Top Lawyers In Canada

Katrina Pacey

Executive director, Pivot Legal Society, Vancouver, B.C. Pacey was recently appointed executive director of Pivot Legal and continues the good work of her predecessors. Pivot focuses on topics associated with health, police liability, drug coverage, and homelessness, poverty, and sex workers' rights. She may be best known for her part in the Bedford situation, however, Pivot is more than that and frequently has intervener status in major Supreme Court of Canada cases, including the current one on mandatory minimums. She is also gifted at bringing on board highly respected counsel to work pro bono on many of these cases that may definitely affect the lives of a number of the town, and country's, most vulnerable citizens. What Republicans needed to say: Incredible devotion to social justice at each level with keen enthusiastic intelligence. She's helped change draconian legislation that endanger the lives of sex trade workers and restore dignity to individuals who've been marginalized, canadian immigration lawyer.

Lorne Waldman

Waldman & Associates, Toronto, Ont. Waldman is a great guardian of refugees, immigrants, and human rights. He's won a variety of significant victories, including health care for refugees in Canadian nurses for Refugee Care v. Canada along with a woman's right to wear the niqab while producing her citizenship oath in Ishaq v. Canada with his associate Naseem Mithoowani. In addition, he argued at the Supreme Court of Canada at J.P. v. Canada and G.J. v. Canada, that Canada's anti-human smuggling provisions should consist of asylum seekers participating in mutual aid. In addition to Peter Edelmann, he acted on behalf of the CBA in the Harkat case prior to the SCC in 2014. On the international stage, he represents Mohamed Fahmy (along with Amal Clooney), the Canadian journalist working for Al Jazeera. He's also been a vocal opponent of Bill C-51 and changes to Canada's citizenship legislation. What Republicans needed to say: Lorne educated us all, particularly now, to preserve democracy and to preserve the rule of law.

Pascal Paradis

Executive manager, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Quebec City, Que. Back for his second time on the Top 25, Paradis is a unstoppable force and also a fervent advocate for human rights, particularly for women and kids. As a result of Paradis' initiative, the Quebec bar joined LWBC to behave as global counsel in favour of Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger condemned to prison and flogging for his remarks criticizing the regime. Since January 2015, Paradis and LWBC are leading a consortium of Canadian organizations working to get a wide-range five-year project to boost justice. They plan to execute means of prevention and reconciliation for women victims of sexual violence and other individuals affected by the Malian armed battle. He also discusses many international conferences on human rights problems. What voters had to say: He's left a very profitable position in a large national law firm to go LWBC for a very compact paycheque because he followed his heart and his passion.

Louise Arbour

Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Montreal, Que. An global lawyer who has recently settled in Canada, Arbour has earned a spot on the Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential list again this season. She's a winner of the 2015 Simons Foundation Award, realizing world leaders who shape and create an environment for a safer and more just world. Arbour has spoken out from prolonged use of solitary confinement and has been inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. She has been a Supreme Court of Canada judge, an global war crimes prosecutor, and a law school professor. Her ability to pick things up quickly led her to different roles nationally and internationally. Arbour says economic disparities between and within counties is that the number-one inexcusable human rights issue at the moment. Constantly craving fresh and challenging surroundings, only last year she finally did something she hadn't ever done: joined a law firm in Montreal where she continues to struggle for human rights. What voters had to say:Her magnificent contributions speak for themselves. International superstar.

What Is The Best Type Of Lawyer

Whether you are seeking the aid of a lawyer or considering moving to law school, there's a general confusion in the people regarding what kinds of attorneys are there. Some people today assume that a lawyer is a lawyer, so any attorney will have the ability to supply whatever legal services they want. While technically this is the case because a lawyer is licensed to practice law (minus a couple of exceptions where additional licensing is required), the law is so huge and all-encompassing it is impossible for a single lawyer to effectively provide legal services across every distinct area of law. Much like physicians, where there's a concentration on a particular field of the entire body, particular age groups, or specific kinds of ailments and diseases, lawyers typically specialize in a single, or a few relevant types of lawenforcement. Below is a listing of 18 of the most frequent kinds of attorneys (in no specific order) and short descriptions of each lawyers' law practice. "

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal defense attorneys help protect individuals accused of committing a crime against prosecution by the authorities, with the objective of reducing their sentencing or helping them stay out of jail. The crimes managed by criminal defense attorneys vary from little offenses such as shoplifting to serious offenses such as DUI, drug trafficking, assault and battery life, as well as murder. Many lawyers who practice criminal defense had previous experience working on the prosecution side in the Office of the District Attorney (DA), either while at law school or after.

Real Estate Lawyer

Real Estate lawyers assist with almost any legal problems related to real estate and property. Like business attorneys, property lawyers are distinguished between transactional vs. lawsuit. There are also many differences between commercial property and residential property, as well as some other kinds of private property, therefore most property lawyers specialize and focus on one of these areas. Much like business attorneys, property litigators go to court to assert if a contract or purchase/sale arrangement was violated, or when a landlord or tenant breaks a law and has to be handled accordingly. Property agent lawyers, on the other hand, solely take care of the negotiation of property transactions and drafting documents surrounding those negotiations, brampton property lawyer.

Traffic Lawyer

These lawyers are usually very high-volume lawyers in the meaning that they tend to have a lot clients on a daily basis and they simply work one or a few tiny tasks for every one. Traffic lawyers goes to court on your own behalf to resist traffic citations or provide you advice about if you've got a chance to get out of a speeding ticket or violation for running a red light. Sometimes traffic lawyers are also criminal attorneys that will fight your DUI or DWI as well.

Civil Litigation Attorney

A civil litigation lawyer is a really general term that encompasses several other more particular areas of law, including real estate, occupation, business, and much more. Civil litigation attorneys will typically handle any sort of lawsuit, or litigation, that is non-criminal. Consequently, anything in a landlord issue into a violation of contract is managed with these lawyers.

Employment & Labor Lawyer

Employment & Labor attorneys are exactly as they sound; they manage issues relating to employment. They mainly deal with ensuring companies are complying with state and federal labor laws. Much like corporate attorneys, there are both litigation and transactional employment lawyers. Employment litigators are the individuals who go to court to argue when/if a business violated the conditions of an employment contract or state law, while coordinating employment lawyers deal more with all of the employment records themselves when an employee is being hired. Some employment lawyers do both litigation and transactional work.
So, you now understand a little more about what types of attorneys there are. If you're looking to hire a lawyer, it's 's very important to figure out how to get the ideal lawyer for your needs. Although there are many overlapping practice areas, each type of law is different and you'll want to be certain that you get a lawyer that specializes in the sort of legal service that you need. Doing otherwise is insecure and can create unnecessary legal problems in the future.

Top 10 Richest Lawyers In The World

So, who are they? Here is a quick look at the wealthiest attorneys in the world, ranked from the lowest net worth to the highest. Please note that the people on this list are practicing attorneys or judges. There are loads of additional "lawyers" with a considerably higher net worth, but they simply have a law degree and no more use it.

Bill Neukom: $850 million

Currently serving as the founder and CEO of the World Justice Project, which is dedicated to encouraging the rule of law all over the planet, Bill Neukom is a corporate lawyer who is well-known for his philanthropy. After graduating from Stanford Law School in 1967, he worked at a small business until he was asked to do work for Microsoft, that had been still in its beginning phases. Finally he became Microsoft's legal counsel, a position he held for 25 years. Previously, he was an investor at the San Francisco Giants, look more ideas.

Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion

Although he passed away in the age of 90 at December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this record because he was the wealthiest practicing attorney in the United States in the time of his death. Frequently known as the "King of Torts," he represented Pennzoil in a 1985 lawsuit against rival Texaco. His contingency fee was $335 following the courts decided in Pennzoil's favor. The 1953 graduate from the University of Texas School of Law was a former marine who had a longstanding reputation in the court for being abrasive, rude, and vulgar. But outside the court, he was known for his generous philanthropy.

Robert Shapiro: $50 million

Presently a senior partner at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen, and Shapiro, LLP, Robert Shapiro graduated from Loyola Law School in 1968 and began a career as a criminal attorney. After serving on O.J. Simpson's legal team (and representing other celebrities), he chose to move into civil litigation. In addition to his law career, he has written a children's book and can be a co-founder of LegalZoom and Shoedazzle.com.

Wichai Thongtang: $1.1 billion

Thought of by many in the industry to be "one of the top titles in the profession from across the globe," Wichai Thongtang is a strong lawyer in Thailand. After graduating from Thammasat University in 1970, he moved into corporate law, where he represented a number of leading Thai executives and corporations and took the chance to learn about the stock exchange and investing. In addition to his law career, Thongtang is the Chairman of Cable Thai Holding PLC and owns 15 percent of Dusit Medical, a Bangkok healthcare firm. Go to website.

Top Lawyers In Usa

So, who are they? Here is a fast look at the richest attorneys in the entire world, ranked from the lowest net worth to the greatest. Please note that the people on this list are practicing attorneys or judges. There are loads of additional "attorneys " with a considerably higher net worth, but they simply possess a law degree and no longer use it.

Joe Jamail: $1.7 billion

Although he passed away at age 90 at December 2015, Joe Jamail makes this record because he had been the wealthiest practicing lawyer in the United States in the time of his passing. Frequently referred to as the "King of Torts," he represented Pennzoil at a 1985 lawsuit against rival Texaco. His contingency fee was $335 following the courts decided in Pennzoil's favor. The 1953 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law was a former marine who had a longstanding reputation in the courtroom for being abrasive, rude, and vulgar. But outside of the courtroom, he was known for his generous philanthropy, look more here.

Jane Wanjiru Michuki: $60 million

Educated in the Kenya School of Law and Warwick University, Jane Wanjiru Michuki is a managing partner at Kimani & Michuki Advocate, a corporate law firm in Nairobi, Kenya that represents Many of the biggest corporations in Kenya, for example Equity Group Holdings Limited. In addition to her law career, she is the biggest female stockholder on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, which is where a good piece of her net worth comes from.

Wichai Thongtang: $1.1 billion

Thought of by many in the sector to be "one of the best titles in the profession from across the globe," Wichai Thongtang is a strong lawyer in Thailand. After graduating from Thammasat University in 1970he went to corporate law, by which he represented a number of top Thai executives and businesses and took the opportunity to learn about the stock exchange and investing. In addition to his law profession, Thongtang is the Chairman of Cable Thai Holding PLC and owns 15% of Dusit Medical, a Bangkok healthcare company.

Judge Joe Brown: $30 million

Famous for his day court series which ran for 15 years, Judge Joe Brown obtained his law degree from UCLA. After serving as the initial African American prosecutor in Memphis, TN, he started his own practice prior to working as a criminal court judge in Shelby County, TN. While presiding over James Earl Ray's allure for the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., he caught the eye of TV manufacturers. Most of his wealth had been obtained through the show. In 2014, he ran for district attorney general in Shelby County, but lost to the incumbent.

William Lerach: $900 million

Though he was disbarred in 2009 because of his participation in a kickback scheme, William Lerach had a lucrative career as a corporate lawyer with a specialty in private securities class action lawsuits for more than 30 years, which is the way he amassed his substantial fortune. Nicknamed the "King of Pain" and frequently known as the most dreaded attorney in American during his heyday, Lerach, a University of Pittsburg School of Law graduate, holds the record for the largest sum ever recovered in a bunch of securities class actions suits for the $7.12 billion judgement he obtained against Enron.

Questions About Employment Law

Q. Is a business required to provide medical, life and similar insurance coverages for its employees?

A. Although it's common to provide these kinds of "employee benefit" coverage for employees, the law generally does not require a business to achieve that. Most companies provide similar and these advantages to attract and keep good workers and as an additional type of compensation. Companies that employ unionized workers must provide whatever gains are needed by the terms of their union contracts, and it may be necessary to provide particular kinds of employee benefits as a condition of doing business with or for agencies or governmental entities. Many nations have opted to adopt legislation requiring companies that are to give health insurance. Check with labor department or your state's insurance to see if your state has adopted such a law.

Q. Can an employer fire a employee that refuses to work on his scheduled day off?

Most bosses are not stupid enough to do random firings as it could be dreadful for morale. Additionally, most companies have rules that their supervisors are told to comply with, which are designed as senior managements know that it is bad for business term to prevent arbitrary firings. However, insubordination is one floor that's open. A boss must look after the needs of their company first. If there is really a demand for the employee to be there on that which was a scheduled off day, and there is not any true hardship or very powerful reason why he could not shift your program once in a while (like the employee is getting married to the day the boss wants him to work, or attending an out of town event with non-refundable airplane tickets) , but the worker is inflexible, there is absolutely no valid reason preventing the termination of the employee.

Q. What is the difference between independent contractor and employee?

An independent contractor is currently in company for him/herself. The independent contractor makes quarterly state and federal personal income tax deposits (based on yearly quotes), pays the whole contribution to social security and Medicare taxes, and supplies his/her own insurance and benefits. An independent contractor does not gain from any unemployment insurance program and is not subject to wage and hour regulations.

Q. Does "flirting" represent sexual harassment?

The exact same can be said of flirting. What can be free or flattering can be terrifying to another, objectionable, and offensive. One person may regard mild or flirting horseplay as innocent pleasure, and it might not be viewed as objectionable at the time of the behaviour, but somebody else may see it as aggressive, insulting, and demeaning, or even down the road it might be regarded as a member of a routine of a hostile atmosphere.

Q. Must an employer check the citizenship or right to work of employees?

Employers are responsible for examining the acceptable original documents. (The sole exception is that a certified copy of a birth certificate.) Nevertheless an employer may not ask for more files as that sometimes is a pretext for discrimination that is prohibited than is reasonable.

Q. Are employees entitled to view their files?

A. Assuming that the state has a statute (or case law) regulating access to personnel records, an employer is not required to allow an employee view his/her document. It is normally regarded as the employer's property, even though the document is all about the employee.

Ask A Legal Question For Free

Do you really have to drive yourself into the ground the first few years of practice to make it?

Working 50-plus hours per week consistently is relatively unusual. Sometimes you will likely have to burn off a little midnight oil. There will be times when you simply can't get the business done by working a typical 9-to-5 work day, and no responsible professional is going to drop the ball in the middle of a due diligence inspection to get a multibillion-dollar bargain or walk from this office the weekend before a major trial begins.

Was there anything you wanted you'd have done otherwise in law school that you did not understand until you began to practice?

I wish I had dealt with my discomfort over talking to folks about, and asking them for, money. When I opened my practice to speak to customers about cash and ask them write me a large check, it was very uncomfortable. I'd read Jay Foonberg's book, How to Start and Build a Law Practice, which had excellent suggestions. However, I wish I had worked with a cash coach (or perhaps done role playing with friends) to get over my discomfort of saying, "The retainer inside this matter is X, and I cannot start work without it." Practice saying this till it seems like second nature if you do nothing else.

What do you like most about your project? Least?

As with most immigration companies, we bill almost every case on a flat-fee basis rather than on a hourly one. And that has freed us up from the shackles of the billable hour. We are judged by efficiency since they are informed and results and customers tend not to argue about their bills.

Can you see a bias against individuals who attend law school later in life?

In summary, yes, later-in-life students can sometimes feel a bit out of place with the younger audience. However they have a distinct advantage that most of the pupils that are straight-through don't--a little more life in the rear-view mirror. That expertise will assist from day one in law school. Professors will frequently rely on and seek out those pupils to draw on that knowledge along with the based work ethic of the student. As soon as a résumé is reviewed by a law company from the pupil that is later-in-life, it's going to have instant confidence that the graduate is prepared beyond the scholarly world and ready to add immediate value to its clients and the firm. So go forth and conquer, regardless of what time in life you decided to make your way into this profession.

Did any classes prove particularly useful as you started practicing?

In my own experience now as a hiring attorney, the biggest failing I have observed with pupils and new attorneys whom I've interviewed or hired is the inability to examine each side of an issue and outline the findings in a coherent memo or even persuasive short. Mastery of writing abilities and analysis in law school are critical--both because those tools make you an advantage to a law firm and also because they're virtually impossible to spend on some time and enhance in training.