Blog Review

Website Review: Glennwheeler.ca

Posted in: "All, Blog Review, Business Development by Admin | No Comments Friday, October 16, 2009

Glennwheeler.ca, recently relaunched, is fresh, clean, and easy to navigate. Toronto-based lawyer Glenn Wheeler aims to provide comprehensive legal information on the topics of employment and labour law.

Unlike many firms in town that tend to side with either the management or the union, Mr. Wheeler provides accessible information for all. For example, the FAQ section of the site is divided into categories, including non-unionized employees, unionized employees, independent contractors, and employers – something for everyone.

For those who are interested in new developments of the law, Mr. Wheeler’s blog is a good read. In his latest post, “Employment contracts not the same as other contracts,” Mr. Wheeler explains that the courts and the legislature have high expectation of employers who are expected to treat employees fairly and sensitively. Perhaps most importantly, employers should not manufacture reasons to fire an employee to avoid the cost of notice pay.

For the even more curious, Mr. Wheeler provides external links to relevant sites under Beginner’s Resources, such as the Employment Standards Information Centre and the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

Comprehensive and to-the-point, Glennwheeler.ca is a place to inform yourself on labour and employment law before you talk to a lawyer.

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Blog Review: Wise Law Blog

Posted in: "All, Blog Review by Admin | 1 Comment Saturday, July 4, 2009

The Wise Law Blog, established in 2005, is an all-encompassing blog on all interesting matters legal. It’s hosted by Garry Wise Law Office, a Toronto-based litigation boutique.

The principal host, Garry Wise, is not only a passionate blogger, but also a pioneer of Web 2.0 within the legal community. Wise, a lawyer-cum-innovator, appears regularly in community forums advocating the use of technologies, be they websites, blogs, Twitter, or Facebook. I had the pleasure of attending one of his session at the recent Solo and Small Firm Expo, and I was duly impressed.

Unlike many practitioners’ blogs, which tend to have a narrow focus of a few specific topics, the Wise Law Blog focuses on interesting topics of the law. For example, the most recent posts include: “Catcher in the Rye” parody violates copyright law, aspiring lawyer denied licence because of unpaid student loan, ex-spouse must pay for mental abuse after break-up, and Montana town demands Facebook password for job applicants.

The blogs are concise and to-the-point, yet easy to read. The articles are generally less than 500 words in length and are suitable for pleasure-reading. Even for legal decision summaries, the hosts are able to get to the point without the legalese. (A point which my blog could certainly improve.)

For example, in his recent post “Ontario court nixes CIBC overtime class action,” Wise quoted from newspapers rather than the decision itself. By doing so, Wise open the forum to the general public, rather than just legal experts.

Accessible, topical, and interesting, the Wise Law Blog certainly is worth of returning visits.

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PSWLaw.ca’s Peer Review

Posted in: "All, Blog Review by Admin | No Comments Wednesday, December 10, 2008

My friend Bo Arfai, host of the ever-popular blog “Solo in Ontario: Criminal Practice” posted a review of PSWlaw.ca  today.

Click on the following link to read the review:

http://soloinontario.blogspot.com/2008/12/solo-in-ontario-profile-on-pei-shing.html

I thank Bo for his kind words.

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Blog Review: Solo in Ontario: Criminal Practice

Posted in: "All, Blog Review, Business Development by Admin | No Comments Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Opening your own law practice is hard. Opening a law practice immediately after being called to the bar is harder. In his blog “Solo in Ontario” one newly minted lawyer, Bo Arfai, shares the joy and pain of opening his own law office in Toronto after his call to the bar in 2008.

Lawyers can be the envy of other professionals when it comes to setting up a solo practice. While other professionals, such as veterinarians and dentists, often require large capital to start up their practices, lawyers seem to need relatively less: a laptop and a phone.

If only things were as easy as that sounds. Bo soon finds out that the expenses of setting up a law office goes far beyond a laptop and a phone (in his case, an iPhone). There are fixed assets, office equipment, insurance premiums, law society dues, reference materials, and telecommunication expenses. Eventually Bo finds that the total cost for his first few months comes to a staggering $10,048.00.

I note that Bo’s start-up costs are relatively low for a new solo practice. As Bo works at home, he saves about $500-$1,000 per month on office rent. Professional service charges and the costs of computer software are conspicuously  absent from his calculations. These additional costs would have likely pushed his expenses up toward $15,000.

Besides the frank disclosure of his operating costs, Bo shares something else with his reader: his relentless entrepreneurship.

With great energy and enthusiasm, Bo takes on the challenges of a small business owner: the limited resources, the difficulties of reaching out to clients, and the ever-daunting tasks of doing it all oneself while staying afloat (“What to Do with All Those Business Cards,” posted December 1, 2008; “The Highs and Lows of Being a Sole Practitioner,” posted November 27, 2008).

In fact, he takes great pride in reaching out to the community and operating on a tight budget. He shares with his readers the fruits of his hard work (“Networking Paying Off,” posted November 27, 2008). He learns to adjust his attitude towards clients and fees (“Fees and Clients,” posted November 11, 2008). Perhaps the most enjoyable part of reading Bo’s blog is simply the pleasure of watching his practice grow.

To visit Bo’s blog, click on the following link:

http://soloinontario.blogspot.com

You can also find the link on this website’s main page, under “PSW Recommends.”

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Ontario Condo Law Blog – ontariocondolaw.com

Posted in: "All, Blog Review by Admin | No Comments Thursday, December 4, 2008

Thinking about buying a condo? Living in one? You need to read this blog!

My good friend Chris Jaglowitz of Gardiner Miller Arnold LLP (“The Condo Lawyers”) is a lawyer whose practice is restricted to condominium law. As the condominium market in Toronto has been booming for the past several years, Chris is busier than ever. Amazingly, he still finds time to write a blog on condominium law.

The blog features topics such as case studies, construction deficiency issues, condo rules and by-laws, and news and events. It is a rich source of helpful tips on buying a condo. (“Read before Leaping – Read the Rules First,” posted November 20, 2008) It also discusses some of the challenges of owning and living in a condo in Ontario. (“Educate Owners about Insurance,” posted December 1, 2008)

It’s vitally important to understand that owners and occupants in modern condominiums must obey the rules, declarations, and by-laws of their condominium boards. Long gone are the days of condominium owners being “king of their castles.” The governing legislation in Ontario, the Condominiums Act, 1998, recognizes the fact that hundreds or thousands of individuals often reside in the same building, and that unit occupants and owners are entitled to the right of quiet enjoyment of their properties. As such, the condo board’s rules and decisions are necessary and must be respected.

Chris brings “trouble spots” of condo law to the reader’s attention. His writing is concise and accessible. The articles are short and to the point. If you’re thinking about buying a condo, or living in one, you need to read this blog.

Visit ontariocondolaw.com by clicking here.

You can also find the link on the main page, under PSWRecommends.

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Is That Legal…? isthatlegal.ca

Posted in: "All, Animal Welfare, Blog Review by Admin | No Comments Friday, November 28, 2008

Recently I came across a fantastic site called www.isthatlegal.ca. It’s filled with well-written, instructive articles about laws in Canada and Ontario.

I had the pleasure to speak with the author of the site, Simon Shields, on the phone today. Simon is an experienced lawyer practising in Toronto, Ontario. He practises in the area of administrative law and civil litigation.

What interests me the most is Simon’s work on animal welfare. If you’re a pet owner or someone who cares about animals’ well-being, you should read his articles on “Animals and the Criminal Law”, and “Dog and Cat Control Law.” The latter article features a chapter dedicated to cats. I believe that any cat parent would find the chapter informative.

Of course, this informative site goes far beyond laws on animal welfare. Simon also has expertise in labour and employment law, administrative law, civil litigation (particularly in Small Claims Court), and constitutional law. The articles are written for non-lawyers and are easy to understand.

You can also find the link to isthatlegal.ca on the main page, under PSWRecommends.

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