Legal Talk Network - Law News and Legal Topics

The relationship between Canada and the United States has made headlines over the summer, but the two countries also pose some unique, cross-border labor challenges. Guests Christopher Deehy and Cody Yorke are international labor and employment lawyers specializing in Canada/U.S. relations who deal with these differences daily.

Independent of the political climate, interactions on the labor and employment front create their own issues. One big difference is that unlike the United States, in Canada each province has its own labor laws, and in some cases such as banking, federal rules may also apply. It’s imperative to understand these variances when dealing with cross-border labor relations.

Oh, then there’s the French civil law code in Quebec and the use of the French language. Canada is not just “United States North,” it has its own laws and what may apply in the U.S. may not apply in Canada. For example, the “at-will” employment rules of the U.S. may not apply in Canada, where advance notice may be required. If you’re doing business across the border, this could be a factor.

No podcast can fully explore every aspect of the differences in labor and employment law between the U.S. and Canada, but if you’re working with a client with employment issues across the border, this intriguing episode with get you thinking about the questions you’ll want to ask.

Subscribe to ABA Labor and Employment Law Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/jzfpgfsst3wnyevnhvs9cq



REFERENCES MENTIONED:

National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act, 1935)

“Fast Facts About the At-Will Employment Doctrine,” Thomson Reuters

“Reasonable Notice of Termination: Overview,” Practical Law Canada Employment, Thomson Reuters

“Restrictive Covenant,” Government of Canada

“FTC Announces Rule Banning Noncompetes,” Federal Trade Commission

“Successor Liability,” Practical Law, Thomson Reuters

“Workplace Impairment Questions and Answers,” Government of Canada

Association of Labor Relations Agencies

The ABA Labor and Employment Law Section 2026 Annual Conference is scheduled for Nov. 4-7, 2026 in Washington, DC

ABA Labor and Employment Law Section

Jason Tashea joins Cat Moon to discuss his recent article “A Research Agenda for Justice Technology,” included in a volume published by the American Bar Foundation called “Global Perspectives on People-Centered Justice, Exploring the Evidence” on Talk Justice. They speak about knowledge gaps and critical areas for expanding research into technology initiatives of the justice system, courts and legal aid organizations.

Subscribe to Talk Justice An LSC Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/a3ett1fzs9a1qjipaqdufa

Flock Safety is a surveillance technology company that manufactures cameras and automated license plate readers used by law enforcement, neighborhoods, and businesses to deter crime, respond to emergencies, and investigate safety incidents. “Flock cameras” have been a source of controversy in communities across the nation, with critics arguing the constant tracking violates civil liberties and builds massive location histories without warrants, where supporters of flock cameras see it as an essential tool to combat crime.

On this Lawyer 2 Lawyer episode, Craig welcomes Katie Kinsey, Chief of Staff and Tech Policy Counsel at the Policing Project at the New York University School of Law. Craig & Katie spotlight flock cameras, examine the use and misuse of flock cameras in our communities, and discuss the pushback against surveillance, data privacy laws, the Fourth Amendment, and the potential impact on our citizens.

Subscribe to Lawyer 2 Lawyer: https://play.megaphone.fm/6kyeqlhety25kgmgqdr7cw

In this episode of the Un-Billable Hour’s Seat at the Table: How do you know when a hire isn’t working out (hint: you already know) and then pull the trigger and let them go?

It happens: you hire someone, and it doesn’t work out. So many firms put off the hard discussion: terminating an employee. It’s not pleasant, but it’s necessary. That’s where planning, preparation, and an established process come into play.

Is it a lack of communication? Or a truly bad fit? Establish performance metrics and address issues early on and help avoid surprises. When it’s time for the firing discussion, everyone should already know what’s coming because it’s been out in the open for a long time.

Clarity can reduce the risk of labor law tangles after the termination. Don’t let a fired employer create more problems. Reviews, management consultations, and documented steps can both guide your employee to better performance, which is optimal, or protect your firm after the firing.

You saw the signs. You knew it was coming. But now it’s time to take action and let an employee go. And if we all know the mantra “hire slow, fire fast,” we also know lawyers don’t always follow that rule. We can be way, way too slow to fire when an employee just isn’t working out.

So how do you know when the time has come? Our panel of legal management and HR pros digs in. As one panelist says, “If you wake up three mornings in a row thinking about somebody who’s not your spouse, they’ve got to go.” You know when someone is taking up too much time and derailing the office. The problem isn’t recognizing the problem, it’s not recognizing that you’ve already recognized the problem.

Have a plan, specific policies, metrics, management consultations, and a process for firing someone before you reach that point. Without clarity, even experienced HR professionals struggle.

Every process should account for your firm’s vulnerability. Labor laws, password management, access to client documents, even physical access to your office with keys or key cards should all be part of the process before the termination discussion. Dig into an episode today that can help your firm prepare for the future!



Subscribe to Un-Billable Hour: https://play.megaphone.fm/qxfro4f-suekajnwe_solw

REFERENCES MENTIONED:

ClioCon 2026, Oct. 26-27, 2026

Legal Talk Network Unbillable Hour

Law firms know change is coming. Knowing what to do about it is harder. In this episode of the Lawyerist Podcast, Stephanie Everett talks with Debbie Foster about leading a law firm forward as technology, client expectations, and the business of law evolve.

Debbie explains why strategy often gets pushed aside for urgent client work and day-to-day demands. Together, they explore why firms struggle to move beyond “we’ve always done it this way,” how consensus can stall progress, and why great ideas mean little without execution and team buy-in.

They also examine how AI is raising the stakes for law firm leaders. Waiting for certainty is not a strategy. Stephanie and Debbie share practical ways to protect time for strategic thinking, challenge assumptions, build buy-in, and help teams adapt to change.

If your firm keeps talking about what needs to change but struggles to make it happen, this episode will help you move from ideas to action.

Listen to the previous episodes of our Law Firm Leadership Series.

#632: Law Firm Leadership: How to Lead Yourself Before Leading Your Team, with Debbie Foster & Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN

#633: Leading People in Law Firms: Building Trust, Developing Talent, and Holding Standards, with Debbie Foster & Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN

#634: Leading Law Firm Operations: Building Systems That Reduce the Daily Firefighting, with Debbie Foster & Stephanie Everett Apple | Spotify | LTN

Links from the episode:

https://posh.com/lawyerist/

https://lawyerist.com/scorecard/

https://beanextlevelleader.com/



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Subscribe to Lawyerist Podcast: https://play.megaphone.fm/xrm0mqp4tqwi0ozntiu41g

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:47 – The New Small Firm Scorecard™

03:23 – Making Law Firm Progress Easier to Measure

06:38 – AI & Virtual Receptionists

08:08 – AI vs. Automation: What’s the Difference?

09:03 – Using AI to Enhance the Client Experience

12:03 – AI for Sentiment Analysis & Quality Assurance

13:04 – Keeping Humans in Control of AI

14:56 – Leading Your Law Firm Forward

15:24 – Why Law Firm Strategy Gets Pushed Aside

16:54 – AI Is Changing the Game for Law Firms

18:35 – Law Firms Are Playing 3D Chess

19:30 – Why Strategic Thinking Needs Protected Time

20:40 – Looking Beyond the Day-to-Day

22:47 – Moving Past “We’ve Always Done It This Way”

24:02 – Why Leading Through Change Is So Hard

24:34 – Great Ideas Aren’t the Problem. Execution Is.

26:58 – The Business Case for Law Firm Strategy

28:39 – Creating Believers Inside Your Law Firm

31:09 – Building a Culture That Thinks Ahead

32:28 – Why Leaders Will Build the Next Era of Law Firms