: A consensus is emerging in law schools across Canada and the US that AI has no place in teaching the core curriculum, because it impedes student learning, especially in first year. Schools are beginning to follow the University of Chicago’s lead in banning AI in first-year core courses. Some profs are also banning laptops in classrooms — taking every precaution to shield students’ developing minds from the corrosive effects of AI. Michael Plaxton, one of the leading voices in Canada thinking through the many challenges AI poses to legal education, crystallizes the argument: “The case for law schools must be . . . [more] The post The Argument for Encouraging Student Use of AI in First-Year Law appeared first on Slaw
: Several times each month, we are pleased to republish a recent book review from the Canadian Law Library Review ( CLLR ). CLLR is the official journal of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL/ACBD) , and its reviews cover both practice-oriented and academic publications related to the law. Leading in the Law with Emotional Intelligence: The Path to Becoming a Twenty-First-Century Leader. By Rob Durr & Cliff Zimmerman. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2025. 342 p. Includes index. ISBN 9781531029654 (softcover) US$49.50; ISBN 9781531029661 (eBook) US$39.60. Reviewed by Marnie Bailey Manager, Knowledge Services Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP Emotional intelligence, . . . [more] The post Book Review: Leading in the Law With Emotional Intelligence: The Path to Becoming a Twenty-First-Century Leader appeared first on Slaw
: In almost every context, first impressions are key. I would argue that, for lawyers, communicating clear expectations during that first meeting is an essential skill. It is not a skill that comes easily. I have spoken about this topic with many lawyers over the years. There seems to be a clear divide between newly-called lawyers who have a tendency to make grand promises and seasoned lawyers who temper expectations. There is no “right” or “wrong” approach here. Everyone has to figure out their own style. My own style has been to keep expectations low…. very low. I conduct on average . . . [more] The post Managing Client Expectations appeared first on Slaw
: Copyright has several rules which apply automatically. If an employee creates a work in the scope of employment, and absent an agreement to the contrary, the employer is the first owner of the copyright in the work. [1] The Ontario Court of Appeal had occasion to focus on what is meant by the words ‘in the scope of employment’ in Nexus Solutions Inc. v. Krougly , 2026 ONCA 199. At trial, the Court held that the employer, Nexus Solutions, did not establish that the software in question was created by Krougly ‘in the scope’ of employment, even though Krougly secretly . . . [more] The post Scope of Employment appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Environmental Law and Litigation 2. Canadian Combat Sports Law Blog 3. Eloise Gratton 4. Michael Geist 5. Family Health Law Blog Environmental Law and Litigation The Canadian consumer: Regional differences and buying behaviour A franchise system opens its first Canadian location in the Greater Toronto Area and . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: Is the re-examination of past decisions sapping the justice system’s capacity to hear and decide legal disputes at first instance? Our system has numerous ways to reopen past decisions and let a new set of adjudicators and advocates root around for errors: review, reconsideration, and motions to set aside or reopen as well as appeal itself. These re-examinations constitute a necessary organ, which serves essential functions in the justice system: correcting legal errors, delineating and refining legal rules, making new common law, and ensuring that administrative decision-makers do not exceed their jurisdiction. And yet these procedures have arguably been allowed . . . [more] The post Appellate Hypertrophy in the Canadian Justice System appeared first on Slaw
: The Society for Children and Youth of BC (SCYBC) recently published a series of research papers on child capacity in the context of children’s participation rights [Note 1]. The papers examine capacity generally and in four specific contexts: health care, mental health, family law, and child welfare and adoption. Why does this matter? Traditionally, we have tended to assume that a child must first demonstrate sufficient “capacity” before being permitted to meaningfully participate in decisions affecting their life. And capacity has often been assessed primarily through the lens of cognitive ability. The SCYBC reports challenge both assumptions. I found them . . . [more] The post Busting Myths About Children’s Capacity to Meaningfully Participate appeared first on Slaw
: Can a lawyer be disbarred for misconduct that is directly caused by mental illness? Until recently, my educated guess would have been no. In May and June of 2026, a Hearing Panel of the Ontario Law Society Tribunal issued an important pair of decisions that carefully and deliberately resynthesize the role and impact of mental illness in lawyer regulation. [1] These decisions set out and apply a “unified approach” to alleged misconduct by lawyers where mental illness may be a factor. [2] At first glance, this new approach seems to reject case law, including case law by the Appeal Panel . . . [more] The post The Role of Mental Illness in Lawyer Regulation (In Ontario) appeared first on Slaw
: Is this a rabbit, or is it a duck? It’s both. (You’ll see the two animals after a few seconds if you haven’t already). Known as Jastrow’s rabbit/duck, this image has been amusing people ever since it first appeared in a German newspaper in 1892). How much time and money should be spent trying to prove that Jastrow’s drawing is really a duck, or really a rabbit, or more one than the other? No time and no money at all. Our civil justice system tries to search for truth , in order to bring each lawsuit to a just resolution . . . [more] The post A Futile Search for “Truth”? Epistemically Unproductive Expenditures in Civil Lawsuits appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : La notion de «cannabis illicite» qui se trouve à l’article 2 (1) de la Loi sur le cannabis est définie d’une manière telle que, même si le cannabis inséré dans l’anus de l’appelant — qui était détenu dans un établissement de détention — avait été acquis légalement, . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Dans une affaire de voies de fait graves commises à l’endroit d’une inconnue à la sortie d’un bar, en se limitant à énoncer les conséquences indirectes de la peine et en les qualifiant de facteurs neutres, sans les analyser véritablement dans l’exercice de détermination de la peine, . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter , summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted. Appeals Bankruptcy & Insolvency: Preferential Payments R. v. Cope, 2026 SCC 32 (41431) Protecting Indigenous women victims doesn’t displace Gladue. . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Dans une affaire de voies de fait commises par un père à l’endroit de ses enfants, le juge de première instance, qui a imposé à l’accusé une peine de 90 jours d’emprisonnement à purger de manière discontinue, a commis 3 erreurs de principe; la Cour supérieure, accueillant . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : La Cour accueille en partie une requête de la poursuite en rejet d’appel, l’accusé ayant, après le dépôt de son appel, mais avant l’imposition de la peine, quitté le Canada pour se soustraire à la justice. Intitulé : Malo c. R., 2026 QCCA 1266 Juridiction : Cour . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Une peine totale de 8 ans d’emprisonnement, de laquelle est soustraite la détention provisoire, est imposée à l’auteur de fraudes amoureuses ayant causé des pertes de centaines de milliers de dollars ainsi que des risques de pertes et ayant entraîné des conséquences majeures pour les 4 femmes . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PROCÉDURE CIVILE : La Cour supérieure peut rendre une ordonnance de sauvegarde concernant 2 des 3 enfants des parties; elle ne peut le faire à l’égard du cadet, qui est né après le 29 juin 2025, puisque seul le Tribunal unifié de la famille possède cette compétence. Intitulé : Droit . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. PierreRoy & Associés 2. IFLS at Osgoode 3. Michael Geist 4. Canadian Combat Sports Law Blog 5. David Whelan PierreRoy & Associés Dépenses d’été : comment profiter de la saison sans compromettre sa santé financière L’été multiplie les occasions de dépenser. Et contrairement à la période des . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : La Cour ordonne la tenue d’un nouveau procès dans une affaire de conduite avec les facultés affaiblies et avec une alcoolémie supérieure à la limite permise ayant causé, dans les 2 cas, la mort; le juge de première instance a abordé la question de la causalité selon . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Un examen inégal des témoignages de l’appelant et de la victime d’agression sexuelle allant au-delà de la méthodologie est démontré; l’analyse de la crédibilité de l’appelant a mené à un renversement du fardeau de la preuve, et la Cour d’appel ordonne la tenue d’un nouveau procès. Intitulé . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : L’usage que faisait l’appelante de son téléphone cellulaire au moyen d’un dispositif mains libres intégré à son véhicule n’était pas un usage autorisé en raison du fait qu’elle tenait en main son appareil durant la conversation téléphonique admise. Intitulé : Rahme c. Ville de Laval, 2026 QCCA . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Dans une affaire de possession, d’accès et de distribution de pédopornographie, le juge de première instance a accordé un poids insuffisant aux caractéristiques personnelles de l’accusé, qui présente une déficience intellectuelle; il y a lieu de substituer à la peine prononcée une peine de 6 mois de . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter , summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted. Leaves to Appeal Granted Criminal Law: Post-Verdict Sentencing Delay R. v. R.B.-C., 2026 SCC 30 (41677) Clarification re post-verdict sentencing delay. . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Il y a lieu d’intervenir à l’égard de la décision ayant déclaré l’appelant coupable à la fois de l’infraction de proxénétisme prévue par l’article 286.3 C.Cr. et d’avoir obtenu les services sexuels du plaignant moyennant rétribution en vertu de l’article 286.1 C.Cr., cette décision étant erronée en . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : La Cour d’appel ordonne la tenue d’un nouveau procès dans une affaire de meurtre; à l’absence de directives restrictives relatives à la preuve de mauvaise moralité s’ajoutaient des erreurs dans les directives au jury quant aux modes de participation pouvant ou non conduire à une condamnation pour . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Après l’incident survenu à la fin du procès lors duquel 2 boîtes ont été déposées par erreur dans la salle de délibération du jury, l’enquête menée par la juge était suffisante. Intitulé : Theus c. R., 2026 QCCA 1107 Juridiction : Cour d’appel (C.A.), Montréal Décision de . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter , summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted. Appeals Elections: Irregularities Sinclair-Desgagné v. Canada (Chief Electoral Officer), 2026 SCC 31 (42076) Federal election irregularities; annulment. . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. FAILLITE ET INSOLVABILITÉ : La créancière hypothécaire est autorisée à poursuivre l’exécution du jugement ayant autorisé la vente sous contrôle de justice d’un immeuble, principal actif de la débitrice, qui a été rendu avant que celle-ci ne dépose son avis d’intention; exerçant le pouvoir discrétionnaire que lui reconnaît l’article 69.4 . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter , summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted. Appeals Criminal Law: MV Offences R. v. Moshfeghi Zadeh , 2026 SCC 35 (41996) Clarifications re serious driving offences. . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Lorsqu’on applique en l’espèce la définition usuelle du mot «importer» et que l’on retient que la cocaïne a été importée au Canada au moment où elle a franchi la frontière, la déclaration de culpabilité de l’appelant doit être confirmée. Intitulé : Donciu c. R., 2026 QCCA 1289 . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : L’omission de la juge de première instance d’aborder le critère du consentement de l’accusé à la présence de l’arme à l’intérieur du véhicule dans lequel il était passager constitue une erreur de droit; il y a lieu d’appliquer la disposition réparatrice (art. 686 (1) b) (iii) C.Cr.). . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PROCÉDURE CIVILE : Bien que le droit d’être jugé dans un délai raisonnable prévu à l’article 11 b) de la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés s’applique à une personne accusée d’outrage au tribunal en matière civile, les principes établis dans l’arrêt R. c. Jordan (C.S. Can., 2016-07-08), 2016 CSC . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter , summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted. Leaves to Appeal Granted Professions: Mandatory New Lawyer Oath His Majesty the King in Right of Alberta v. Wirring, 2025 ABCA 413 (42224) Constitutionality of new lawyer oath. . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners appeared first on Slaw
: Every week we present the summary of a decision handed down by a Québec court provided to us by SOQUIJ and considered to be of interest to our readers throughout Canada. SOQUIJ is attached to the Québec Department of Justice and collects, analyzes, enriches, and disseminates legal information in Québec. PÉNAL (DROIT) : Serge Audette est reconnu coupable de l’homicide involontaire d’une jeune femme qui a disparu 30 ans plus tôt et dont le corps n’a jamais été trouvé. Intitulé : R. c. Audette, 2026 QCCQ 2478 * Juridiction : Cour du Québec, Chambre criminelle et pénale (C.Q.), Montréal Décision . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: SOQUIJ appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Legal Feeds 2. Lash Condo Law 3. Great LEXpectations 4. Family Health Law Blog 5. ABlawg.ca Legal Feeds Canadian Legal Summit: Big ideas in the profession for 2026 The pace of AI adoption has given Canadian law firms plenty to discuss, but few definitive answers. How are . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Jumping off the Ivory Tower Podcast 2. Sunday Night Administrative Review 3. Librarian of Things 4. Law of Work 5. Blogue SOQUIJ Jumping off the Ivory Tower Podcast Can’t Buy My Silence Our final episode for this season focuses on the campaign to ban the misuse of . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Canadian occupational health & safety law 2. Employment & Human Rights Law in Canada 3. Legal Post Blog 4. Know How 5. ABlawg.ca Canadian occupational health & safety law Do you know what you don’t know? Workplace hazard disclosure and the limits of owner liability under the . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Canadian Combat Sports Law Blog 2. Legal Post Blog 3. The Cour t 4. Canadian Class Actions Monitor 5. Rule of Law Canadian Combat Sports Law Blog Study – Brain Damage in Strikers vs Grapplers A recent study conducted neuropsychological testing on a group of strikers and . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: One Sunday each month we bring you a summary from Supreme Advocacy LLP of recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers a weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter, to which you may subscribe . It’s a summary of all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted from April 18 – June 25, 2026 inclusive. Appeal Civil Litigation/Elections: Collateral Attack; Abuse of Process; Parliamentary Privilege; Immunity Resler v. Anglin , 2024 ABCA 113 ; 2026 SCC 23 (41298) Can an unsuccessful election candidate bring a civil claim against an elections officer for the tort of . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme Advocacy appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Canadian Class Actions Monitor 2. Know How 3. Canadian Appeals Monitor 4. David Whelan 5. Welcome to the Food Court Canadian Class Actions Monitor Submission to Finance Canada as part of its Pre-budget Consultations in Advance of the upcoming 2025 Fall Federal Budget There has been a . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: Now in an era in which it is uncommon to find much discussion and newly written commentary on aspects of law publishing, as distinct from artificial intelligence technology, it was a pleasant surprise to encounter New Perspectives on the Legal Treatise . The content of the book was edited by Femi Cadmus, who, at the time, was law librarian and Professor of Law at Yale Law School and Nicholas Mignanelli, Assistant Dean and Director of the Mabee Legal Information Center [ sic ] and Associate Professor of Law at the University of Tulsa College of Law. Its contributions are based . . . [more] The post New Perspectives on the Legal Treatise appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Legal Feeds 2. The Trauma-Informed Lawyer 3. Michael Geist 4. Double Aspect 5. Timely Disclosure Legal Feeds SCC affirms 7-2 that methods of medical treatment cannot be patented in Canada Methods of medical treatment cannot be patented under Canadian law, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: This is the sixth article in my series on RECLAIM, a cultural operating system for law firms built on how human beings are actually wired. Having covered Respect , Equity, Clarity , Learning , and Autonomy , I turn this month to the I: Inclusion. A few years ago, I coached an associate in the real estate group of a large firm. She could have written a recruiting brochure for her team without exaggerating a word. The group did the biggest deals in the city, and they knew it. They were proud of the work, and prouder of how they . . . [more] The post RECLAIM: I Is for Inclusion appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. BC Estate Litigation Blog 2. Administrative Law Matters 3. Equilawbrium 4. Civil Resolution Tribunal blog 5. Labour Pains BC Estate Litigation Blog What I’m Reading: Interesting Estate Articles for May 2026 The following is a round-up of noteworthy articles published this month on estate litigation issues: Eric . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Double Aspect 2. Civil Resolution Tribunal blog 3. David Whelan 4. Know How 5. The Court Double Aspect How Power Corrupts VI In years past, I had an occasional series of posts going to address the various meanings and implications of “Lord Acton’s Dictum” — power tends . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that outsourcing your cognitive processes to AI — whether by letting it do your writing or thinking or analyzing for you — is a bad idea. Partly, of course, this is because the AI might do a poor job of it, leaving you on the hook for badly reasoned arguments or banally worded text. In the bigger picture, though, the worry is that by delegating your thought processes to a machine, your own cognitive muscles will atrophy, and you’ll be less able to apply acute reasoning when you don’t have the AI to rely . . . [more] The post Holding Serve With AI appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Hull & Hull Blog 2. Great LEXpectations 3. Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog 4. Double Aspect 5. The Every Lawyer Hull & Hull Blog Knowing the Limits: Section 3 Counsel and the Lesson of Groves v. Groves Guardianship litigation asks the court to do something profound: to decide . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: I recently watched a movie, and one of the characters, who was bullied, made a very poignant statement. She said: “If the person who bullied me decided not to be mean, his life would not have changed... however, my life would have been profoundly different.” It struck me, that those who are unkind, would not lose anything by being kind. In fact, many benefits are derived from showing kindness to others. However, as we all know, the person who is on the receiving end of the bullying or unkindness, is affected in ways that reverberate for years, and at times, . . . [more] The post The Wellness Lawyer: “Kindness” appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. ABlawg.ca 2. Crossroad Family Law Blog 3. The Court 4. Hull & Hull Blog 5. Risk Management & Crisis Response ABlawg.ca Intimate Image Abuse in the Age of Deepfakes: Reforming Alberta’s Civil Legislation: Part 1 One in ten American teenagers personally knows someone who has had deepfake . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: One Sunday each month we bring you a summary from Supreme Advocacy LLP of recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers a weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter, to which you may subscribe . It’s a summary of all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted from June 26 – August 31, 2026 inclusive. Appeal Civil Litigation: Spoliation of Evidence SS&C Technologies Canada Corp. v. Bank of New York Mellon Corp , 2024 ONCA 675 ; 2026 SCC 29 (41543) July 31, 2026 Spoliation is the intentional destruction, alteration, mutilation, or concealment of evidence . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme Advocacy appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Great LEXpectations 2. Canadian Class Actions Monitor 3. Robichaud’s Criminal Law Blog 4. Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog 5. Precedent: The New Rules of Law and Style Great LEXpectations New King’s Bench Practice Direction Where an individual seeks a variation of an order for release issued by the . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. Canadian Combat Sports Law Blog 2. PierreRoy & Associés 3. Canadian occupational health & safety law 4. Legal Feeds 5. ABlawg.ca Canadian Combat Sports Law Blog Study – Brain Damage in Strikers vs Grapplers A recent study conducted neuropsychological testing on a group of strikers and grapplers. . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: This is the final article in my series on RECLAIM , a cultural operating system for law firms. Having worked through Respect, Equity, Clarity, Learning, Autonomy and Inclusion, I finish with M for Meaning. You can find the full list of articles here . I began this series in January 2026, in response to what I was reading about culture, and to hearing about law firms exploring culture at long last as an important part of their operations. In strategic planning work with Carina Bittel, we have come to understand the relationship of culture to legal business this way: Strategy . . . [more] The post RECLAIM: M Is for Meaning appeared first on Slaw
: Last week, the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC) released its updated Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Canadian Courts. Credit is due to the CJC for its ongoing thoughtful engagement on this important topic. Similarly, several Quebec courts released their own guidelines on judicial AI use last month. This column looks at one feature that both sets of guidelines have in common: guidance for judges on using AI tools to summarize material filed with the court, including evidence and submissions. This is far from the only aspect of the CJC and Quebec guidelines worthy of discussion, but it is . . . [more] The post Summarize This? appeared first on Slaw
: Each Monday we present brief excerpts of recent posts from five of Canada’s award-winning legal blogs chosen at random* from more than 80 recent Clawbie winners. In this way we hope to promote their work, with their permission, to as wide an audience as possible. This week the randomly selected blogs are 1. The Court 2. Canadian Securities Law 3. Precedent: The New Rules of Law and Style 4. Robeside Assistance 5. Michael Geist The Court Delete at Your Own Risk: Spoliation in SS&C Technologies v BNY Mellon Destroying evidence should never leave a party better off. In SS&C Technologies . . . [more] The post Monday’s Mix appeared first on Slaw
: As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter , summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted. Appeals Criminal Law: Admissibility/Use Re Complainant Sexual Activity R. v. A.M, 2026 SCC 33 (41528) s. 276 screening regime not automatically apply re sexual services/trafficking. Leaves to Appeal Granted Aboriginal Law: Title British Columbia v. Nuchatlaht , 2026 BCCA 137 (42379) Aboriginal title to . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners appeared first on Slaw
: As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter , summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted. Appeals Torts: Causation; Medmal Hemmings v. Padmore , 2026 SCC 34 (41350) Factual causation analysis & remoteness analysis. Leaves to Appeal Granted Aboriginal Law: Status Bocchini Estate v. Canada (Attorney General) , 2026 ONCA 55 (42278) Indian status issues. Civil Litigation: Covid Litigation; Emergencies . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners appeared first on Slaw
: Once a patent is granted, it can be asserted in litigation against an alleged infringer. One of the remedies that can be obtained is “reasonable compensation” for pre-grant infringement pursuant to section 55(2) of the Patent Act . While relief is often sought and granted for pre-grant infringement, the remedy has some subtleties, including those arising from changing practices at the Canadian Patent Office. Section 55(2) of the Patent Act states the following: 55(2) A person is liable to pay reasonable compensation to a patentee and to all persons claiming under the patentee for any damage sustained by the patentee . . . [more] The post Patent Publication Dates appeared first on Slaw
: Queen’s University Library has added a new chapter on “ An Introduction to Researching Indigenous Legal Orders ” to their Canadian Legal Research Manual . The introduction to the chapter notes that it “provides a very brief introduction to researching Indigenous legal orders. It is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather a starting point primarily intended for non-Indigenous law students researching in an academic setting.” It includes an overview of the terminology, an overview of sources of Indigenous law, a discussion of ethical considerations and limitations of resources, as well as a list of further reading. Suggested resources include . . . [more] The post Tips Tuesday: Researching Indigenous Legal Orders appeared first on Slaw
: Two columns ago, I followed the money through a law firm’s student recruitment program and found nearly $500,000 a year in lawyer time and expenses before a single billable hour was worked. Last column, I followed that same money into the delegation of actual work and found that firms were quietly losing much of it back through vague instructions, overworked memos, and write-downs nobody quite wants to talk about. This column follows that same money to where it gets spent – on the reps junior lawyers used to log before anyone trusted them with something that mattered. Those reps are . . . [more] The post The Hidden Economics of the Vanishing Apprenticeship appeared first on Slaw
: As a supplement to our Sunday Summary each month, Supreme Advocacy LLP in Ottawa presents Supreme One-Liners, a super-short descriptive guide to the most recent decisions at the Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Advocacy LLP offers its more comprehensive weekly electronic newsletter, Supreme Advocacy Letter , summarizing all Appeals, Oral Judgments and Leaves to Appeal granted. Appeals Constitutional Law/Courts: Review of Delegated Powers Democracy Watch v. Canada (Attorney General), 2026 SCC 28 (41576) Clarifications re courts’ jurisdiction as to legality of delegated power exercise. Civil Litigation: Spoliation of Evidence SS&C Technologies Canada Corp. v. Bank of New York Mellon Corp . . . [more] The post Summaries Sunday: Supreme One-Liners appeared first on Slaw
: Ask ten partners in the same firm to describe their approach to client service and you will likely hear ten different answers. One partner will insist on quarterly check-ins. Another prefers to let the client reach out when they need something. One responds to every email within the hour, while another believes that as long as the work is delivered on time, the client will be happy. Some actively introduce colleagues from other practice areas. Others rarely do. None of these approaches are necessarily wrong. But when they all exist within the same firm, they create a challenge. The result . . . [more] The post When Every Partner Delivers a Different Client Experience appeared first on Slaw
: Most of the common reasons for declining mediation are well known. These include concerns that it may be premature, that additional information is required, or that the opposing party is unreasonable. Other justifications include the belief that the law is clear, the case is strong, and mediation would only increase costs. Some of these concerns are legitimate. Not every dispute is suitable for mediation, and even appropriate cases may not be ready for mediation at a particular stage. Ontario has now had mandatory mediation in parts of the province for more than twenty-five years. The program began in Toronto and . . . [more] The post Reconsidering Common Objections to Mediation appeared first on Slaw
: Every now and again, a mainstream occurrence helps inform the general public about the world of dispute resolution. Often through the world of sports. Mediation has resolved a hockey lockout . Arbitration has resolved salary disputes between player and team. This summer, we encountered another one. A trade that would return Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors has been delayed pending the outcome of an investigation surrounding an alleged salary cap circumvention. Fans frustrated by the delay have wondered why the ongoing investigation cannot be sped up. Some media have speculated that this was possible, though at the time of . . . [more] The post You Can’t Hurry Judge appeared first on Slaw
: Through my own journey with chronic pain, I am acutely aware of the impact language can have on your health. More specifically, I recognize the role catastrophizing plays in magnifying pain and that simple word substitutions can facilitate healing. It has also triggered a recognition that the language I use with clients may also negatively contribute to their anxiety. Catastrophizing involves exaggerating the severity of a situation and jumping to the worst possible conclusion. As noted in the recent Psychology Today article, “Catastrophizing”: Everyone has negative thoughts. But for many people, negative thinking can spin out of control and be . . . [more] The post The Dangers of Catastrophizing in Client Communications appeared first on Slaw