So today I appeared as a guest on Newstalk 1010 radio with Marc Saltzman of Tech Talk.  Marc and I talked about the history of Dynamic Lawyers, the new Legal Forms + Video Guides initiative, and took some calls from interested listeners.  Here’s the show in part 1 and part 2:

FYI, this was my second appearance on Newstalk 1010 radio with Marc Saltzman.  Here’s the first interview:

(Just scroll down)

FYI, Marc is a great guy who really knows his technology

Here’s his bio:

Marc Saltzman is one of North America’s leading consumer technology columnists, who contributes to nearly 50 high-profile publications in Canada and the U.S. (including USA Today, Toronto Star, CanWest, CNN, Sympatico.ca, MSN.ca, Yahoo!, Costco, Movie Entertainment, AARP, Playboy and many Rogers Publishing magazines). Marc, who has authored 14 books, also hosts “Gear Guide,” a video segment that airs before the film begins at Cineplex and IMAX theatres, along with TV spots (on CTV News Channel) and radio shows (NewsTalk 1010, in Toronto). In 2008, Marc’s technology blog, Sync (www.sync-blog.com), was rated Best Technology Blog in Canada by an independent panel of experts.

written by admin \\ tags: Dynamic Lawyers, how dynamic lawyers works, legal forms video guides, Michael Carabash

Here’s Legal Form + Video Guide #13:

Plaintiff’s Claim – Construction | Renovation Dispute (Ontario) –

This Court Form Package can be used by a party who wants to start a lawsuit in Ontario’s Small Claims Court concerning a Construction / Renovation dispute.   If you are looking for other court forms and guidance go to www.DynamicLawyers.com.  This package comes with a FREE VIDEO GUIDE (watch a useful example of how this court form can be customized), a FREE DL GUIDE (read helpful information about this court form), and another FREE DL GUIDE that offers valuable insight into preparing for and attending Ontario’s Small Claims Court.  What are you waiting for?  Go to www.DynamicLawyers.com.  Best of all, if you DO need a lawyer and need some legal advice, simply make a post and get FREE quotes from Ontario lawyers focusing on the area of law you require!

This information and this sample video guide is NOT legal advice and is provided for informational purposes only.  If you need an Ontario lawyer, go to Dynamic Lawyers and make a post.

written by admin \\ tags: construction renovation dispute, ontario small claims court forms, plaintiff's claim

Here’s Legal Form + Video Guide #12:

Cohabitation Agreement (Ontario) – Terminates Upon Marriage

This Agreement can be used by parties who are cohabiting or who intend to cohabit and want to define their respective rights and obligations concerning support, property, the moral education of children, etc.  THIS Agreement terminates upon marriage.  If you are looking for a Cohabitation Agreement that does not terminate upon marriage but which essentially becomes a Marriage contract, then you can purchase one of these types of Cohabitation Agreements (Ontario) at Dynamic Lawyers.  All of Dynamic Lawyers‘ legal forms are lawyer-prepared, simple to read, easy to customize, and only a fraction of the price a lawyer would charge.  Also, each legal form comes with a FREE VIDEO GUIDE (watch a useful example of how this legal form can be customized), a FREE DL GUIDE (read helpful information about this legal form), and another FREE DL GUIDE that sheds valuable insight into how legal forms can be challenged.  What are you waiting for?

This information and this sample video guide is NOT legal advice and is provided for informational purposes only.  If you need an Ontario lawyer, go to Dynamic Lawyers and make a post.

written by admin \\ tags: cohabitation, cohabitation agreement, cohabitation agreement ontario, legal forms and video guides, ontario lawyer, toronto family law lawyer

Here comes Legal Form + Video Guide #11:

Settlement and Release Agreement (Mutual)

This Agreement can be used by parties who wish to obtain releases and settle disputes between them.   If only one party needs a release (because they were at fault), then you can purchase a One-Sided Settlement and Release Agreement from Dynamic Lawyers. Here’s the sample Video Guide that comes with this Settlement and Release Agreement (Mutual):

Remember: if you need an Ontario lawyer, go to Dynamic Lawyers and make a post.

written by admin \\ tags: canadian legal agreements, canadian legal forms, download, mutual, ontario legal forms, release agreement, settlement agreement, settlement and release agreement mutual

Here comes Legal Form + Video Guide #10:

Settlement and Release Agreement (Employment – Upon Termination)

This Agreement can be used by an Employer to obtain releases and settle disputes concerning the employment and termination of an Employee.  Here’s the sample Video Guide that comes with this Settlement and Release Agreement (Employment – Upon Termination):

Remember: if you need an Ontario lawyer, go to Dynamic Lawyers and make a post.

written by admin \\ tags: employer employee, employment release, settlement and release agreement, termination

Here comes Legal Form + Video Guide #7:

Power of Attorney for Personal Care (Ontario)

This Legal Form can be used to appoint a person to make personal care decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so.  We also have a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property available on Dynamic Lawyers if you need one, as well as a Living Will (these things are typically done all at the same time with your Last Will and Testament).  Here’s the sample Video Guide that comes with this Power of Attorney for Personal Care:

Remember: if you need an Ontario lawyer, go to Dynamic Lawyers and make a post.

written by admin \\ tags: attorney, enduring power of attorney for property, living will continuing power of attorney for property, ontario, power of attorney for personal care, powers of attorney

Here comes Legal Form + Video Guide #5:

Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement (Mutual)

This Agreement can be used to restrict both parties’ use and disclosure of confidential information that is being provided to it.  If only ONE party is sharing confidential information and want to restrict the other’s use and disclosure of that information, then you can purchase a ONE-SIDED Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement.   Here’s the sample Video Guide that comes with this Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement (Mutual):

Remember: if you need an Ontario lawyer, go to Dynamic Lawyers and make a post.

written by admin \\ tags: confidentiality and non disclosure agreement mutual, download legal form, lawyer prepared, legal forms, video guides

Omar Ha-Redeye and Mitch Kowalski of the National Post picked up on Windsor Law Class of 2009’s video about OCIs (On-Campus-Interviews).  Law students know these all to well.  The process.  The interviews.  The stress.  It’s all here in this fantastic and very professionally-done video:

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One of the more popular pages on the DL Blog is the one dealing with legal forums.  Everyday people are hungry for answers.  The problem is that lawyers may be reluctant (and for good reason) in giving away any type of advice over the Internet.  Why?  Well, because they need to meet the client, get retained, review the facts, research the law, provide an opinion and get paid for their services.  It would be negligent of lawyers to provide such services without going through this process.  There is a risk that recommending something could be taken out of context by a person who doesn’t fully appreciate their unique situation (and all situations are unique).  The next thing: the lawyer gets blamed for giving advice.  So, with that caveat said and done, legal forums are not typically places where you will find legal advice.  Rather, you’ll find legal information which is general guidance rather than specific advice (i.e. doesn’t apply to any particular person).

So here’s an updated list of legal forums I am aware of:

1. AdviceScene – These guys just revamped their website.  They’re doing some new and cool things in addition to have a general law wiki.
2. Ottawa Divorce Forum – This is a forum dedicated to family law and divorce matters.  I laughed when I read one category that said: “Family law is a joke and fathers are the punch line” (or something like that).
3. IsItLegalTo – U.S. legal forum
4. The Attorneys Forum – another U.S. legal forum
5. Free Advice – yet another U.S. legal forum
6. Expert Law – yet again another U.S. legal forum

So what does this tell you?  Well, there are lots of U.S. legal forums, but not that many Canadian ones!  Wow.  Even though there’s  areal hunger for legal information, you’d have to go to individual lawyer websites (assuming they provide answers or information) which could be hard to find as they are generally not search engine optimized (so you can’t search for them online!).  But then again: there’s always Dynamic Lawyers if you’re looking for an Ontario lawyer and want to get a quote!

Note: lawbuzz.ca is shut down – apparently permanently.

written by admin \\ tags: legal forum, legal forums

Good friend and fellow blogger Omar Ha-Redeye brought Gowlings Trendwatch to my attention today and I thought I should mention it here.  This is a pretty cool and professional way for Gowlings’ lawyers to showcase their knowledge through videos and pdfs.   Topics (at the moment) include the Americanization of Canadian class-actions, the HST which is set to come into effect in certain Canadian jurisdictions, and Canadian advertising laws for Americans.  It’s interesting to note that the videos are not available on YouTube (perhaps yet?) and that you can only access them by going to their website.

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