BarTalk February 2003
Volume 15, Number 1

Career and personal balance a top priority

by David A Paul

In November 2002 Ipsos-Reid conducted a web and telephone survey of Canadian lawyers, asking them what they considered the most important issues facing lawyers today, and what they most cared about. The CBA-commissioned survey also asked them to rate their familiarity and satisfaction with CBA activities and services, and to rate them for relevance to their specific needs. Four quick highlights:

• Public perception & the credibility of lawyers, and achieving a balance between family and work are the issues of highest concern among Canadian lawyers. Affordability of legal services to clients is also frequently mentioned.

• B.C. members, like their counter-parts from the East Coast, are significantly more likely than other Canadian lawyers to list the marketing of legal services as a priority.

• Satisfaction with the CBA is highest in relation to advocacy, education and communication, supplier arrangements and publications.

• The CBA’s work on public image and advocacy, and continuing education/professionalism is rated most relevant to members.

Some interesting information emerged with respect to lawyers and their Internet and e-mail activity. Only one per cent of respondents have no access to the Internet at home or the office. Members prefer to receive news and notices by e-mail, but want access to hard copies of more substantial publications.

About 60 per cent of survey participants have visited the CBA Web site, but that figure rises to 70 per cent in B.C. However, our online activity level differs in comparison to colleagues in other provinces in that we are more likely to browse rather than download materials.

The CBA conducts surveys to provide an opportunity for lawyers to express their views outside of a particular special interest or arena of participation in the CBA. Engaging a professional polling company ensures we get the views of a cross section of the profession, and learn what really matters to lawyers.

Overall, the survey represents a high level of satisfaction with CBA services. Our strengths are clearly in the advocacy, education and member services field, and I take from that a direction to stay focused on core business of the CBA. Another clear message I get from this survey is that while the CBA has worked effectively to meet the needs of its members, activities to assist with balancing our work as lawyers with the quality of our personal and family life remains a top priority.

As a lawyer with a young family I certainly identify with the need to find professional and personal balance. Even before the poll was conducted I decided to make this issue the focus of this year’s President’s Forum. We will bring together experts and resources focussed on how to successfully establish and manage a law practice while maintaining a balanced and healthy personal life.

The President’s Forum is currently scheduled for Friday June 20, 2003. I want this Forum to be successful and relevant to our members. Please contact me or Forum co-chairs Meg Shaw or Diana Dorey, with your thoughts and suggestions.

As always, I invite members to contact me with your ideas on how the CBABC can assist our members in an increasingly stressful profession.

This article was published in the February 2003 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.