Paul Schabas has been elected to become the next treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
The third-term bencher was elected on a third ballot at Convocation’s June meeting. Schabas beat out the other candidates Susan McGrath, Raj Anand, and Howard Goldblatt, who Schabas defeated on the final ballot by a vote of 38-21.
Schabas is a partner and senior trial and appellate lawyer at Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, where he teaches media law. He is credited with arguing many substantial cases before the Supreme Court of Canada that have had implications for defamation and equality rights law.
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In his first meeting as treasurer, Schabas outlined a list of the five priorities he wants the LSUC to focus on under his watch.
Among them as addressing how the law society can take a leadership role in enhancing access to justice.
“The law society can’t fix the access to justice challenges on its own but it can be more active in working with government, the courts, Legal Aid Ontario, and others, and pushing for changes and improvements in how legal services are delivered in Ontario,” he said.
“We have a critical role to play here to improve access to legal services.”
Other priorities Schabas mentioned included governance issues, operations, as well as licensing and competence. He also spoke about the need to develop a strategic plan to better engage member lawyers and paralegals, as well as members of the public.
The outgoing treasurer, Janet Minor, congratulated Schabas and thanked Convocation before leaving the meeting, as tradition dictates.
Schabas said the five priorities are just a snapshot of what he hopes the law society will focus on, and he is committed to having robust and wide open debates and discussions during his term as treasurer.
“We are all here for the same reason — to improve our profession and act in the public interest — and together we can achieve results we are proud of at the end of our time here,” Schabas told Convocation.
“So let’s get to work.”