Page 50 - CCCA Magazine Spring 2014

{ INSIDE EDGE } TRAINING TOMORROW’S LEADERS WE CAN SHAPE THE LEGAL PROFESSION THROUGH THE NEW LAW PRACTICE PROGRAM By Julia Shin Doi This is a remarkable time for corporate counsel in Canada: we have As counsel in a university, I’ve had the a CBA president who is a corporate counsel, corporate counsel are beneft of regular work-study university students in my legal department. They being appointed as judges and elected as benchers of provincial have been a godsend in assisting my larger law societies, professional certifcation for corporate counsel is being group, which includes governance, priva- cy and information security professionals. introduced, and the corporate counsel bar is continuing to grow. The students are smart, motivated, hard- working and eager to learn. They amaze e also now have a unique chance to business sectors have jumped at the op- me every day; whether doing the small- build and shape the future of the portunity to take a LPP student. It is easy est administrative tasks or helping with Wlegal profession through the Law to understand why. Legal departments are complicated matters, they perform it with Society of Upper Canada’s Law Practice generally under-resourced, overworked ease, speed and cheer. Program (LPP). and in need of assistance. LPP candidates I have already agreed to take two LPP Launching in September 2014, the will be trained in work culture so they candidates for their placements. If you LPP is an innovative alternative to the can hit the ground running in our fast- are corporate counsel in Ontario, you can traditional Articling Program. It is a part changing, ever more technology-driven, also provide a placement, giving future of the Law Society’s three-year Pathways corporate world. lawyers insight into our roles. Pilot Project, designed to respond pro- Ryerson has a stellar team leading the No matter your location, we all have actively to the changing legal landscape LPP, including executive director Chris a chance to be a part of this new change and remove unfair barriers to licensing Bentley, former attorney general of On- in the profession brought by the LPP. We created by the articling placement short- tario; academic director professor Avner can connect directly with the program age. It will be offered in English by Ry- Levin, chair of Ryerson’s Law and Business team, and let them know what corporate erson University and in French by the Department; and senior program director counsel need and how lawyers should re- University of Ottawa. Gina Alexandris, former assistant dean of ally be trained to succeed. We can help law The LPP at Ryerson features a rigorous York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School. school graduates see the wonders, joys, four-month training phase during which This team values the corporate counsel bar complexities and challenges of corporate candidates are placed in six-person virtual and the input that we can provide. counsel life, and they, in turn, will help us law frms and will have to deal with actual The corporate counsel bar is innately remember the wonders, joys, complexi- legal scenarios as members of their frms, practical, has business savvy, is keenly ties and challenges of starting out in this largely through interactive web-based aware of organizational politics, and un- profession. This is our inside edge at this modules and digital simulation tools. They derstands that law is an effective and stra- remarkable time. ❚ will learn real-life practice and client man- tegic tool in the real world. We truly un- agement skills — skills corporate counsel derstand and appreciate why lawyers are know are essential for career success. both loved as ferce protectors of reputa- Julia Shin Doi is general counsel Candidates then move into four- tion and wielders of risk, and sometimes and secretary of the Ryerson University’s Board of Governors. month work placements at legal depart- avoided as a hindrance. We can share what For more information on Ryer- ments, clinics or frms across Ontario. we’ve learned from wearing multiple hats son’s Law Practice Program, visit Already, several legal departments of lead- in our roles with the next generation of www.ryerson.ca/lpp. ing companies in various industries and Ontario’s legal profession. 50 CCCA MAGAZINE | SPRING 2014 PRINTEMPS