Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50902
Practising construction law ERYNNE SCHUSTER, McLennan Ross LLP, Calgary + PROS: • Construction law is a broad area applicable to many indus- tries, making it an appealing area of practice. It is constantly changing and developing as con- struction contracts evolve and the overall economy changes. • The complexity of the construction process and the complex relationships among the various participants in the construction industry make each dispute unique. • The recent slowdown in the economy has brought a new onslaught of work, including shoddy construction is- sues, liens, and various bankruptcies and foreclosures. - CONS: • As with practising in any area of law, given the evolving nature of construction law, lawyers must be aware of in- dustry standards and changes in case law. For example, the law surrounding the tendering process is one of the most unsettled areas in the common law. • One must be aware of the risks when choosing to prac- tise in this area. For example, due to the technical na- ture of liens, many negligence actions are filed against lawyers for failing to register liens on time or properly. Practising in Ottawa LISE PARENT, Parent Carr + PROS: • The Cheers factor. The size of the Ottawa bar does permit you to know, maybe not every- one's, but most people's names. This creates a level of collegial- ity that makes the practice of law a pleasure to engage in de- spite perhaps not seeing eye to eye on a file. Ottawa is known as a friendly bar, which means reaching out for help on a file or a professional issue is a "good" thing since most lawyers are willing to give a hand when asked. • Location, location, location. Ottawa has "one-stop shop- ping" meaning one courthouse where all is done. The courthouse is centrally located and offers a full range of services to ensure a high level of access to justice. 26 SPRING 2 0 1 0 C ANADIAN Lawy er 4STUDENTS • Resources galore. Practising in Ottawa means you have access to many levels of court and tribunals. This is won- derful whether you want to see cases being argued "live" or need to use their library/research facilities. • Wherever you practise, you should be involved, early on, in your local law association. Ottawa is home to the County of Carleton Law Association, the largest associa- tion outside of Toronto. Getting to know your colleagues at the bar is essential and rewarding. • If stressed, you are usually just a hop, skip, and a jump to the Gatineau Hills or the Rideau Canal to go for a walk, run, skate, ski, or bike ride. - CONS: • The Cheers factor, redux. The size of the Ottawa bar means you will no doubt have several files with the same lawyers. Practising in Ottawa PETER ENGELMANN, Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP + PROS: • Given the national or fed- eral focus of many of our cli- ents, access to federal admin- istrative tribunals, the Federal Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada has allowed me better opportunities to argue novel cases at each and every level. • For young lawyers, this diversity of work may be en- hanced if the firm you are with is not too large. • Ottawa is a beautiful city and its benefits include its four full seasons, easy access to parks, recreational sports, a rich variety of cultural activities, and rea- sonably affordable housing. It is a great place to raise a family. - CONS: • If it is a fast-paced, better-paid legal career with lon- ger hours that you are looking for, I am sure more choices are available to you in Toronto. • In addition, proximity to large corporate clients and access to provincial administrative tribunals, the di- visional and appellate levels of the Superior Court will all be more available in Toronto.