This week Julie talks with Professor Noel Semple, her colleague at Windsor Law and a member of the NSRLP Advisory Board, about finding the right balance between a legal profession that is independent of government and one that regulates itself – and when government might step in and force change. Noel also discusses his work on identifying a “sweet spot” that allows legal services to be affordable and lawyers to make a reasonable income, as well as his new work on how to give consumers the tools to evaluate how well they are being served – or not – by their lawyers. Journalist and SRL Randi Druzin reflects on Julie's conversation with Noel for this week's wrap-up.
In other news: The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System has released a new report on how courts might use technology to better serve customers; an update on the various proposals before the Law Society of B.C., including establishing a new category of legal practitioners, and a proposal on mandatory pro bono work; and in an unpleasant surprise, Pro Bono Ontario recently announced that it will be closing its court-based help centres in Toronto and Ottawa on December 14, 2018, due to a lack of stable long-term funding.
For links and more information on this episode visit our website: https://representingyourselfcanada.com/legal-services-for-21st-century-clients/
Jumping Off the Ivory Tower is produced and hosted by Julie Macfarlane and Dayna Cornwall; production and editing by Brauntë Petric; Other News produced and hosted by Ali Tejani; promotion by Moya McAlister and Ali Tejani.
