CONVOCATION LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA JUNE 21, Justice Paul Rouleau, Treasurer, Benchers, distinguished guests, those

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1 CONVOCATION LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA JUNE 21, 2013 Justice Paul Rouleau, Treasurer, Benchers, distinguished guests, those about to become the newest members of the Law Society, ladies and gentlemen. Je suis très reconnaissant au Barreau du Haut-Canada de m avoir accordé cet honneur singulier. Comme vous l avez entendu, j ai servi deux mandats comme membre du Conseil, et j étais un participant actif dans les affaires du Barreau pendant plusieurs années. Je suis bien conscient du rôle important que joue le Barreau dans l autogouvernance de la profession juridique. C est un honneur exceptionnel d être reconnu de cette manière par l organisme qui gouverne notre profession. I want to offer my congratulations to those who are being called to the Bar today. This is a day for each of you to recognize your enormous accomplishment in being admitted to the legal profession. You have, most of you at a relatively young age, achieved a great deal and you should take time to reflect on your achievements; time to give yourself credit for the

2 -2- hard work, the dedication and the perseverance that were necessary to bring you this far. You should be justifiably proud of your success. This is also a day to recognize the significant role of family members and friends who have played in your achievements. Congratulations family and friends. You have encouraged and supported the new lawyers over many years and through each stage of their development. No doubt, you have taken great joy as you have seen them mature and progress through university and law school. Getting here today has been very much a shared accomplishment. Today marks the beginning of many new legal careers, careers with unlimited and very exciting possibilities. Let me extend a very warm welcome to all of you to a wonderful profession. You are becoming a member of the profession that plays a very important role in Canadian society. I have always been very proud to be a member of the legal profession. A strong and independent legal profession is essential to protection of the rule of law which is the very core of a free and open democracy. In a country like Canada, we need lawyers who are knowledgeable in the law,

3 -3- who are skilled in applying the law to actual problems and situations and who are courageous in the pursuit of fairness, justice and the protection of their clients interests. It is important to have a legal profession that is dedicated to acting for clients with all manner of legal problems, some large, some small, problems that can arise from virtually every type of activity or relationship in society. Whatever the nature of the legal problem, it is essential that the lawyers who provide assistance be committed to serving the client s interests in a competent, professional and honourable way. So to the newest members of the Law Society, I extend a very warm welcome to a legal profession that is healthy, that is strong, and that embodies the best ideals of professionalism. Let me make three suggestions about the practice of law. First, reputation is paramount. It is important to build and maintain a good reputation with one s clients, other lawyers and the community generally. Success as a member of the legal profession is measured by more than financial success

4 -4- or partnership in a law firm. More important, is the reputation that one builds for excellence in providing services, for integrity, for generosity of spirit and for decency and fairness when dealing with others. The reputation enjoyed among peers and the public one serves is for most members of the legal profession, their most treasured possession. Reputations are earned not conferred. All of those with whom you deal will, over time, recognize true value. At the end of the day, the kind of person that you become will be a more significant measure of success than many of the more superficially obvious achievements. My second suggestion is to become involved in activities that benefit the public interest. Successful lawyers recognize the importance of giving back to the community through public service. The opportunities for lawyers to make public service contributions are endless, ranging from volunteer work in non-profit or charitable organizations, involvement in professional associations, to teaching, politics, writing or giving financially, even in small amounts, to worthwhile causes you believe in. The legal profession in Canada has a strong tradition of serving our communities and being committed to the public interest. It is hard to

5 -5- imagine what a different and poorer society and country we would have if members of the legal profession had not provided leadership and made contributions to public interest activities over the years. So to the new members of our profession, I say whatever course your career may follow, start looking early for opportunities to become involved in public service activities and continue to be involved throughout your career. Economic pressure should not be allowed to reduce your appetite for generosity and your commitment to public service. You will find that your life will be enriched by contributing in this way. Public service often renews a flagging spirit work down by the day-to-day grind of work. Let me give two examples of ways in which lawyers in Ontario today contribute their time and expertise in promoting the public interest and benefitting the administration of justice. The first is through Pro Bono Law Ontario. Lawyers have always done pro bono work. That is providing free legal services to those who can t afford to pay. It is enormously important that the legal profession help through voluntary activities with the problems we face today with access to justice.

6 -6- The sad fact is that many people cannot afford to pay a lawyer to help with very real legal problems. Pro Bono Law Ontario was formed to expand the reach and impact of traditional pro bono services by organizing and coordinating the pro bono activities of the private bar. PBLO makes it easier for low income Ontarians to find legal help and for lawyers to volunteer their time. In 2012, PBLO served approximately 14,000 clients. It provides lawyers who assist people in Small Claims Courts, the Superior Court and the Court of Appeal. In 2012, over a thousand lawyers in private practice donated time to the PBLO programs. PBLO and other organizations like it are wholly dependent on the profession to provide legal services on a volunteer basis. Through PBLO, lawyers and the profession, give back to the community in an important and meaningful way. I encourage you to look for opportunities to participate. The second example of the way lawyers today contribute to the public interest is through the Ontario Judicial Education Network OJEN. Public education about the legal system is very important. It raises the public s

7 -7- understanding of the system. The more the public understands the system, the more respect and confidence they are likely to have in it. In 2002 under the leadership of then Chief Justice McMurtry, the judiciary and the legal profession instituted the Ontario Judicial Education Network. This is a wonderful success story. It is something about which we can all be proud. OJEN is a network of organizations devoted to promoting understanding, education and discussion about the justice system. It is primarily directed at young people. Far too often, the only contact that young people have with the justice system is negative. Since its inception, OJEN programs have connected with an estimated 1,000,000 young people. Last year alone, nearly 200,000 youths in Ontario had a positive experience with the justice system through OJEN programs. OJEN now has 15 full-time employees and programs are delivered with the assistance of over 3,000 volunteers from the legal community. Perhaps OJEN s best known programs are its school-based programs. Last year, over 70,000 students visited Ontario courtrooms as part of the Courtrooms and Classroom Program. Judges and lawyers host these

8 -8- visits. Twenty-five hundred students in 12 communities attended a law symposium and 6,000 high school students participated in the Trial Advocacy Moot court Program. So, OJEN is a very good news story about how those directly involved in the legal system are interacting in a very positive and helpful way with their communities. My third observation is that it is important for lawyers to lead a balanced life. As rewarding as the practice of law may be, there is more to life. Whatever other interests you have literature, theatre, sports, the arts, family must be allowed to flourish as they are essential to becoming a well-rounded and complete individual. Remember, you cannot serve your clients unless you take care of yourself too. When you think about a balanced life, it is helpful to look for good role models. There are many many people who provide outstanding examples, both in the way they pursue their career and profession and the values and approach that they bring to their lives more generally. Look around and you will have no difficulty finding those whose style, whose choices and whose values are what you admire and respect. See what it is about them,

9 -9- about the way they do things, that makes them so successful. Make an effort to get to know them, don t be shy. Generally, the types of people whom we admire are very approachable and are pleased to help younger and newer members of the profession. One of the great advantages of being a member of a profession is the collegiality that exists within the profession. So all of us here today wish the newly called members of the Bar the very best. Congratulations on achieving your new status. As you embark upon the next stage of your life, make a commitment to adhere to your values and your ideals and if you do, you will be a better person for it and our country will be a better place for that. Thank you.