Coffee in the Times of COVID is a virtual gathering of small groups of young lawyers and/or law students around a topic of common interest, designed to facilitate social connection among the legal profession and give participants a chance to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on their personal and professional lives, as well as the areas of law that matter most to them.
Cohort Stream (Pilot)
Coffee in the Times of COVID is about building your legal network, knowledge, and community. The cohort stream will engage a group of up to 20 young lawyers and law students in regular bi-weekly sessions hosted by a team of lawyer-facilitators from a partner Section of the Canadian Bar Association. Registration is free for CBA members and participants must be available to participate in all five sessions in the cohort.
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 - Wednesday, April 14, 2021
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET
Things I Wish I Knew: Immigration Law Edition
Grab a coffee and join us in a conversation with current and aspiring immigration lawyers across the country on practising immigration law during a pandemic and in a post-COVID world! Sessions will range from getting into immigration law as a practice area, common challenges immigration lawyers face in their practice, as well as building a sustainable practice and career in immigration law.
In collaboration with:
The CBA Immigration Law Section
Facilitators
Sessions
Finding Your Fit in Immigration Law
Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
Introduce yourself, and let’s talk about what career fulfillment looks like to you. We will talk about the diversity of practice-type in immigration law, the elusive concept of "fit", and share tips and tricks on how to develop an immigration law practice that aligns with your interests and values.
Business Development & Creating Your Own "Brand"
Wednesday, March 3, 2021, 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
Whether you are a sole practitioner, practising in a boutique firm, or practising in BigLaw, we have all heard of the importance in "bringing in business". In this session, we will discuss our experience building our immigration practice, the triumphs and failures in our business development efforts, and share ideas on strategies to increase your profile, create your own "brand", and become thought leaders in your field.
Managing Challenging Practice Situation
Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
As immigration lawyers, the legal problems our clients face have never been simple - add to it a punishing workload, unforgiving firm culture, large egos, disorganized workplaces, and/or ethical dilemmas with your clients, you have a recipe for disaster! Share stories and strategies on how to manage challenging practice and workplace situations, and navigate ethical issues in immigration law.
Effective Communication - Tips & Tricks
Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
Effective communication is essential to managing all of our professional and client relationships, and successfully advocating for our clients. In this session, we will share stories on navigating communication with diversed clients, aggressive opposing counsels, and the bureaucracies we encounter day-to-day as immigration lawyers. We will also discuss tips and tricks on effective communication with the government, as well as addressing courts and tribunals.
Law is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
"Law is a marathon, not a sprint" - we have all given or received this piece of advice before, but what does it mean to put this into practice? As we conclude our series, let's talk about how to build a sustainable practice in immigration law. We will explore ways to stay up-to-date on immigration law changes, pandemic-proof and future-proof our practice, build relationships and allies within the practice, and take care of ourselves so that we can bring our best selves to work.
