Why You Need Practice Directions in Your Life

BY RACHEL SPENCE, LAW CLERK

When I first embarked upon my journey in legal assisting, I thought memorizing the Rules of Civil Procedure, Small Claims Court and Family Court was going to be the key to my existence. I wasn't completely wrong, but little did I know what the Practice Directions beheld, or how heavily I would rely upon them to direct me when the Rules didn't tell me enough. 

Why are Practice Directions so great? They provide an overview of the rather inconsistent ins and outs that Courts in different jurisdictions require to say, schedule a long versus short motion, summary judgment motion or confirm a date etc. 

Current Toronto practice directions online include:

• Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction (Province-wide)
• Consolidated Divisional Court Practice Direction (Province-wide)
• Practice Direction Regarding Applications under s. 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Province-wide)
• Consolidated Practice Direction for Civil Actions, Applications, Motions and Procedural Matters in the Toronto Region (Regional)
• Consolidated Practice Direction Concerning the Commercial List (Regional)
• Consolidated Practice Direction Concerning the Estates List in the Toronto Region (Regional)
• Consolidated Practice Direction Concerning Family Cases in the Toronto Region (Regional)
• Practice Advisory Concerning Family Long Motions in the Toronto Region (Regional)

Other online notices and guides include:

• The Guide Concerning Best Practices for Civil Actions, Applications and Motions in the Toronto Region (Regional)
• The Guide Concerning Commercial List E-Service (Regional)
• The Guide Concerning e-Delivery of Documents in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Regional)
  • Video Series re preparing materials in accordance with the Guide Concerning e-Delivery of Documents in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
• Practice Advisory – Application for Judicial Authorization of Physician Assisted Death (Province-wide)
• Publication Ban Requests in the Superior Court of Justice (Province-wide)
• Recommended Instructions to Self-represented Accused Before Pre-trial Conferences  – These instructions provide information on the pre-trial conference to self-represented accused persons. (Province-wide)
• Superior Court of Justice Video Conferencing Pilot ProjectThe Superior Court of Justice video conferencing pilot project launched July 28, 2015 in eight locations:  Toronto, Ottawa, Belleville, Oshawa, Newmarket, Sudbury, Timmins and Cochrane.

There are many additional practice directions available for each of the province's judicial regions.

This type of information can be a life-saver if you primarily do work in Toronto and have an urgent motion to bring somewhere else, or if you're asked to do something you've never done before.

So, when in doubt, as a first step check for a practice direction that sets you on the right path. 

- Rachel Spence, Law Clerk

Visit our Toronto Law Office website: www.wiselaw.net

On Change, Planning and Professional Practice

Death, taxes and change.

Reputedly, these are among life’s inevitabilities. And while there is probably very little we can do about death and taxes, change is something we truly can manage.

A central theme of many of my Practice Tips posts has been the importance of planning for law firms and other professional practices. By occasionally stepping back from the demands of our day-to-day dealings and deadlines, we can gain the benefit of a longer view, think about objectives, and develop strategies and routines to meet our short and longer term goals.

There will be many changes along the way, from the day we first hang a shingle, through to the maturity phase of our practices, and the ultimate decision that may come sooner – or later – than we think to wind down, transition to retirement, plan for succession or otherwise expand or contract our professional horizons.

Throughout our careers, there will probably be more than a few office addresses, important collaborators or partners, key clients, irreplaceable staff members, and memorable cases and projects There will also be revolutions in technology, drastic changes to the substantive law, regular shifts in the economy and continuing evolution of our marketplace and our regulatory environment.

Not to mention, a few curveballs.

Things don’t generally remain static in professional practice. Opportunities, setbacks and new challenges will virtually always come our way.

There will be lessons learned and pages turned, if you will.

It would be naive to believe all of these changes can be planned for. Some changes will be thrown upon us, unexpected, sudden and even unwelcome. That’s life, I suppose.

Nonetheless, much of this inevitable change can be managed and directed, if not wholly controlled. And our professional paths and our career successes may well be defined by how we navigate these changes.

Obviously, the future can’t be fully predicted or controlled, but with careful planning, a professional practice can definitely be guided in the right direction more often than not.

Begin by identifying objectives, challenges and issues. Get input from others. Be concrete about goals. Break objectives down into their components and target small, readily achievable milestones. Speak regularly with your partners, associates, staff, accountants, life partners, practice management experts and any other trusted sounding boards. Make lists, check them twice. Always leave space in your calendar to regularly assess where you are and work on your practice and professional goals.

The topics of discussion will likely change through the phases and life cycle of every practice, but once established, the habit and art of planning can be a major contributor to handling change and moving our career arcs forward.

Inevitably.


(Cross Posted at Slaw Tips)

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

Visit our Toronto Law Office website: www.wiselaw.net