I am a licensing candidate with practical experience as a law clerk, assisting with litigation files up to discovery examinations, filing court documents, and effectively advising and collaborating with clients while managing expectations.
I am currently completing the educational component of the Law Practice Program (LPP), an alternative to traditional articling, which fulfills the LSO's core competency requirements through intensive simulated case files. My training has covered:
- Civil Litigation: Client intake, drafting pleadings, reviewing affidavits of documents, preparing clients for discoveries, conducting examinations (injury matters), trial proceedings, and witness examinations (insurance cases).
- Business Law: Reviewing and drafting contracts, completing incorporation forms, and supporting business acquisitions.
- Family Law: Client intake, preparing meeting memos, drafting pleadings, advising on parenting and custody rules, familiarity with partner violence screening tools, and preparing urgent motions.
- Criminal Law: Advising clients on arrest calls, researching bail requirements, analyzing Crown disclosures, developing case theories, negotiating in CPTs and JPTs, researching precedents, and determining sentencing strategies.
- Administrative/Immigration Law: Drafting Basis of Claim forms, conducting country-specific research, consolidating disclosure packages, addressing Article 1E notices, and preparing for refugee hearings through mock trials.
General Skills Developed:
- Advising clients on legal procedures, drafting retainers, and addressing client concerns.
- Preparing research memos using tools like Westlaw, Lexis, and CanLII.
- Managing tasks through Clio and leveraging AI for legal research and document review.
- Exposure to trial processes: reviewing evidence, drafting opening/closing statements, and conducting examinations (in-chief, cross, and re-examinations).
- Drafting contracts and various legal documents.
The next phase of the LPP requires a 4-month experiential work placement, ideally starting January 2025. All LSO reporting requirements will be completed by the LPP faculty. I am eager to expand my knowledge in criminal, family, personal injury, or corporate law but am open to other practice areas, excluding Real Estate and Estate law. I am willing to relocate, can work both in-person and remotely, and have access to a vehicle.
Please feel free to contact me to discuss how I can contribute to your team at rank.mann@torontomu.ca
