Advocacy-Matters-Fall-2022

Q. The legal profession is slowly recognizing that lawyers are human, and to be the best
lawyers, we need to take care of our health – physical, mental and emotional. How do you
take care of yourself?
A. It’s about letting yourself off the hook. Lost a trial? Grieve for a few days, then let yourself off the
hook. Feeling angry? We don’t let ourselves bring our emotions to the forefront. You need to find a
place to let yourself be angry and hurt, and then let yourself off the hook.
In terms of mental and emotional health, you have to feel through your feelings. If you just bury
them, they will still be there. I try to allow these feelings to come to the surface and get to a place
where I’m at peace with them.
Tricks of the Trade 2023
January 27, 2023 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (ET) | Live at the Carlu
Tricks of the Trade is “THE” annual conference for the personal injury bar, addressing current challenges for both plaintiff and
defence counsel. Esteemed faculty from across Ontario will provide key updates on recent decisions, timely advocacy tips, and
the latest guidance on practice and procedure for personal injury litigators. We are excited to be back in person!
Keynote speaker
Marie Henein,
Henein Hutchison LLP
Program highlights include:
A fireside chat with The Hon. Justice
Katherine van Rensburg,
Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Q. Congratulations on the Catzman Award! What does this award mean to you?
A. I was surprised when I got the award because I’m a non-traditional nominee. And because the traditional
notion of civility doesn’t serve our generation of lawyers. Civility goes far beyond being nice or
sending a polite “thank you for your email” and then screaming internally in response to an email that
reinforces the systemic discrimination and exclusion in our profession.
We need a new model of civility where it’s okay to stand up to systemic discrimination and to say,
“I’m not going to allow this”.
I have been on the receiving end of exclusionary practices in the profession. I’ve been called names,
told to be quiet, told not to speak out. My first reaction is usually frustration. Then I realize that this is
not how I want to practise law. And that’s not what I want to carry forward to future generations.
As I said to young lawyers when I accepted the Catzman Award: “You are enough for this job. You
belong. Your advocacy matters. To the young lawyers, the Black lawyers, the Indigenous lawyers, the
brown lawyers in rural Ontario – there will be so many days where you will be reminded that you do
not belong. It is uncomfortable. It is exhausting. It is okay to be tired. It is okay to be angry. But don’t
dwell in that space. You may not feel like you are resilient, strong, or tough, but give yourself grace first.
You are enough and you will be able to navigate these situations to make our whole profession more
equitable and inclusive.”
Tricks of the Trade:
A 30+ Year Tradition for Leaders
of the Personal Injury Bar.
Views from the bench on the new rules
for delivery of expert reports.
The annual updates you need on tort law, damage
assessments, accident benefits, crown liability,
and much more!
Win an Apple Watch!
Early bird contest deadline:
December 15, 2022.
For a full agenda visit
Tricks of the Trade
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