We have had a lot of laughs and experiences this summer and want to share them with our MB blog readers!
Enjoy! Sean V.
Q1. What skills have you developed this summer that will help you in your career? ...open
Ben - How to rely on people and support others in a busy work environment.
Garett - Manage files and communicating with clients, opposing counsel and other various parties.
Divya - Research skills, as well as time management, which is more important than anything else in being able to manage the heavy workload and meet deadlines.
Sam - Not to be afraid to ask questions, and don't judge a case by its set of facts - you never know what creative argument may be lurking around.
Brittany S - Time management – learned to track my time to be more efficient in completion of assignments and billing.
Brittany Sud - How to summarize voluminous productions into a manageable client reporting letter.
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Garett - Manage files and communicating with clients, opposing counsel and other various parties.
Divya - Research skills, as well as time management, which is more important than anything else in being able to manage the heavy workload and meet deadlines.
Sam - Not to be afraid to ask questions, and don't judge a case by its set of facts - you never know what creative argument may be lurking around.
Brittany S - Time management – learned to track my time to be more efficient in completion of assignments and billing.
Brittany Sud - How to summarize voluminous productions into a manageable client reporting letter.
...close
Q2. What is the best assignment you have worked on this summer? ...open
Ben - Taking a file from start to finish in prep for trial
Joanna - Assisting on a debt collection file as I worked directly with the client from the very beginning and saw the matter through to the end.
Anthony - Attending my own settlement conference, and actually settling!
Irina - Drafting the initial litigation report and defence for a Family Mediator facing allegations of professional negligence and attending the settlement conference with a lawyer for this file.
Brittany S - Running my own small claims files!
Sean - Compile an Appeal Book and Compendium that was heading to the Ontario Court of Appeals and then file it at the court!
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Joanna - Assisting on a debt collection file as I worked directly with the client from the very beginning and saw the matter through to the end.
Anthony - Attending my own settlement conference, and actually settling!
Irina - Drafting the initial litigation report and defence for a Family Mediator facing allegations of professional negligence and attending the settlement conference with a lawyer for this file.
Brittany S - Running my own small claims files!
Sean - Compile an Appeal Book and Compendium that was heading to the Ontario Court of Appeals and then file it at the court!
...close
Q3. What was your best "field trip" this summer? ...open
Sarah - My settlement conference in Midland because I really felt like I was in control (subject to the client's instructions); I negotiated with
opposing counsel and the judge, and even made submissions before the
court. I have never felt so "lawyer-ly" in my life!
Joanna - Attending examinations for discoveries with an associate lawyer relating to a MVA matter in Hamilton.
Anthony - A security for costs motion watching MB senior counsel argue a complex motion with senior counsel on the opposing side.
Garett - Attended a motion being argued by five incredibly experienced counsel. It was the closest "Law and Order" experience I have had thus far.
Irina - A marathon mediation in Barrie (9am to 7pm) in a very quaint court reporting office with an associate. Very contentious Personal Injury matter involving a motorcycle and the case reached a contingent settlement last minute!
Sean - A mediation with a partner concerning a Family Law file. It was incredible to watch 3 senior lawyers argue the merits of the case at hand.
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Joanna - Attending examinations for discoveries with an associate lawyer relating to a MVA matter in Hamilton.
Anthony - A security for costs motion watching MB senior counsel argue a complex motion with senior counsel on the opposing side.
Garett - Attended a motion being argued by five incredibly experienced counsel. It was the closest "Law and Order" experience I have had thus far.
Irina - A marathon mediation in Barrie (9am to 7pm) in a very quaint court reporting office with an associate. Very contentious Personal Injury matter involving a motorcycle and the case reached a contingent settlement last minute!
Sean - A mediation with a partner concerning a Family Law file. It was incredible to watch 3 senior lawyers argue the merits of the case at hand.
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Q4. Sum up your summer experience in one sentence? ...open
Garett - I learned a lot, and was more capable than I thought, but I still
have a lot to learn.
Divya - Busier than I expected but just as fun and exciting as I had hoped!
Sam - Worked hard, learned tons, and had fun!
Brittany S - Is there a precedent for this?
Brittany Sud - Work hard, sleep little.
Josh - Extremely educational and a constant challenge to make me improve and develop.
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Divya - Busier than I expected but just as fun and exciting as I had hoped!
Sam - Worked hard, learned tons, and had fun!
Brittany S - Is there a precedent for this?
Brittany Sud - Work hard, sleep little.
Josh - Extremely educational and a constant challenge to make me improve and develop.
...close
Q5. What was your most memorable moment of the summer? ...open
Sarah - Dinner and Jays game with all of the summer students! Nothing says bonding like eating a massive amount of sweet potato fries.
Joanna - Meeting all the new summer students and developing a method of teamwork that is successful for this group.
Sam - Going out for dinner with the lawyers in my second week. Not only did I get to know the lawyers on a personal level, but I was also exposed to their senses of humor and relieved that I could reveal my own!
Irina - Attending a Settlement Conference in Windsor Small Claims Court via telephone alone! Calling co-defendant on their cell phone in Windsor because the court phone line had technical difficulties. After much technological failure, I successfully obtained a dismissal order to extricate our client out of action because they were wrongly named as a party to the action.
Josh - Sitting in on a two day examination for a very interesting file. The other lawyers on the file were very experienced and the content of the case was very unique.
Sean - Trying to hail a cab in the Toronto Flood of 2013!
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Joanna - Meeting all the new summer students and developing a method of teamwork that is successful for this group.
Sam - Going out for dinner with the lawyers in my second week. Not only did I get to know the lawyers on a personal level, but I was also exposed to their senses of humor and relieved that I could reveal my own!
Irina - Attending a Settlement Conference in Windsor Small Claims Court via telephone alone! Calling co-defendant on their cell phone in Windsor because the court phone line had technical difficulties. After much technological failure, I successfully obtained a dismissal order to extricate our client out of action because they were wrongly named as a party to the action.
Josh - Sitting in on a two day examination for a very interesting file. The other lawyers on the file were very experienced and the content of the case was very unique.
Sean - Trying to hail a cab in the Toronto Flood of 2013!
...close