With an overview of key legal principles, guidelines, rules, statutes and regulations, each session will feature leading adjudicative and administrative law experts who will address problem scenarios and provide insight on best practices when confronted with these often complex and contentious ethical issues.

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Series Chairs

Lorne Sossin, Dean
Osgoode Hall Law School

Voy T. Stelmaszynski, Board Solicitor
Ontario Labour Relations Board

The Tribunal from Heaven

Panellists:

• Sean Dewart, Dewart Gleason LLP
• Ron Ellis, Author “Unjust By Design- Canada’s Administrative Justice System”; administrative law lawyer, teacher, academic, arbitrator, and former chair and
• CEO of a major administrative judicial tribunal
• Ian Roland, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP

Topics covered include:

• Independence and impartiality (how to establish it; how to maintain it)
  • Neutrality – is this different than independence? Impartiality?
  • Appreciate and understand the differences
  • Know when have you crossed the line
• Bias/conflict of interest - challenges to authority/jurisdiction
  • How to avoid these scenarios and what to do when you feel there is a chance for a reasonable apprehension of bias
  • Rules of law? When and how do they apply?
  • Safeguards that can be put in place to insulate from attacks of bias/conflict of interest
• Discussion of educational opportunities and importance of training:
• new members training programs; programs for adjudicators; role of
• ongoing continuing education
• Self-represented parties and how you should deal with these
  • Counsel’s obligations to client vs. administration of justice
• Strategies on how to maintain your independence
• Dealing with limited resources & practice management tools
• Temperament and communication – best practices
• Potential conflict issues surrounding lawyers as tribunal members
• Analysis of other jurisdictions – what has worked elsewhere that
• Ontario should take note of?
• Proven techniques for creating, developing and/or dealing with a
• particular culture/style of tribunal, counsel, etc.