Areas of Law
A Few Good Practice Habits: Examination for Discovery
An examination for discovery often marks the point in which you really sink your teeth into a case. The parties and opposing counsel come to a face-to-face meeting, and key evidence comes out, warts and all. Much of the exploration in an examination for discovery will uniquely depend on the specific witness and the answers… Read More »
Categories: Civil LitigationA Simple Habit To Avoid Missing Deadlines
Here at Claims Prevention & practicePRO we often talk about “baby steps”. The big idea is that taking baby steps can help make you a more effective lawyer. There isn’t necessarily One Big Thing that will magically turn you into a great lawyer. The elements of a habit are explored in Charles Duhigg’s The Power… Read More »
Categories: Biggest Claims Risks, Civil Litigation, Law Practice Management, Legal Technology, Practice Aids, Risk Management & Claims PreventionWhat kinds of PPSA claims does LAWPRO see?
What kinds of PPSA claims does LAWPRO see? Problems with registrations under personal property security legislation (such as the Ontario Personal Property Security Act (PPSA)) are common causes of claims against corporate/commercial lawyers, and indemnity costs associated with these claims can be high. Approximately ten claims involving allegations of PPSA-related mistakes are reported to LAWPRO… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateOntario dusts off the escheats rulebook – time to dust off your advice?
Most lawyers practising today remember the Ontario Escheats Act – if at all – as a terse one-page statute of limited application. However, surprise! While there’s no reason to anticipate a boom in property forfeited to the Crown, when it does happen, it will now be more complicated. This is thanks to the replacement, in… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateHow LAWPRO stood up for lawyers in 2016
The great majority of claims reported to LawPRO are either abandoned, settled, or resolved through mediation or arbitration. But if we hope to preserve reasonable and fair limits on the scope of lawyers’ responsibilities, we must occasionally go to court. Our litigation track record is proof of our sound judgment about when to go to… Read More »
Categories: Civil Litigation, LAWPRO Errors and Omissions Coverage, Limitations ClaimsReflections on Technology Changes in Real Estate Practice
Online real estate portals support client satisfaction, risk management, and profitability Facilitating transfers of real estate has been the bread-and-butter of thousands of Ontario lawyers for generations. Despite occasional market wobbles, real estate business has helped firms to flourish in communities of all sizes, often supporting the delivery of family, estates, commercial and even criminal… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, TechnologyAlways up-to-date LTT and NRST Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated Feb 9/18 To help real estate lawyers take steps to comply with the recent changes to the Land Transfer Tax and the new Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST), LAWPRO created this page to provide answers to the questions we are hearing most frequently from Ontario lawyers. Thanks to an ongoing and helpful dialogue with… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateFrequently asked questions and a CPD program on the LTT and NRST changes
LAWPRO and other stakeholders have had discussions with the Ministry of Finance on some of the questions and issues raised by the changes to the Land Transfer Tax (LTT) and the new Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST). To assist the real estate bar, we are sharing information provided to us by representatives of the Ministry of… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate