8:00 am – 8:45 am
Registration and Breakfast
8:45 am – 9:00 am Welcome & NALP Update
9:00 am – 10:15 am Law Society of Upper Canada Report on the Pathways Pilot Project and Ryerson U. Report on the LPP
Diana Miles will provide an update on the status of all components of the Pathways Pilot Project, provide insight into ongoing and next steps and be available to answer your questions.
Gina Alexandris will provide an update on the new Ryerson Law Practice Program and will be available to answer your questions.
10:15 am – 11:00 am Work Group Updates
Canadian Directory of Legal Employers Work Group
Diversity Work Group
Summer & Articling Recruitment Work Group
OCI Advisory Group
National Recruitment Survey Work Group
11:00 am – 11:15 am Break
11:15 am – 12:15 pm An Overview of the Canadian Bar Association’s Legal Futures Initiative
Gary Luftspring will discuss the Initiative’s work in regard to the education and training of tomorrow’s lawyers, and how the Initiative’s suggested reforms will help lawyers deliver legal services in way which better resonate with clients and respond to their expectations. More specifically, Gary will speak to:
Gary Luftspring, Steering Committee Member, CBA Legal Futures Initiative and partner, Rickets, Harris LLP
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Well Aware: Law Firm & Law School Wellness Programs
With growing attention to personal health, fitness, nutrition and stress management, wellness programs are playing an increasingly important role in both the corporate workplace and law schools. The legal environment is particularly ripe for stress-related illnesses, absences, poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, and mental health issues. This session will highlight successful law firm and law school wellness programs and the benefits of wellness programs even beyond improved health, including benefits for recruiting, retention, and group morale. The recently launched Just Balance mental health and wellness website developed for Ontario law students will also be discussed,and the session will conclude with questions from the audience and sharing of best practices.
3:30 pm – 3:45 pm Break
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm Recruitment Debrief (Optional)
The Recruitment Debrief discussion this year will be optional for conference attendees.
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Reception
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP Scotia Plaza 40 King Street W., Suite 2100 Toronto, ON
SPEAKER BIOS
Gina Alexandris is the Senior Program Director for the new Ryerson Law Practice Program. She is an experienced lawyer and adult educator. She previously developed and directed the Internationally Trained Lawyers Program at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and spent more than 12 years with Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, first as director of career services, followed by nine years as the assistant dean of student services. Most recently, Gina was the director, strategic planning and knowledge management for the Legal Services Division of the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario. Prior to these roles, Gina articled and practised civil litigation and family law with Sotos, Karvanis. With an interest in higher and adult education, Gina completed her Master of Education at OISE, UofT in 2012.
Mark H. Goldberg is the Global Wellness Manager at Latham & Watkins, overseeing strategy and implementation across the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia for LiveWell Latham, the firm’s global health and well-being program. With over 14 years’ experience as a lawyer, communicator and wellness professional in the multinational legal sector, Mark has received communications industry honors for wellness and benefits campaigns, employee relations, internal communications, multimedia campaigns, and external publications. He is also an accomplished presenter and public speaker, having placed third in the semi-finals at the 2013 World Championship of Public Speaking.
Gary Luftspring, a partner at Ricketts, Harris LLP in Toronto, has been named by Lexpert as a litigator who is “consistently recommended.” Mr. Luftspring is regarded as one of Toronto’s leading litigators dealing with the breakdown of business relationships. He also writes and speaks on corporate insurance issues, and is an authority on officers’ and directors’ liability insurance. He has appeared as an expert witness in US Federal Court on Canadian procedural and jurisdictional issues, and chaired the annual Canadian conference on Directors and Officers Liability. Mr. Luftspring has acted as lead counsel in high-stakes cases at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal of Ontario. He has taught trial advocacy and negotiation for the Law Society of Upper Canada Bar Admission Course, and has taught at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Diana Miles is the Executive Director, Organizational Strategy/Professional Development and Competence at The Law Society of Upper Canada. As Executive Director, Diana is responsible for stratetgic and operational planning across the Law Society. In addition, Diana is involved in the policy department and operational implementation of matters relating to the maintenance and enhancement of lawyer and paralegal competence in both pre- and post-licensing. Prior to joining the Law Society, she held various executive leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer of a large law firm. Before entering business, Diana practised law as a commercial and civil litigator. She was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1990.