35 Years, 35 Voices highlights the members who have contributed to the Ontario Trial Lawyers Associations (OTLA) growth, strengthened access to justice and supported a collaborative plaintiff-side community across Ontario over the past 35 years.
Meet Joanna Sweet, OTLA Vice President and member since 2012.
Member Profile
Name: Joanna Sweet
Firm: Greg Monforton and Partners
Year called to the bar: 2013
Joined OTLA: 2012 as an articling student
We asked Joanna to reflect on her time with OTLA, the role the association has played in her career and what being part of the OTLA community means to her.
What motivated you to join OTLA?
I was introduced to OTLA through my firm, which provides memberships to all articling students and lawyers. Once I became acquainted with OTLA, I realized it was an invaluable resource and couldn’t imagine practicing personal injury law without it!
If you’ve been a member for more than five years, what has inspired you to renew your membership?
The work OTLA does advocating for injured people throughout Ontario brings the fight for justice beyond the courtroom and into the realm of politics. It’s THE voice for plaintiffs’ lawyers in this province. OTLA brings our issues to the politicians responsible for creating regulations and laws and ensures that they understand how their decisions affect injured Ontarians. It is one of the most important pieces of advocacy work that I do.
Have you made any meaningful professional connections through OTLA? If so, who or in what way?
OTLA is a great way to meet other plaintiffs’ lawyers, especially outside of your own city. I’ve met so many brilliant lawyers beyond my community in Windsor and have learned about how they practice, which in turn has influenced my own practice. I’ve also connected with lawyers who share an interest in the same issues and we have worked together when those matters affect our respective clients.
What advice would you give to new OTLA members or lawyers just starting out?
Go to the events and participate in CLE! While you’re there, approach members you don’t know and introduce yourself. This community will bring you knowledge and contacts that will ultimately make you a better lawyer.
What does being part of the OTLA community mean to you?
It means accomplishing things through a community that I couldn’t do on my own. Through OTLA, I can stand up for my clients outside of the courtroom by banding with other like-minded legal professionals. Together, we can ensure that our position is heard, even in the face of big insurance companies and the substantial resources they have to lobby the government.
