Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50715
Practising personal injury law Practising personal injury law DEANNA GILBERT, Thomson Rogers, Toronto + PROS: • It is rewarding to help innocent victims who have been seriously injured. • You have the opportunity to learn a lot about medi- cine and psychology. • Th ere are many opportunities for advocacy in the courtroom. CHARLES JAGO, Simpson Thomas & Associates, Vancouver + PROS: • Th ere are many legal issues that can come up on any fi le — even ones that appear straightforward at fi rst blush. • Th ere are also issues of court proce- dure that can crop up in any action — so it requires the lawyer to remain vigi- lant, informed, and on his or her toes. • Th ere is a great deal of creativity that can be applied on any fi le. Th e personal injury lawyer must always be thinking about how he or she is going to bring evidence to bear eff ectively and persua- sively on behalf of the client. Each case is diff erent, as is each client, and one size certainly does not fi t all. - CONS: • At times one's patience and resolve can be tested by insurance companies, opposing counsel, and even your own client. Th is area of law is not without its challenges and some cases can have hard edges. • Like other areas of litigation, there are highs and lows and one must be pre- pared to handle both with equanimity. Confl icts do arise that test the mettle of the lawyer. However, this need not necessarily be viewed as a "con" per se. Outlook and attitude is vitally impor- tant in personal injury law. - CONS: • Th e statutory accident benefi ts regime ("no-fault" benefi ts) is quite "paper heavy." • It can be challenging to manage clients' expectations as to the value of their claims, in light of certain con- fi nes in the law (i.e. the pain-and-suff ering cap). • Th e legislation governing motor vehicle claims and statutory accident benefi ts frequently changes and one has to stay on top of it. Get Connected at one of Ontario's Top 10 firms As a student at Fogler, Rubinoff LLP you'll experience a wide variety of complex and challenging assignments that puts you at the table and in the courts. TO10P ONTARIO REGIONAL FIRMS AL FIRMS Named a Top 10 firm May 2011 Check us out at foglers.com Student Program Chair, Myriah Graves 416.941.8846, mgraves@foglers.com 95 Wellington Street West, Suite 1200 Toronto-Dominion Centre, Toronto, ON M5J 2Z9 T: 416.864.9700 F: 416.941.8852 C ANADIAN Lawyer 4STUDENTS olgers_4st_Sep_11.indd 1 F all 2011 43 7/27/11 3:24:21 PM