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Protect your practice and your health by mastering the habits that prevent professional burnout and legal malpractice claims.
Are you an articling student or licensing candidate on your path to becoming licensed as an Ontario lawyer? Join us for a three-part program to learn how to lay the best foundation for your career.
Part 1: A Partner and an In-House Counsel Tell It Like It Is - What, How and Why
Marco Falco, Partner at Torkin Manes, and Basmah Osman, Enterprise Counsel at OMERS, will provide tips on how to make yourself indispensable and will cover a variety of topics including communication, collaboration, managing expectations, work habits, and networking.
Part 2: Legal Research - The Secret to Your Success
TLA's experienced law librarians will cover the methodology of legal research and will explain how to research quickly, efficiently, and exhaustively.
Part 3: Balancing the Clock and the Mind
The early years of a legal career can feel like a sprint with no finish line in sight. In this session, Safiyya Vankalwala, Communications Counsel at LAWPRO, offers tips on how to manage your time, your workload, and your mental health. Whether you are feeling burned out, struggling to stay organized, or just trying to keep your head above water, you'll walk away with practical tools and a bit of reassurance that you are not alone.
This course examines the intersection of time management, professional wellness, and risk mitigation for legal professionals. It explores the primary causes of malpractice claims, such as poor communication and missed deadlines, while providing practical strategies for workload prioritization and effective task management. The content addresses the psychological pressures inherent in the legal profession, including vicarious trauma and perfectionism, and offers actionable frameworks for maintaining mental and physical health. Participants will learn how to implement systematic routines, utilize checklists, and access professional support resources to sustain a long-term, healthy legal career.
Topics Covered:
Toronto Lawyers Association
For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community.To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.
Communications Counsel, LAWPRO
Safiyya is Communications Counsel at LAWPRO, focusing on risk management, including monitoring changes in the law and claim trends as well as developing and delivering practical resources to lawyers across Ontario. Prior to joining LAWPRO, Safiyya worked at a fintech company in strategic planning and legal technology development. She spent 15 years practicing law, has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Law & Society from York University and her LL.B. is from the University of Ottawa. Safiyya was called to the Ontario Bar in 2007. Safiyya is co-author of a book focusing on legal considerations for entrepreneurs and has been a speaker and panelist at various educational seminars. She enjoys playing an active role in her local community.
Professional development requirements vary by profession, country, and regulatory body. Before enrolling, review the course details and confirm that the content, learning format, and any listed credits meet your specific requirements. You are responsible for confirming eligibility with your regulator or professional association and keeping the records required for reporting.