Resources Database

The Professionalism Resources database contains materials that have been donated by prominent law firms and legal organizations. The materials often contain the logo or name of the law firm or organization that donated them. We would ask that you give credit, where appropriate, and do not remove the logos.

There are a variety of materials (including papers, presentations, slides, articles, commentaries, videos/webcasts or audio recordings, fact scenarios, and discussion questions) available. We anticipate that these materials could be used for self-study, personal research, discussion groups, or as a resource for building professionalism programs and activities to meet CPD requirements. For ease of reference, materials have been organized by category.

Please note that we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the materials listed. Additionally, please note that while many of the materials were part of professionalism programs approved by the Law Society of Upper Canada for CPD credit, use of these materials does not guarantee eligibility for CPD professionalism credits. Users of the materials are responsible for seeking  approval from their respective law society.

If you have any other questions or would like to contribute materials to the database, please feel free to contact the Centre for the Legal Profession.

Materials are provided for your personal information or use, and should not be seen as legal advice. Using any or all of the materials will not make you a client of the firm that has provided them, and you will not be considered a client of any firm until it has agreed to act for you in accordance with its usual policies for accepting clients.

                                                                                                                                                                                     

Ethics and Professionalism – General Materials

  • CPD Professionalism Case Studies for Study Groups (Fact Scenarios)
  • 8 Minute Updates: Professionalism (Presentation Materials, Webcast)
  • Ethical Dilemmas: Improper Payments to Foreign Officials (Fact Scenarios)
  • Elements of Professionalism (Article)
  • Rules of Professional Conduct – Law Society of Upper Canada (Link)
  • CJO Advisory Committee on Professionalism Colloquia Resources
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Introduction (Webcast)
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 1: Reputation and the Culture of Integrity (Webcast)
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 2: Aggression and Sharp Practice (Webcast)
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 3: Privileged Documents (Webcast)
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 4(a): Challenging Lawyer-Client Relationships (Webcast)
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 4(b): Challenging Lawyer-Client Relationships (Webcast)
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 5: Mentorship (Webcast)
  • CJO Symposium on Lifelong Learning in Professionalism: What is “lifelong learning” and why is it needed? (Summary Report, Webcast)
  • CJO Symposium on Lifelong Learning in Professionalism: What are the different approaches to “lifelong learning”? What can we learn from other jurisdictions? (Summary Report, Webcast)
  • CJO Symposium on Lifelong Learning in Professionalism: What is the role of the stakeholders? (Summary Report, Webcast)
  • CJO Symposium on Lifelong Learning in Professionalism: Looking Back and Looking Forward on Learning in Professionalism (Summary Report, Webcast)
  • If Lifelong Learning is the Solution, What is the Problem?: A Perspective from South of the Border (Article)
  • Program on Professionalism: The Fundamental Norms That Guide Us to be Good Professionals (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: Can Professionalism and Zealous Advocacy Co-exist? (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: Ethical Lawyering in Law Schools (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: Communicating with the Court: the Good, the Bad & the Unethical (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: Why Should Busy Law Students and Lawyers Engage in Public Service? (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: Unique Professional Challenges for In-house Counsel (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: New Directions? The LSUC’s Articling Task Force Report (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: Perspectives from the Bench – Self-represented Litigants 
in the Provincial Offences Court (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: A unique approach to access to justice – a case study of R. v. Lindberg (Webcast)
  • Enhancing Access to the Courts for People with Disabilities (Webcast)
  • Ontario Civil Legal Needs Project: Listening to Ontarians (Report)
  • Ontario Civil Legal Needs Project: The Geography of Civil Legal Services in Ontario (Report)

 Practice Management

  • Developing and Maintaining a Client Base as a Civil Litigator (Webcast)
  • Strategic Advocacy and File Management for Civil Litigators (Webcast)
  • Fee Structure Arrangements for Employment Lawyers (Webcast)
  • Identifying and Managing High Risk Cases in Criminal and Family Law (Webcast)
  • Professional Responsibility and Ethical Considerations in the Resolution of Disputes (Presentation Materials)
  • Risky Business – Risk Management (third part of Presentation Materials)
  • Delegating Well: An Essential Guide to Stop Sweating the Small Stuff (Article)
  • Essentials of Process and Legal Project Management (Presentation Materials)
  • Office Management Issues Facing Today’s Firm (Webcast)
  • Litigation Practice Management (Program Outline)
  • Succession Planning: 10 Tips on Succession and Other Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Practicing Law (Article)

 Client Identification and Communication

  • Managing Client Expectations and Communications in Family Law (Webcast)
  • Client Communications in Employment Law (Webcast)
  • Strategies for Managing the Difficult Litigation Client (Webcast)
  • Know Your Client (Presentation Materials Part 1Part 2)
  • Confidentiality and Privilege (Presentation Materials)
  • Marketing, Ethical Business, and Client Relationship Development (Article)
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 4(a): Challenging Lawyer-Client Relationships (Webcast)
  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 4(b): Challenging Lawyer-Client Relationships (Webcast)

 Conflicts of Interest

 Maintaining Physical and Emotional Health

  • Work/Life Balance – Myth or Reality? (Webcast)
  • Law, A Profession Not a Life (Article)

 Mentorship

  • In Conversation: Ethics and Professionalism – Part 5: Mentorship (Webcast)

 In-House Counsel and Professionalism

 Social Media/Emerging Technology and Professionalism

 Administrative Law and Professionalism

 Corporate Law and Professionalism

 Competition Law and Professionalism

 Criminal Law and Professionalism

 Employment/Labour Law and Professionalism

 Family Law and Professionalism

 Immigration Law and Professionalism

  • Ethical Red Flags in Immigration and Refugee Law (Webcast)

 Litigation and Professionalism

  • Developing and Maintaining a Client Base as a Civil Litigator (Webcast)
  • Strategic Advocacy and File Management for Civil Litigators (Webcast)
  • The Civil Litigators’ Guide to Protecting Against Law Society Complaints and Negligence Lawsuits (Webcast)
  • Conflicts of Interest in Your Civil Litigation Practice (Webcast)
  • Strategies for Managing the Difficult Litigation Client (Webcast)
  • Commute to Court Series: Judicial Pre-trials, Crown Pre-trials and Confidentiality (Webcast)
  • Commute to Court Series: Future Harm and Confidentiality (Webcast)
  • Commute to Court Series: The Ethical Limitations of Cross-Examination (Webcast)
  • Commute to Court Series: Dealing with Criminal Records – When You Know Too Much (Webcast)
  • Commute to Court Series: Getting Off the Record (Webcast)
  • Commute to Court Series: Interviewing Clients and Preparing Witnesses (Webcast)
  • Commute to Court Series: Client Perjury – Before and After (Webcast)
  • Professional Responsibility and Ethical Considerations in the Resolution of Disputes (Presentation Materials)
  • Civility: 10 Litigators to Watch Out For (Article)
  • Responding Effectively to Judges in Court (Article)
  • Preparing Yourself for Discovery (Article)
  • How to Introduce Evidence at Trial (Article)
  • The Law of Litigation Privilege: The Supreme Court of Canada’s Ruling in Minister of Justice v. Blank and Beyond (Article)
  • Keys to Successful Oral Advocacy: One View from the Bar (Article)
  • Confidentiality and Privilege (Presentation Materials)
  • Principles of Professionalism for Advocates (Principles)
  • Criticizing the Court: The Limits (Presentation Materials)
  • Litigation Practice Management (Program Outline)
  • Ethical Issues in Documentary and Oral Discovery (Presentation Materials)
  • Civil Litigation – The Allegation (Fact ScenarioGuideSample Discussion Questions)
  • Program on Professionalism: Can Professionalism and Zealous Advocacy Co-exist? (Webcast)
  • Program on Professionalism: Communicating with the Court: the Good, the Bad & the Unethical (Webcast)
  • Ethics and E-Discovery (Presentation Materials)

 Real Estate Law and Professionalism

 Tax Law and Professionalism

 Trusts/Estates and Professionalism