Judicial independence is a bedrock principle of the rule of law. Why? Because an independent judiciary is the key to upholding the rule of law in a free society, maintaining public confidence in the justice system, and is critical to promoting a peaceful and inclusive society. Few principles are more important than the rule of…
Organizations across the board[1] are hemmed in by heightened volatility, shifting economic and political realities, evolving competition and technology, and a world of increasing complexity, uncertainty, and rapid change – dynamics that collectively mean that organizations must adapt and restructure, and do so more frequently, more thoroughly, and faster than ever before[2]:[3] “In today’s environment…
In today’s environment there are accelerated disruptions occurring in many industries as a result of new technologies,[1] new entrants, new business models, and globalization. Leaders must be able to adapt to the increasingly complex nature of the challenges to their industries – whether that be the legal industry,[2] healthcare,[3] or financial services,[4] etc.[5] – and…
Societies are undone in many ways, not all of them obvious. We tend to think of decline along economic lines, but it is a nation’s culture – particularly in terms of civility, public discourse, and the robust open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives[1] – that determines its societal credentials. Among any nation’s most precious…
From Volkswagen’s DieselGate to Wells Fargo’s banking scandal,[1] the breadth and nature of high-profile corporate[2] and government[3] scandals and well-publicized corruption is staggering. Headlines aside, ethical misconduct is hardly uncommon today – nearly half of all fraud cases are not publicly reported[4] and over 40% of executives surveyed in a recent study said “they could…
The legal industry and the evolving legal service delivery model is a terrific story, a fascinating puzzle and an entrenched maze of narratives. The traditional law firm partnership business model[1] is being significantly impacted by a combination of competitive alternative legal service providers, the expanding reach of technology, and the changing behaviour of the retail…
There was a time the American – Canadian, UK, and Australian – dream was built on the ideal that hard work leads to success. Today, with the rise of technology, the message has become: work all the time or you will fail.[1] The legal culture – in particular law firm culture – encourages workaholic behaviors,[2]…
Until relatively recently, throughout the world, legal services have by law only been delivered to the consumer by traditional law firms that are wholly owned and controlled by lawyers.[1] With the goal of modernizing the delivery of legal services and encouraging competition, reducing prices, and spurring innovation,[2] the UK, Australia and other countries have dropped…
The separation of politics from the judiciary is a cornerstone of the rule of law and Canada’s democratic system of government.[1] On November 9, 2016, the day after the United States presidential election, Justice Bernd Zabel entered a Canadian courtroom wearing a red “Make America Great Again” baseball hat, the campaign signature of the successful…
Legal professional privilege exists in most jurisdictions across the world. However, the scope, application, and nature of the protections afforded to legal professional privilege and confidentiality of communications vary widely. Because of the shared origins and many similarities between the legal systems of the UK, the U.S., Canada and Australia, there tends to be a…
