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

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.

Thursday, March 24, 2022 - Thursday, May 19, 2022
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET

Practicing Criminal Law In 2022

The goal of these 5 sessions is to inform participants about current trends in criminal law, assist in developing confidence and competence, and create opportunities for mentoring and networking. Each session will focus on a specific topic, featuring a different guest speaker with lived experience who will share their expertise.

In collaboration with:
The CBA Criminal Justice Section

  
Jacqueline Beckles
Department of Justice
(Ottawa, ON)

  
Melanie Webb
Defense Counsel
(Toronto, ON)

  
David Perry
Assistant Crown Attorney
(Toronto, ON)

  
Jayme Williams
Alberta Crown Prosecution Service
(Calgary, AB)

Sessions

Staying Trial Ready in a Remote World (A Case Law Review)

Thursday, Mar. 24, 2022 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
The world may be on pause, but the practice of law continues. Join us for a review of the case law that is relevant to the systemic adaptations that have been implemented to address the new reality.

Facilitators: Jayme Williams (Lead), Jacqueline Beckles and Melanie Webb

Practicing During the Pandemic: The Shifting Sands

Thursday, Apr. 7, 2022 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
How to keep track of all of the frequently changing pandemic protocols, government mandates, and practice directives issued by the court to operate efficiently and properly advise our clients.

Facilitators: Melanie Webb (Lead), Jacqueline Beckles, Jayme Williams

Access to Justice and Interacting with Clients

Thursday, Apr. 21, 2022 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
Covid has created certain challenges in client relations and bringing your clients before the court. Can a client whose wi-fi has gone down get a bench warrant for failing to appear? Can solicitor client privilege be maintained when you need someone in the room for tech support? How can you review disclosure with your clients virtually? We will discuss all this and more...

Facilitators: Melanie Webb (Lead), David Parry, Jacqueline Beckles

Networking Without a Physical Presence

Thursday, May 5, 2022 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
The inability to get together has caused us to rethink how we socialize. This session will assist you in navigating the ever present need to network for career development and progression.

Facilitators: Jacqueline Beckles (Lead), David Parry

Knowing your Limits

Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET
This session will be a candid discussion about how to know when to say ENOUGH! (Ideally before you start drowning)!

Facilitators: Jacqueline Beckles (Lead), Melanie Webb, David Parry (TBC), Jayme Williams (TBC)

Jacqueline Beckles
Jacqueline is a General Counsel with the Department of Justice Canada, International Assistance Group, where she has worked since 2009, practicing international criminal law. She holds degrees in both civil and common law from the University of Ottawa and has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since 2003. In addition to her legal career, Jacqueline is a part-time professor at Algonquin College in the paralegal program and is currently the Vice-Chair of the Law Society of Ontario’s Equity Advisory Group; Secretary of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and Vice-President of the Ottawa Chapter of that same organization. She is also a member of the Ontario Bar Association's Equality Committee and a member at large of the Canadian Bar Association Criminal Justice Section.

David Parry
David is an Assistant Crown Attorney at the Downtown Toronto Crown Attorney’s Office. He graduated from McGill University in Montreal in 2012 and has spent his entire career in criminal law, first as defence counsel before joining the prosecutor’s office. He has conducted numerous trials for matters such as murder, sexual assault, human trafficking, as well as appeals before the Ontario Court of Appeal. He currently serves as the Chair of the Criminal Justice Section of the Ontario Bar Association.

Melanie Webb
Melanie’s Toronto-based law firm is devoted to criminal law at the trial and appellate levels. As a tireless and committed defender, she prides herself on her dedication to her clients’ best interests. Known for her highly organized and methodical approach to cases, Melanie makes full use of all available resources to mount a vigorous defence.

Jayme Williams
Jayme is the Chief Prosecutor for the Operations Strategic and Support Office and Bail Division for the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service. She is a University of Saskatchewan Law School Alumni, Graduating Class of 2000 and received her Masters from Osgoode in 2015.