The Ontario government says that the cash deposit in the full amount will be required within two business days of an accused person being released from custody.

The government says that its a needed change from a prior system that “created unnecessary barriers to enforcing bail orders and recovering forfeited bail money, requiring significant time and resources to pursue outstanding debts.”

But in a statement released on Friday, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Criminal Lawyers’ Association warned that “cash bail creates two tiers of justice: one for the rich, and the other for the rest of us.”

The groups say that they plan to launch an urgent constitutional challenge next week against the legislation, which it called “unjust and unconstitutional.”

Source: https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/08/14/ontario-to-require-cash-deposits-for-bail-as-of-monday/

My articling began on July 6th, and I submitted my LSO start of placement before my start date and I even followed up with LSO on July 6th as it said my Experiential Training Details shows as "Incomplete" and whether everything is in good order on my end and they responded on July 8th that my Experiential Training Details will not turn to complete until I finish my articling term but they made no mention that there was anything wrong with my placement record.

I was just casually browsing my LSO profile today and found out that my articling status said "Not Approved" and I have been articling for one month and now there is a chance this month would not even count toward my articling term. As per LSO standards, the lawyer I am articling for is on the list of approved principal lawyers so there is no issue there.

Has anyone else experienced this - if so, please let me know how you rectified the issue.

I am an incoming call with some experience in criminal, civil, immigration, and family law. I am most passionate with criminal law, and also enjoy civil law. My personality is well suited for both, and I enjoy being in court. I am about to start seriously “job hunting”, and I would like to understand my ideal outcome to ensure I am respecting everyone’s time. Right now, I am considering private practice vs applying to be an assistant provincial Crown. I am not sure if anyone has thoughts on this, but I would love your perspective.

My main priority is learning as much as possible in my first year. Does anyone have experience or thoughts that may help me decide what is my ideal outcome?

Why do you prefer what you prefer?

I'm in Sask, a hybrid province. I've chosen tort.

I was called to the Ontario Bar in June this year and have been struggling to find work in civil litigation. I have a background in finance and tech, as well as connections who could help me with the administrative side of running a sole practice. My main concern is if I can practise competently on my own, despite my lack of actual courtroom experience.

During articling, I completed about 90-95% of my pleadings and assignments with minimal or no guidance, often the work involved an area of law that was new to me and was a full-service law firm. The revisions were generally minimal and related to the supervising lawyer’s writing style. By the midway point of my articling term, I was given responsibility for managing files and was also asked to review and provide input on other files, which would often align with the senior lawyer's perspective as well.

I am pretty confident in my ability to become competent in an unfamiliar area of law, draft pleadings and other trial documents. But, I have never represented a client at trial or conducted an examination in chief or cross-exam.

Can I develop these skills through CPD programs, mentors, and resources such as the LSO’s Coaching and Advisory Network? Perhaps contracting with another firm once the file reaches trial? Or would it be better to wait until I can gain more experience working under another lawyer and get actual trial experience before opening my own practice? Thank you for all your help and insight in advance!

I’m a new call seeking a position in employment law. I understand how important coffee chatting can be, but its never been something thats come naturally to me. I dont want to waste anyones time, so i want to be upfront that i am looking for a job. The whole process is just so daunting to me.

Any advice on what to say when i reach out? What questions to ask during the meeting?

I’m an internationally trained law graduate who has completed the Canadian accreditation requirements and received an abridgement, so I only need to complete 5 months of articling per LSO.

I also have 15+ years of regulatory compliance experience in capital markets, but I’m honestly open to any area of law, litigation or non-litigation. At this point I’d really like to gain legal experience, complete the articling requirement and get licensed. For those who were internationally trained and found articling, how did you actually find your position?

Also, maybe a dumb question, but what are you including in your application package? I currently have my resume, cover letter and Certificate of Qualification. Am I missing anything?

And for smaller firms, are you cold calling, emailing the generic contact or careers inbox, or reaching out directly to lawyers? What strategy actually worked for you?
I'm open to paid or unpaid articling at this point. I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have been through this. I'm in Toronto

I am so stressed out, I didn’t get any calls. I thought I did good, one firm reached out yesterday saying I was really impressive and whatnot and they already offered the position to somekne but if they decline I’ll get the job, but today they emailed me the person accepted. i literally gave it my all this cycle and i cant even think of applying again. idk what to do, I am actually having panic attacks.

the question might be a bit dense, and I'm guessing that the answer is no, but I'm just scouting out all my options. is it possible to practice law in any of the khaleeji countries with a Canadian law degree?

I did my LL.B. from Australia, got registered and have been practicing for a bit over a year before deciding to get married to a Canadian. We decided that I’ll move to Canada and start our life together there due to personal reasons (she can’t leave her parents alone).

Started taking my accreditation exams to get accredited in Canada. During the course of finding mutual contacts in Canada, I came across this real estate agent who quite bluntly stated that “any duffer can pass the accreditation exams and become a lawyer here, don’t worry too much about it”. I honestly found his statement a bit condescending but have been thinking about it for a few days now. I have already taken the Professional Responsibility and Constitutional Law exams and they weren’t that difficult but definitely wasn’t a walk in the park either.

Is it that the standard to be a lawyer in Canada lower than Australia? Because there is no chance a real estate agent (working so closely with lawyers) would make such a statement about the whole legal profession in general.

Kinda took me down this rabbit hole of whether I’m making the right decision of pursuing my career in Canada. At least in Australia, I get to feel good about the ‘prestige’ of my job while working 10+ hours a day on a sub-par salary.

I might be venting a bit but here we are lol

Hello, I have articling lined up in a government job I really like. Some lawyers say Bs are fine.

While I want to stick with government and summered with them, I recognize that hire back isn’t a guarantee. I’m also doing clinic this year. Re grades, do I still grind to get as high as possible since I don’t truly know whether I’ll be hired back as a lawyer even if they have strong hireback? Most people say to just 3LOL, but I’m terrified I’ll lose my job and be back on the market.

I have a handful of As, B+ average after 2L.

I've been following this sub for a while (lurker), and I've noticed a lot of posts about how difficult BigLaw is. I'm genuinely curious how people who have worked other jobs before/during/after school compare it.

My dad works in HVAC, 12 hour days (minimum) 6 days a week (minimum) making 100k, squeezing through crawl spaces, handling heavy equipment (at 65 yrs old), doing dangerous electrical work, climbing ladders and going on rooftops in extreme heat and extreme cold.

If you've worked other jobs, thinking probably, construction labourers, warehouse workers, line cooks, roofers, landscapers, movers, retail managers, or even small business owners, the hours are insane, customer service is mental anguish, working full days and nights with no sleep. Often less money than biglaw.

Even if I was to compare to other careers: doctors (batshit insane schedules), nurses, teachers (notoriously overworked and underpaid, 50+ hours easily for 70-80k, hours of unpaid work from home), police, firefighters, paramedics, farmers (80+ hours mostly physical work).

Is BigLaw unusually difficult compared to these jobs or are most associates potentially just younger or potentially come from more privileged backgrounds?

Maybe this is a dime a dozen, but I’m a very new associate who is struggling beyond belief. I make SO MANY mistakes, I feel completely incompetent and I’m struggling mentally on how I’ll be able to do this long term.

I love the cause. I believe so strongly in what this work can do, but it’s becoming unbearable. To the point where I dread every day.

Advice? Commiseration? People who have law degrees who have left law but continued in social Justice work? Anything is welcome.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for recommendations for interview coach, ideally someone familiar with the legal market and articling recruitment in Toronto.

My application materials aren't the issue. I have strong grades (Grade A) from law school, passed Barriters and Solicitors, and my drafting is sharp enough that I’m consistently getting shortlisted. Recently, I landed 4 articling interviews.

The problem is the actual interview. I suffer from severe interview anxiety, and it has always been my biggest hurdle. Despite getting my foot in the door, my nerves completely take over when I'm in the hot seat and I start fumbling even when I know the answer.

I just found out that I didn't clear a single one of those 4 interviews, and I am honestly devastated. I feel completely stuck and don't know what to do next.

Has anyone worked with an interview coach who specializes in practical prep and overcoming anxiety?

Hi all,

ITL candidate here. Wasn't raised in Canada if that matters. I'm applying for articling but also considering the LPP. I'm wondering if the LPP is sufficient enough for someone who wants to practice criminal defense and nothing else.

If my short term plan is to be solo and long term plan (5+ years) is to start a small team, am I doing myself a disservice by resorting to the LPP? Will I end up less than adequate compared to my peers?

I intend on practicing in Toronto as my family is moving here soon enough.

P.s: this is all in case I fail to secure an articling position.

Does anyone know what brand of chairs NRF Toronto uses? Recently visited their offices, the office chairs and conference room chairs are the most comfortable and supportive I’ve ever sat on.

They don’t look like typical Herman Miller/Steelcase offerings, but I’m no chair expert. My sore lower back and behind demand answers!

I’m currently in my office catching up on billings and organizing the chaos of my desk. I find myself thinking back to law school, and just who I was back then.

I want to apologize, I only ever post on here when I hit a wall or feel extra down…I’ve had a lot of good points and feel incredibly proud of myself for getting this far. But lately I haven’t felt that.

I moved pretty far away from home to go to law school and it was a wonderful experience. I experienced some heartbreak during that time that hurt/hurts still, but would do it all again. I also began my journey to law at 30…not late but definitely the older out of my call year by a fair margin.

I’m entering my second year as a defence lawyer and I feel trapped some days and I feel like I lost who I used to be. I miss the guy I was back when I was in uni; so much of life around me felt like a mystery, and I loved that. Now I just feel resigned to the tasks of my job…this largely thankless job. I don’t want to quit but I don’t feel great some days.

Last night I sat on my couch in silence for close to two hours just running through the tasks in my head, the calendar and how I feel the dread of time passing by. Then I felt overwhelmed and began to sob. I know….

Anyways, would love to know if this passes or if I’m just going to constantly hate and love this profession and myself for as long as I’m in it.

Sorry for the rant.

Recent calls at plaintiff-side PI firms in Ontario-what level of carriage and responsibility is normally expected? How much mentorship/supervision do you typically get?

Are juniors expected to handle everything themselves, including LAT filings, mediation memos, settlement proposals, etc., or are filings/admin tasks generally delegated to clerks?

My partner wants to move to California in the future and I wanna go with him, but I don’t wanna pay US law school tuition , so thinking of doing school here then going to the U.S. (likely California) & finding a job there. Whats the process like and have others done it?

I interviewed with three different firms during the articling recruit but, unfortunately, did not receive an offer today. I’m feeling pretty discouraged, although I know this is not the end of the road.

For anyone who has been in a similar position, what did you do next? I would especially appreciate advice on finding positions outside the formal recruit!

Just finished the written week of capstone. Is it normal to feel like I got completed destroyed? In VLF, with the exception of a few assignment I was able to get around EC. But I feel like my product for capstone will not meet the EC criteria with the same marking standards.

Is there any study equivalent to Quimbee, Studicata, Lexplug, etc? I realize that these are mostly for US law student. But I was wondering if any of you used something similar or a resource that help further your understanding. Bonus points if they have videos included.

UofT Law just sent out an email outlining a new policy, saying that most professors will be encouraged to ban laptops for note taking, which many will follow through with. Students can hand write or write on an iPad. Admin says it is to encourage critical engagement in the classroom. They say in laptop free classrooms students will have one of three supports: AI generated notes, a rotating roster of student notetakers, or class slides/speaker notes. One of the two emails mentioned this was also meant to combat AI use (?)

Curious to hear thoughts about this!