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How it Works
The Coach and Advisor Network (CAN) recognizes that lawyers and paralegals may need different types of support at different times.
What is the difference between Coaching and Advising?
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Coach
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Advisor
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Volunteer
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Licensees entitled to practise law or provide legal services recruited from diverse practice settings including non-practising licensees.
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Licensees entitled to practise law or provide legal services recruited from diverse practice settings including non-practising licensees and who have a least five years of practice experience.
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Conflict of Interest Risk Management
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Same obligation as applies to advisors.
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Onus is on CAN Participants to review the CAN Volunteer Roster and identify on their Request for Time form anyone with whom an engagement could raise a potential or actual conflict of interest. If the Request relates to an inquiry arising on a client file, this is a critical risk management step.
CAN staff will exclude those names in making a match.
Onus is on CAN Participant to identify if confidential information needs to be disclosed for a meaningful discussion, and to flag that to the volunteer prior to any disclosure, so the Coach or Advisor can conduct an appropriate conflict check.
The Coach or Advisor shall decline the referral if there is any concern about compliance with the Rules or the Paralegal Rules, as applicable.
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Timing of Connection
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Connection with a Coach confirmed or a status update if none available within two weeks of request.
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Connection with an Advisor confirmed or a status update if none available within two days of request.
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Subject Matter
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Practice management or skills development.
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Substantive or procedural questions, often in the context of a client matter.
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Advanced Preparation
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Participants are expected to:
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Participants are expected to:
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Overall Time Commitment
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Four hours in total over a three month commitment. Suggested initial meeting of 1.5 hours, followed by five 30-minute sessions scheduled on alternating weeks. Additional time will be required for reflection and to attend to action items arising from sessions.
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One 30-minute telephone call.
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How CAN serves the Professions
CAN provides the administrative infrastructure allowing lawyers and paralegals to focus on the professional development and practice issues. CAN assists with:
- Documentation of the terms of the Coaching or Advising relationship, which includes a waiver and meets LAWPRO's risk management criteria
- Ongoing review of the eligibility of all CAN Coaches and Advisors
- Publication and maintenance of the CAN Volunteer Roster
- Timely and suitable matching of Participants when volunteers are available
- Orientation materials, relational competence resources, training and other practical tools to support the Participant and the Coach and Advisor at each stage of the engagement
Are you interested in leadership and skills
development?
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Are you willing to provide strategic guidance on a substantive or procedural issue to help move a matter forward?
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As a Coach you will assist a lawyer or paralegal with longer term leadership in the development of best practices and practice management skills. You will begin with a 1.5-hour session with the Participant followed by a series of five 30-minute sessions set on alternating weeks, resulting in roughly a 3-month commitment.
Apply to be a Coach!
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As an Advisor you will provide a lawyer or paralegal up to 30 minutes of guidance on a substantive or procedural issue on a client file. You have at least five (5) years of practice experience and are skilled at quickly assessing fact scenarios, identifying assumptions, and providing suggestions for moving forward.
Appy to be an Advisor!
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All licensees who are entitled to practise law or provide legal services are invited to apply, and as part of the Law Society’s mandate to ensure access to justice and that both law and the practice of law are reflective of all the peoples of Ontario, we support and encourage racialized, Indigenous, Francophone and equity-seeking licensees to consider applying.
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