Canadian Lawyer InHouse

Roundup • A roundup of legal department news and trends CCCA tests certification program with pilot group T he first wave of in-house counsel will soon be embarking on the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association's new certification for in-house lawyers in February, and the program has already been vetted by a collection of senior counsel who have test-driven the content. About 40 senior and general counsel from a broad spectrum of organizations including the Bank of Canada, Loblaw Companies Ltd., SaskEnergy Inc., financial institutions, and public sector/nonprofits were part of a pilot project to testdrive the curriculum on Oct. 25 in Toronto at the Rotman School of Management. The CCCA partnered with Rotman to create the Business Leadership Program for In-House Counsel. Those who successfully complete all three phases of the program will graduate with the distinction of Certified In-House Counsel — Canada. The CCCA developed the program to address the concern from the in-house bar that law school does not adequately prepare an in-house lawyer for the world of corporate counsel where they are required to play more of a business role. The CIC.C addresses issues such as developing as a manager and how to navigate organizational dynamics and using financial data. "It all started in the spring of 2011 with a 'deep think' about how we wanted a program that would be focused on inhouse counsel. There aren't as many opportunities to help in-house make the transition from law firm to in-house that is not focused on substantive law," said Grant Borbridge, chairman of the CCCA and vice president legal and general counsel with MEG Energy Corp. in Calgary. Speaking to the pilot group, Gord Currie, executive vice president and chief legal officer of George Weston Ltd. and Loblaws, said one of the many challenges that lawyers face when they go in-house is how to manage their departments. "When I think of managing a legal department I think of the challenges of growing legal leaders especially when lawyers are increasingly specialized at "I liked the Wal-Mart study because universities are always thinking of growth and expansion so looking at how others did it laws firms," he said. "I often was all very helpful to me," describe the law as the easy says Shin Doi. part of the job. The chalOther sessions included lenge is how to be effective, Managing the Legal DepartGrant Borbridge how to get things done — ment, led by Deloitte LLP that is the really hard work." general counsel Ken Fredeen, and FinanPilot participant Mary Ellen Bench, cial Judgment: Unraveling, Interpreting city solicitor with the City of Mississauga, and Using Financial Information and said after attending the intense two-day Leading in Times of Crisis, led by Chris session she thinks it would be of great Lynch, partner, consulting at Deloitte. benefit to those relatively new to the inThe program would be suitable to new house role. in-house counsel, mid-level counsel who "I thought it was a program with a lot want to move to the next level, "only legal of potential," says Bench. "The tie-in beofficers" in small departments, and those tween the business topics and the role of working as specialists in large legal delegal counsel in relation to them needs to partments as well as external law firm be stronger, as many commented. I have lawyers interested in moving in-house. IH asked my deputy to consider attending as I think it would benefit her. It was a great two days and I made some great contacts, Survey in addition to learning new things." The first group of students to start the predicts full CIC.C program will begin Feb. 28 and modest the initial module runs until March 2. Folraises lowing that, the second module is selfpaced and conducted online. The third in- for class module begins Sept. 5 with a fourth lawyers component being held in January 2015. in 2014 The program tuition is $9,100 and the tarting salaries prerequisite for the second phase of the for legal jobs in program is three years of in-house counCanada are set to rise by 2.2 per cent next sel experience. year, according to a survey by recruitJulia Shin Doi, general counsel of Ryerment firm Robert Half Canada Inc. son University, also attended the pilot and Corporate positions for lawyers with up found the Communication & Influence and Strategy & Competitive Advantage to three years' experience are due to see salaries rise by up to 1.4 per cent in 2014 discussions applicable to her role. with pay ranging from $75,250 to $144,500 "It really changed and reframed our depending on the size of the company. way of thinking about different issues and The Robert Half Legal 2014 salary how we come across," says Shin Doi. guide found salaries for first-year associMark Weber, associate professor at the ates at large law firms, classed as having University of Waterloo Social Innovation 75 or more lawyers, would increase by 2.3 & School of Environment, Enterprise & per cent next year and range from $84,750 Development, led a session on communito $92,000. cation and influence. Another exercise Mid-size firms employing between 35 involved Rotman professor Mara Lederand 75 lawyers will see the same percentman taking the class through a discusage increase with salaries ranging besion on how Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has tween $66,500 and $79,750. evolved using its own unique competitive strategy. > continued on page 8 www.ca na dia nl awy er m a g . c o m / i n h o u s E S december 2013/january 2014 • 7

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