Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50905
Practising labour and employment law HEATHER HETTIARACHCHI, Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver + PROS: • Th is area has a signifi cant impact on people's lives because, at its core, it deals with matters relating to a person's livelihood. Yet at the same time, it is broader than a single individual's right to earn a living. • Th e labour and employment law- yer must have a sound knowledge of a number of other fi elds of law including human rights, privacy, workers' compensation, bankruptcy, constitutional law, and busi- ness law. • It is very satisfying when you are able to structure a good settlement in a wrongful dismissal case or a human rights case and sometimes even restore a fractured employment relationship. • Labour law is a very complex yet exciting area of law as you oſt en deal with sophisticated parties who have built up a good relationship over the years. In these situations, the - parties are able to quickly "cut to the chase." • When you practise in the area of labour and employment law, a better part of your time is spent before tribunals as opposed to the courts. As a result, you are generally able to resolve matters more speedily. • Representing your client at the bargaining table gives you good insight into diff erent business models and industries. CONS: • You don't have the luxury of dealing with a single large fi le; you have to work on several fi les at the same time. Th is can be challenging and sometimes frustrating because you lose your momentum when you are switching back and forth the between fi les. • You must keep abreast of developments in many areas. • You have to deal with unrepresented claimants on a fairly regular basis. Th is is a very trying experience. • Business lawyers oft en wait to seek advice on labour and em- ployment issues until the eve of closing a large transaction. emp l oyme n t o c c u pa t i o n a l h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y h uma n r i g h t s wo r k p l a c e s a f e - t y a n d i n s u r a n c e pa y e q u i t y immi g r a - t i o n emp l oyme n t o c c u pa t i o n a l h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y h uma n r i g h t s wo r k p l a c e s a f e t y a n d i n s u r a n c e pa y e q u i t y imm immi g r a t i o n emp l oyme n t o c c u pa t i o n - a l h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y h uma n r i g h t s wo r k p l a c e s a f e t y a n d i n s u r a n c e pa y First in Labour Law Since 1956 Toronto 416.862.8280 Sarnia 519.336.5447 Dimock Stratton: one of my best decisions Five years after starting as a summer student, I know that choosing Dimock Stratton was a great career decision. I'm learning from some of the best practitioners in ip, I work on high profile cases in my area of interest, I've got great work- life balance and best of all, I look forward to work every day. I highly recommend Dimock Stratton to anyone serious about a career in ip law. Dimock Stratton llp experience. results. 20 Queen W. 32nd fl, Toronto | 416.971.7202 | dimock.com C ANADIAN Lawyer 4STUDENTS ntitled-4 1 2/24/10 11:35:48 AM F ALL 2010 37 Sault Ste.Marie 705.253.3711 Since being founded in 1956 as the Country's first labour relations and employment law firm, Mathews Dinsdale has been dedicated to helping employers manage the increasingly complex laws relating to the workplace. For over 50 years, our lawyers have played a significant role in shaping labour – management relations. Today, with offices in Toronto, Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie, Mathews Dinsdale continues to have one of the Country's most highly regarded management labour and employment law practices. It continues to be our goal to help management manage – and succeed. www.mathewsdinsdale.com CONS PROS &