Amy Slotek “The provision of human dignity” Legal Aid Ontario staff lawyer and Sounds Times project lead, Amy Slotek, discusses her lengthy history in fighting for human rights, her time spent working with an NGO in Turkey, her passion for equal justice, the impact poverty has on a society, and the fragility of the Rule of Law. Listen to her fascinating story and what keeps her motivated on a day to day in helping those vulnerable in our society. SPONSORED MESSAGE: This episode of...

Edward Prutschi “We are the defenders of the wall” Criminal defence lawyer Edward Prutschi discusses fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a criminal defence lawyer, the evolution of practice, the controversy of Bill C-5 and compelled judicial education , and the interplay between spirituality and advocacy. A fascinating episode with a fascinating lawyer. SPONSORED MESSAGE: This episode of our podcast is brought to you by our exclusive sponsor LexisNexis Canada. Free...

Kaveh Shahrooz’ remarkable journey starts at the age of 8 with the execution of his uncle in Iran. This, along with his legal education at Harvard Law, set the scene for what propelled Kaveh into becoming a staunch advocate for the benefits of liberal democratic values and the freedom of speech and thought that underpins it all. SPONSORED MESSAGE: This episode of our podcast is brought to you by our exclusive sponsor LexisNexis Canada. Free LexisNexis content! Browse the...

Kerri Froc “The academic dialogue” After a bit of a hiatus, Of Counsel reboots in 2020 with a three-part mini series profiling the University Faculty of Law. In this episode, we interview Prof. Kerri Froc. Kerri is an accomplished academic in areas of women’s constitutional rights, equality and social and economic rights, access to justice as it intertwines with the rule of law. She discusses her time at LEAF and the positive change that can come from being active in the legal...

Nicole O’Byrne “The pillars of Canadian Society” After a bit of a hiatus, Of Counsel reboots in 2020 with a three-part mini series profiling the University Faculty of Law. In this episode, we interview UNB Prof. Nicole O’Byrne where we discusses Aboriginal law, the Indian Act, and our relations with Indigenous People in Canada and what should be considered moving forward. We also explored the present state of law schools and the challenges that students face with increasing...

Micheal Marin “The red ink is a good sign” After a bit of a hiatus, Of Counsel reboots in 2020 with a three-part mini series profiling the University Faculty of Law. In this episode, we interview UNB Associate Dean Micheal Marin. After being a high-performing law student, Micheal took on a Wall St. position in NYC. From there, Micheal clerked with Justice LeBel of the Supreme Court of Canada where he learned many valuable lessons he passes on in this podcast. Micheal now...

Steven Skurka is one of Canada’s most well known criminal defence lawyers. In this episode, he discusses the importance of preparation, courage, and willingness to think differently when advocating. In addition to invaluable tips of advocacy, Steven reminisces on the time he spent on various high profiles cases such as R. v. Brown (racial profiling of Toronto Raptor Dee Brown), R. v. Mark Phillips (marijuana induced psychosis) and his own legal struggles and redemption in the case of...

While few people think of Jonathan Kay as a lawyer, after completing an engineering degree at McGill University, Jon scored perfect on his LSAT score and was admitted to Yale Law School. His legal education placed him on Wall St. and a member of the New York bar. With the momentum of his impressive legal education and experience, Jonathan jumped into Canadian journalism where he is well known for his work with the National Post, The Walrus, and most recently Quillette magazine....

Ep.#40: Paul Le Vay “Le bon avocat aide son client. L’excellent avocat aide le juge.” Stockwoods LLP partner Paul Le Vay is one of Canada’s top litigators. His areas of practice include commercial, securities, class actions, professional liability, and professional regulation. He is also one of the strongest legal advocates for francophone rights and representation in the legal system. This episode of Of Counsel is special in two unique ways. First, it is entirely in French, and...

Leaders of the bar are not always perched in high positions on Bay Street or litigating a case at the Supreme Court of Canada. Sometimes leaders of the professions are found in law school, or as junior councillors in small town Ontario. For these leaders and influencers like Douglas Judson and Heather Donkers, the best is yet to come. In this episode of Of Counsel, we interview the present and a former president of the Law Students’ Society of Ontario. While their names may not be...

There are few in Canadian legal history who have reached the success, respect, and accomplishments in such a short period of time as Atrisha Lewis. Within 5 years of her call date in 2013, Atrisha is now among the top litigators in the country. In 2018, Atrisha was awarded the prestigious Precedent Setter Award that recognizes remarkable lawyers within their first 10 years of call. Friends and colleagues describe her as a woman who “knows what she wants” and uses her intelligence,...

One person familiar with Will and his career described him as having the “widest range of advocacy skills in all of Canada.” A partner with the elite litigation firm Lenczner Slaght in Toronto, Will’s litigation experience includes commercial disputes, public and governmental relations, libel and slander, and regulatory and criminal matters. Looking to some of his appointments by the Courts and government demonstrate the confidence the bar and judiciary has in him as an effective,...

As the former President of the Ontario Bar Association, Law Society Medalist, and an exemplary career in law, Orlando Da Silva enters 2019 well positioned as he seeks election for Bencher with the Law Society of Ontario. In this episode of Of Counsel, Orlando takes us on his remarkable path into law. A son of a welder turned to Bay St. phenom. A rising star turned to political aspirations. From depression, and then then to the brink of death when he attempted to take his own life at...

With a long and accomplished career in politics, including acting as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Peter MacKay is one of Canada’s most widely recognized lawyers. During his tenure in Ottawa, Peter was instrumental in developing and shaping the criminal justice system in Canada as we know it today. In this episode of Of Counsel, Peter fondly reflects on his times as a prosecutor in his home province Nova Scotia, his rationale for the transition into politics, the...

Emilie Taman and Micheal Spratt are a powerhouse couple in Canadian law. In addition to their remarkable accomplishments in Court, Micheal and Emilie’s influence is far reaching with their ground breaking and award winning podcast, The Docket. In 2018, Emilie was named one of Canada’s Top 25 most influential lawyers by Canadian Lawyer Magazine for her active roles in practice, her contributions as a professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, and her political involvement as a...

Carissima Mathen grew up wanting to dance on Broadway, but today, she serves as the Vice-Dean (Academic) and Full Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa Law School. Prior to her distinguished career in academics, Carissima acted as Counsel and later as Director of Litigation for the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund.  Carissima’s primary area of expertise is Canadian constitutional law. Her book, called Courts without Cases: The Law and Politics of Advisory Opinionswill be...

In the course of practicing for over 40 years, Donald Bayne has entrenched himself as one of the best criminal defence lawyers Canada has ever known. Despite this, his humility, compassion for human suffering, and pursuit of justice is as vibrant as it was when he first became a lawyer. Don’s remarkable journey in his pursuit of justice takes us from a farm on the prairies, to varsity football fields, to travelling with the KGB in the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. His...

This week, our podcast brings you Professor Lisa Kerr, from Queen’s University Faculty of Law in Kingston. Lisa’s expertise takes us into the concrete corridors and confines of prison law, and the law of sentencing in Canada. Her experience with Prisoners’ Legal Services and extensive pro bono work in this field offers us a unique and raw perspective on conditions and treatment for inmates housed in Canadian jails and penitentiaries. In addition to her extensive knowledge in prison law,...