By Murray Gottheil | August 11, 2024
Many new lawyers start their own practices soon after graduation or join firms that offer little mentoring or training. I attribute this to a number of factors, including the law firm model falling into disfavour over issues of work/life balance and mental health, and prejudice encountered by internationally trained lawyers.
On the positive side, it is easier than ever for new lawyers to start on their own because of the increased support available through consultants and social media support groups, and the “levelling the playing field” effect of legal technology.
I speak to many newbies. Frequently, the context is that they are being asked to take on a matter with which they have little prior experience. What frightens me when I speak to them is that often they are clueless. Not just a little clueless, but very clueless.
My area of practice was business law. When young lawyers joined my department, the first thing I told them to do was to read the Business Corporations Act, Business Names Act and Corporations Information Act, then speak to me if they did not understand anything. When they were done, I told them to read the Personal Property Security Act and the Bills of Exchange Act.
If someone said “franchising”, I said, read the Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure). If they murmured “lending”, I told them to read the Interest Act and the Criminal Code provision on the criminal rate of interest.
If it was “limited partnerships”, they had to read both the Partnerships Act and the Limited Partnerships Act.
You get the idea. Start with the basics and build from there. Then jump into Practical Law or other specialized services to go beyond the basics. After that, get precedents and study them. Frankly, it’s bloody hard work.
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