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Quebec bill grants protections and establishes new obligations to de facto unions

A new proposed Quebec legal framework for common-law couples who become parents after June 2025 will be entrusted with new rights and obligations, and benefit from some protections granted to married couples, a development viewed by family law experts as a step in the right direction. But Bill 56, aimed at providing a better safety net for children, falls short on several levels.

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Insurance suicide exclusion null and void, rules Quebec Appeal Court

Insurers must clearly indicate exclusions or clauses, particularly clauses dealing with suicide, that reduce coverage under an appropriate heading or risk having the exclusion clause declared null and void, ruled the Quebec Court of Appeal.

Quebec law society disbars 84 lawyers

A staggering 84 lawyers have been disbarred by the Board of Directors of the Barreau du Québec.

Class actions over COVID-19 certified against Google and Facebook

Two separate but related class actions were recently certified by Quebec Superior Court against tech behemoths Google and Meta for allegedly breaching Quebecers' freedom of expression by censoring or making content directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 unaccessible.

Law schools falls short of preparing students for practice, survey says

Law schools falls short of preparing students for practice, survey says.

McGill law professors on strike

McGill law professors, asserting that the university is negotiating in bad faith, began an unlimited strike two days ago, demanding better pay and working conditions, a halt towards the growing inclination towards centralization at the university, and the safeguarding of collegial governance at the faculty level.

Quebec looking at electronic surveillance of offenders serving conditional sentences

Nearly two years after the Quebec became the first jurisdiction in the country to introduce an electronic tracking system to thwart intimate partner violence, the provincial government is now considering the possibility of remotely following offenders serving sentences in the community.

Soccer club did not discriminate by refusing to integrate girls into a boys’ team

A Montreal soccer club did not discriminate by refusing to integrate two girls into a boys' team, ruled the Quebec Court of Appeal.

Alleged Darknet Xanax Kingpin faces extradition

The “Darknet Xanax Kingpin,” ostensibly a Quebecer who allegedly sold over 15 million counterfeit Xanax tablets that were mainly exported to the United States, failed to thwart extradition proceedings against him after Quebec Superior Court dismissed his constitutional arguments.

Bill aims to curb delays but stakeholders call for more resources

A new bill that seeks to curb delays in the justice system and rein in stays of proceedings will be conferring new powers to the justices of the peace by allowing them to oversee criminal court appearances and bail hearings, a development that has received lukewarm praise by Quebec’s main legal actors who were longing for more monies into the system.

Notwithstanding clause centre stage in Quebec Appeal Court ruling over controversial secularism law

The Quebec Court of Appeal, handcuffed by the provincial government’s use of the notwithstanding clause, upheld a controversial secularism law that bans religious symbols from being worn by government employees, in a decision lauded by legal observers who endorse the so-called “parliamentary sovereignty clause” while bemoaned by others who deem it to be a “major retreat” from the fundamental principle of the rule of law.

Employers’ obligation to protect psychological well-being of workers expanded by Quebec bill

The Quebec government, in an initiative welcomed by business and labour, is in the final stages of passing legislation that aims to further prevent and fight psychological harassment and sexual violence in the workplace by adding legal presumptions to make it easier to prove an employment injury or illness stemmed from violence at the hands of a co-worker or employer representative.

Law schools falls short of preparing students for practice, survey says

7 May 2024 / by Luis Millán

The McGill Law cohort earned top place at the École du Barreau’s exams for 2022-2023, with an astonishing 97.3 per cent of McGill Law graduates passing the assessments without preparatory courses, and 100 cent of the graduates who took preparatory courses.

At least at first glance those are impressive figures.

But a recent survey calls into question whether law schools sufficiently prepare students for practice.

Nearly half, or 45 per cent, of 546 junior associates said law schools did not sufficiently prepare them for their current roles, according to a survey conducted by legal recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa and legal data intelligence provider Leopard Solutions. What’s more, nearly a third, or 31 per cent, stated that their law firm experience didn’t meet their expectations coming out of law school.

There was a near consensus that law school was too heavily focused on theoretical concepts and doctrinal analysis while failing to impart practical skills necessary to facilitate a transactional business, said the survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with remote law school and remote work impacted the development of associates, affirms Laura Leopard, CEO of Leopard Solutions. “We know that younger attorneys place a premium on work-life balance,” said Leopard. “At the same time, though, there’s no denying that many have missed out on vital in-person training that’s necessary for growth in their legal careers.”

The survey found that most junior associates are satisfied with their career path, with the majority, 83 per cent, stating they would select to work for their current firm, and 79 per cent reporting they are satisfied with their assigned work. The majority, or 67 per cent, also said they plan to stay at their firms for three or more years. Less than 10 per cent said they plan to leave within the next year.

The survey also revealed that more than a third, 36 per cent, cited partnership as their top career goal, followed by working as in-house counsel (24 per cent) or a government/NGO role (12 per cent).

Law schools falls short of preparing students for practice, survey says

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