawyer cannot treat the client's physical condition the way a medical professional can. • The litigation process is not the most ef�icient process in the world. Figuring out how to manoeuver around it in order to get your client a fast and fair settlement can be frustrating. • In litigation, there are legal deadlines such as limitation periods that must be followed. Failure to adhere to those time limits may lead to a professional negligence claim from the client against the lawyer.

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