For over 35 years, the Canadian Lawyers Insurance Association (CLIA) has worked to bring peace of mind to the lawyers in its subscriber jurisdictions which includes Nova Scotia.
In November 2023, CLIA launched a blog, Not So Risky Business, to help with loss prevention. Every Wednesday you can expect an informative post on topics to better help you manage your practice, avoid errors and understand your insurance coverage needs. To receive these posts directly in your inbox, subscribe here.
Recent posts include:
The Wellness Docket – Addressing Bullying and Harassment in Legal Workplaces *Erin H. Durant
“Over a year ago, lawyer mental health advocate Beth Beattie wrote a opinion piece for the Canadian Lawyer publication titled “Mental Health and Civility in the Legal Profession: The Elephant in the Room.” She started the article with a call to arms for the profession to pay more attention to the impacts that our own work environments play in contributing to the mental health crisis that plagues our profession. She wrote: ‘Incivility in the legal profession has gotten worse in recent years. Why? There is an elephant in the room that is not being adequately addressed – the pervasive nature of poor mental health. The discussion around incivility has primarily centered around external players – opposing counsel, the judiciary and clients. It is time to focus on protecting and promoting mental health within our offices.’ She also calls on all of us to do something that many legal workplaces have avoided for a long time: dealing with the bully in the office.“
Don’t Shut Me Down: Becoming a Better Lawyer Through Chronic Illness *Melanie Hodges Neufeld
This article was originally published on Melanie’s personal blog, It’s Friday I’m in Law. To help reduce the stigma facing lawyers living with a disability and help achieve wellness for all in the profession, Melanie is sharing her experience with chronic illness through a series of blog posts on her personal blog.
“It’s difficult as a lawyer to admit weakness. So instead I share my chronic illness with you not as a weakness but as a strength. Endometriosis is my daily reminder to take care of myself. I must eat right, exercise and get a full night sleep to keep the pain and fatigue ‘manageable’. It’s a struggle and while I would prefer to live my life without it, I’ve reframed the experience into a positive. I now see how my chronic illness has transformed me into a better lawyer and allowed me to continue in the profession.“
Bite Size CPD June Showcase – Recent Videos
CLIA is proud to partner with the Law Society of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Lawyers’ Insurance Association (SLIA) to present Bite Size CPD.
Bite Size CPD are short, under 12-minute CPD videos, covering a variety of topics including cybersecurity, wellness, practice management, client management, and more. The videos qualify for CPD in Saskatchewan and may qualify for CPD in other jurisdictions as well.
Many legal professionals incorrectly fear they are only a mistake away from being discovered as a fraud. This episode looks at imposter syndrome and how to combat it.
Legal professionals work hard, but breaks are necessary for peak performance. This episode illustrates how to include brief pauses in a day to produce cognitive and health benefits.
Email remains the backbone of business communication, but it can take over a workday without intentional processes. A mindful approach to email handling can alleviate stress and generate more efficient sharing of information with clients and colleagues.