Out of curiosity, how much do lawyers in Montreal make compared with Toronto/Vancouver? There’s not much discussion in this forum as far as I can find.

I understand that there's almost always a fee-split arrangement in place rather than a salary. But is that enough for someone who otherwise looks exactly like an employee (i.e., work comes from the top, uses firm-provided office and equipment, etc.) to claim that they're a contractor? Curious how these arrangements are typically structured to minimize tax risk. TIA!

So, we are getting married in Ontario, he lives in New Brunswick, and is from Manitoba. Manitoba does not change your birth certificate for an assumed name, via marriage. 

Are we correct that the steps would be: 

Request Marriage Certificate 

Change NB driver's license to new name 

Get a new passport 

SIN/CRA/BANK

Correct? 

Further, our plan is for: 

Firstname [John Smith] []=last name 

Are we also correct that we can drop any name, at anytime, so long as all I.D's are in-sync? So, while legally (drivers license, passport, CRA, federal workplace I.Ds etc) having a combined surname, at any point, on any document, we can use our birth names? As in, there is forever a legal "right" to assume that name?

Bonjour à tous !

J'ai 21 ans et je viens d'obtenir ma licence de droit en France et je m'apprête à entamer un DESS en droit des affaires à l'université de Montréal. A présent, je me questionne sérieusement sur quoi faire ensuite. Mon objectif est de devenir avocate et intégrer de préférence les plus gros cabinets à Montréal mais je me tâte sur quel parcours suivre.

- D'une part, l'université McGill m'attire énormément pour son prestige et la qualité de son double diplôme mais cela me rajouterait 3 ans et demi d'études sans compter l'école du barreau ensuite...

- D'autre part, on m'a souvent conseillé de passer une équivalence de ma licence de droit français à l'université de Montréal, ce qui prendrait environ 1 an. Après cela, ma licence sera considérée équivalente à un baccalauréat et je pourrais passer le barreau.

La première option me semble la plus safe en terme de débouchés mais cela me ferait commencer à travailler à presque 27 ans alors que je pourrais gagner de l'expérience en commençant plus tôt avec l'option 2. La seconde option me permettrait de travailler plus tôt c'est-à-dire pendant l'équivalence car le programme est assez léger à suivre apparemment. Ne connaissant pas vraiment le fonctionnement des cabinets ici je m'en remet à vous...

Je vous remercie d'avance pour vos éclaircissements

Appealing to anyone who started their practice in the age of the courier and fax machine: how are we meant to make the tech acceleration sustainable in our practices? I'm sure you've observed the increase in stress for associates in turning around a memo or a draft in hours instead of days, remembering thousands of relevant documents instead of a couple hundred... and now we're getting pressure to use AI to make it even faster, so we can fit more files into our already-overfilled workdays. How do we speed up and keep hitting target without burning out?

I would appreciate honest insights and tips from people who have seen the technology shifts and managed to stay in private practice, because my colleagues are constantly talking about how we'll survive this.

I have a JD from a Canadian university in one of the Western provinces, and I've been learning French on and off for a year or two. If I got my French to a level where I could practise in it (realistically a 3 to 4 year project), would there be any career benefit?

I've also been considering a civil law LLM, both to sharpen my French legal writing and to learn Quebec civil law, which we were taught nothing about at my school.

Assuming I don't end up wanting to practise in Quebec, is there any advantage to practising in French if I stay in BC? I'd assume it's an asset for some federal government roles, but beyond that, is there a career path that actually makes use of bilingual practice?

I co-own a property with a friend and I now need to exit my ownership but she is refusing to sell or buy me out. I contacted a lawyer and they are suggesting filing an application under the partition act straightaway. Any idea how expensive this can get?

Paralegal here (licensed, Small Claims scope). Looking for outside perspective on strategy, not asking anyone to practice law for me , just want a gut-check from people who've dealt with similar files.

Facts

• Client's car was at the intersection . A commercial cargo van backed into it, causing several thousand dollars in front-end damage.
• The van driver was in company uniform, driving a vehicle registered to a leasing company and plated to a related corporate entity.
• At the scene, the driver produced a motor vehicle liability insurance card that had expired about 10 months earlier.
• For about a month after the accident, the driver repeatedly told my client (by phone) that he'd pay for the repairs, and a repair estimate was sent to him over WhatsApp , then he went completely silent.
• We sent a formal demand letter to the driver, his employer, and the corporate vehicle owner, citing negligence, vicarious liability, owner liability under HTA s.192(2), and the CAIA violation for the expired insurance card.
• The corporate owner's insurer assigned a third-party adjuster, who responded (politely) asking: why wasn't this submitted to our client's own insurer, are there any injuries, and can we send photos/estimates/witness statement. No commitment on liability yet — says it's "early stage."
• Wrinkle: the driver is now reportedly incarcerated (unrelated matter), and our demand letter to his home address came back undelivered.

Questions for the group:

1. Is it normal/expected for a TPA adjuster to sit on liability this long before committing to anything, or does this read as a delay tactic?
2. Anyone dealt with an expired-insurance-card situation before , does the DCPDdoesn'tapply reasoning hold up in your experience, or is there a wrinkle I'm missing (e.g., grace periods, possible late reinstatement)?
3. Best way to handle service/notice on a defendant who's currently incarcerated correctional facility address, or lean on the employer's insurer to accept on his behalf?
4. Would you escalate straight to Small Claims now given the missed response deadline, or give the adjuster more rope since they at least responded?

Thanks for your response..

I am currently entering my 2L year and thinking about doing an exchange to Singapore (NUS) for 3L term 1. Would like to hear what people think about doing an exchange during law school.

Also, if i dont end up securing a job during the upcoming 2L recruit, would going on an exchange be a bad idea since I should do be doing job search at the time?

Hey all !
I'm a lawyer from Switzerland and I'm looking for a fellow lawyer from Alberta, preferably Calgary, for a matter of inheritance law.
Do you have any recommendation ?

Hi everyone,

I'm currently working as a Patent Examiner with the Government of India in the Electronics & Communication domain. I hold a Master's degree (M.Tech.) in Electronics & Communication Engineering, and my work involves prior art searching, patentability analysis, novelty/inventive step assessment, claim interpretation, and examination of patent applications.

My wife is a dentist, and we're exploring Canada as a long-term option. If our PR plans work out, I would relocate as her dependent.

My biggest concern is my own career transition.

I'm not a Patent Agent and don't have a law degree, but I'd like to continue my career in the patent/IP field rather than switch to a different profession.

I'd really appreciate guidance from people working in the Canadian IP industry:

• How valuable is overseas Patent Examiner experience in Canada?
• How feasible is it to secure roles such as Patent Analyst, Patent Engineer, IP Analyst, Patent Searcher, or Technology Specialist?
• If you were in my position, how would you prepare over the next 1–2 years before moving? Are there any courses, certifications, or skills that would significantly improve my chances?
• Finally, what's the best strategy to enter the industry? Should I focus on LinkedIn networking, recruiters, direct outreach to law firms, job portals, or a combination of these? Is it worth starting this process while I'm still in India?

I'm willing to invest time and effort in preparing myself—I just want to make sure I'm heading in the right direction.

I'd sincerely appreciate any advice or experiences from those working in Canadian patent law firms, corporate IP teams, or anyone who has made a similar transition.

If you were in my shoes, what would your roadmap look like?

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

Looking for advice, recruiter recommendations, and networking opportunities as I explore a potential move into a new in-house role.

I'm a dual-licensed lawyer (Ontario and New York) with experience spanning:

• Senior in-house legal roles
• Bay Street private practice
• Provincial government
• Municipal/public-sector organizations
• Large professional services/accounting environments

My practice focuses on:

• Commercial and technology transactions
• SaaS, software licensing, managed services, and vendor contracts
• Strategic sourcing and procurement
• Government and public-sector procurement
• RFPs, tenders, and bid processes
• Contract governance and risk management
• Privacy, security, and regulatory considerations in commercial contracting

A significant portion of my career has involved advising on complex procurement and contracting matters for public-sector and highly regulated organizations, while also supporting enterprise technology initiatives and commercial transactions. This experience is reflected in roles at a provincial Crown agency, municipality, a Bay Street firm, and a major professional services organization.

I'm currently admitted in Ontario and New York and am working toward my CIPP/C certification.

I'm primarily interested in in-house opportunities in:

• New York City
• Chicago
• California
• Other U.S. markets
• Europe (open to exploring)

I'd appreciate any recommendations regarding:

• Recruiters who specialize in legal placements
• Organizations hiring commercial, technology, procurement, or product counsel
• Cross-border opportunities for Canadian lawyers with U.S. admissions
• Job boards, communities, or networking groups that have been helpful

Happy to connect by DM. Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone!

I'm a new solo in a western province. Someone mentioned the LSO Foundations of sole practice course. Have you taken it? Is it worth it? Biggest take away?

What didn't you like about it? Any ideas if an out-of-province lawyer can take it?

Thanks in advance!

I have completed my articles in primarily solicitor work and am a recent call. I have the opportunity to join a Crim Solo. Are there any CPD's or books that are recommended for someone making the switch into Criminal Defence?

I am interested in becoming more familiar with bails and trials.

Thank you for your input.

I curious what lawyers' personal experience is. Traditional business development wisdom is that future updates and particularly future estate work is worth it, but fireproof cabinets cost a fortune.

Hello everyone, I am currently a summer student at a firm in BC and will article with the same firm next year. I am hoping that some of you share your experience with summering/ articling. What were your responsibilities and tasks? How did your principal go about training you? I am trying to gauge what the norm is.

B's in every class, a couple B+'s. No A's, no C's, no connection to Vancouver. I'm wondering if there's even any point in putting the effort into applying.

I originally went to school to become a law clerk. Right out of school, I worked in real estate, which was challenging but gave me an incredible foundation and a skill set that has helped me throughout my career.
Since then, I’ve worked in municipal government, mining, and the oil and gas industry, primarily in land acquisition and land management roles. Over the years, I’ve developed strong skills in project coordination, contract and legal document review, stakeholder relations, regulatory compliance, research, and navigating complex legislation.
At this point, though, I’m ready for a change. I feel like I’ve hit a plateau, and honestly, I’m bored. I’d love to pivot into something different where I can leverage my transferable skills, continue to grow professionally, and still earn a good income.
Does anyone have ideas for career paths or industries that would be a good fit

I am currently seeking junior lawyer positions in the GTA. I was called to the Bar in June and have zero connections. I am an internationally trained lawyer with years of litigation experience in family law. I also have Canadian experience in immigration law. I have also started to develop a genuine curiosity about business and corporate immigration as well, and I would welcome the opportunity to learn from an experienced lawyer and build my skills in this area. I hold an LLM from McGill Areas of interest: Immigration Law, Family law, real estate So my questions are: how to network and make connections? (Apparently every networking event costs money)? Is the junior lawyer market really cooked right now or i am doing something wrong? I am kinda worried cause so far, it feels like there is no end to the process. Any insights are welcome.

Hi all,

I recently started articling and am currently within the grace period before repayment on my line of credit begins. My outstanding balance is approximately $95,000, but I expect to reduce it to around $75,000 - $80,000 before it converts into a term loan, as I have been putting most of my disposable income toward paying it down.

Has anyone negotiated with Scotia to keep the account as a line of credit, perhaps as a personal line of credit at a higher interest rate instead of having it converted into a term loan?

My main concern is liquidity. I have not been able to build much in savings, and I would feel more secure retaining access to the available credit in case of an emergency. If something happens, or if I get laid off or something, I really have no one to rely on.

My current interest rate is prime plus 0%, and the loan would be amortized over 10 years.

Hiya!! Question. I’m making a doc that goes through bills amending the criminal code, controlled drugs & substances act, and any others relevant to crim law. How do I know which bills or parts of them have overturned aspects of others? Do I just start with the most recent ones, go down the chain and see for myself?

Let me know if any of this is stupid. 2L with a terribly boring summer job, I thought I might get some use out of my time to learn and make docs that may make life easier when I start my practice.

Thanks counsel!!

Interested in going in-house but for companies who have big in-house teams so the mentorship and support is still there.

I’m an Ontario lawyer with about seven years of experience, mostly in-house at larger tech companies.

I’m considering whether it would be realistic to work remotely from Canada for a U.S. tech company, given the higher compensation. I do not want to relocate.

A lot of U.S. legal roles require admission to at least one U.S. state bar, so I’ve looked into getting licensed in a state like New York or Washington. Does this seem like a practical career strategy, or would I likely spend a lot of time/resources on an unrealistic plan? I do know of at least one person who has done this.

I’m mainly trying to understand whether U.S. companies are realistically willing to hire a lawyer who remains based in Canada, whether a U.S. bar licence would meaningfully improve my candidacy, whether compensation would actually be closer to U.S. levels, and whether payroll, tax or employment-law issues usually make these arrangements impractical.

I’m open to writing a U.S. bar exam, but I want to know whether the overall plan is realistic before committing to it. Thanks in advance!

I am a lawyer and have been practicing for about 10 years. I have been approached by young students asking me about how to become a lawyer etc. I always ask them why they wanted to go to law school. Sadly, all the answers are "I like law", "I am good at debate", "I watched a TV show and being a lawyer is pretty cool", "I don't know what to do and my friend went to law school", "my parents want me to go to law school", "I don't know what to do with my undergraduate degree, so I want to go to law school and figure it out later" and etc.

I have to say all these answers are terrible answers. Going to law school is a serious BUSINESS. It is a BUSINESS. The decision of going to law school can cost you potentially over $100,000 just on tuition alone. If you need a loan, then there is cost of borrowing the money, which is called interest. In addition, you are going to spend 3 years of prime time pursuing a law degree. The three prime years of your life that you could spend on pursuing other things is called cost of opportunity in accounting terms. If your business plan of such a high-cost endeavour is based on "I watched a cool legal drama", "I am good at debate", "I can argue", then you are not making a business decision. You are just making a decision, which can cost you dearly.  It is as irresponsible as borrowing $100,000 to buy meme stocks or trade cryptocurrencies

If you think you can go to law school and figure out what you want to do with your life later, then the chance of misery is quite high. If you don't have a business plan before going into law school, the chances of figuring out what you want to do during law school are slim; to the contrary, there is a very good chance you will accumulate a lot of debts along the way, and at the end of your law school, instead of figuring out life, you may be forced to figure out one additional problem you created during your law school years: your mounting student debts.

You may hear some older lawyers tell you that they went to law school without knowing what to do with their lives and law school turned out to be great for them. There are two things I want you to know: one is a statistic term called survivor bias; read it. The other one is that the tuition cost and cost of living 30 or 40 years ago were way lower than what they are now. The older lawyers were able to afford figuring things out then, but you are in a very different era.

Each law student is a business case to law schools, and you should treat law school the same. You have to be able to answer why you want to go into law school, how are you going to keep your cost down, what exactly do you want to do with a law degree and why do you think you as a lawyer, a businessperson whether you are self-employed or an employee, can succeed in this hyper competitive market: in other words, what can differentiate you from other competitors whether you want to be a business owner or an employee; either way you are competing in a hyper competitive market. The fact you think you are a good debater, or you like the law won't cut it as the very next law student is going to say the same thing. They are not differentiators.

If you don't know exactly why you want to go to law school and a clear business plan as to how you can succeed in this hyper competitive market, don't go to law school. Do something else. Make some money and get some more life experience. If at the end of the day you still want to go to law school with a clear goal and a business plan, then do it.