The Lawyer Down the Hall
I interviewed Sina Hariri, Counsel and Manager, Practice Management (Supports), Practice Supports and Resources at the Law Society of Ontario in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Coach and Advisor Network. The following article is a summary of our discussion.
Twenty years ago, if I was stuck on a file, I would likely walk down the hall and ask a colleague for support. This colleague could help spot a legal issue, suggest a different approach, or identify a risk that had gone unnoticed. Those conversations helped prevent mistakes.
As the legal profession has evolved, consistent access to experienced colleagues has become less common for practitioners. Today, many lawyers do not have a “hallway” to walk down. As Law Society of Ontario counsel Sina Hariri observed, lawyers increasingly don’t have someone readily available “to bounce ideas off of.”
That reality inspired the LSO to create the Coach and Advisor Network (CAN), which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in the fall of 2026. This free program was created in response to a profession that is becoming more complex, more diverse, and subject to rapid changes in law, business structures, and technology.
Opening a Practice, Complex Questions
CAN offers both Coach and Advisor options, each designed to provide a different kind of support.
Coaching requests related to opening a practice are the most requested coaching topic. Hariri noted that one of the benefits of speaking with an experienced practitioner is the chance to learn from their experience.
CAN’s advisor requests most commonly involve family law, civil litigation, and real estate. Newer lawyers often seek guidance on procedural issues, while more experienced practitioners tend to bring complex or highly nuanced questions.
Sometimes the most difficult part of practicing law is finding the answer to a question you never realized needed to be asked. Hariri noted, one of the most common reactions from participants is “oh, you know what, I hadn’t actually thought of that”. From a risk-management perspective, that is where a second perspective can be truly invaluable.
Why Not Just Ask AI?
No discussion about support for lawyers in 2026 would be complete without mentioning AI.
Hariri sees value in AI tools, but also highlights that speaking with an advisor or coach is a completely different experience than interacting with AI because you are learning from someone who has dealt with a similar issue and understands the nuances that digital programs may miss.
Experienced practitioners can provide context, judgment, and perspective that comes from lived experience, not just sourced information.
Thinking About Volunteering? Read This First
I used CAN myself when I was in private practice. Years later, when I was invited to become a coach, I hesitated. Like many lawyers, I wondered whether I had enough experience to help someone else.
Hariri’s response is that “imposter syndrome is a real thing, and we all feel it at some point throughout our careers (if it even ever goes away).” His view is that lawyers often underestimate the value of their day-to-day experience. “You’re probably not even aware of the wide range of experiences that you accumulated as a licensee,” he noted.
Information does not always flow in one direction in a coaching relationship. While experienced practitioners bring judgment and perspective, newer lawyers often bring insights into technology, efficiency, and modern practice tools. The exchange can benefit both sides.
CAN is seeking volunteers across a range of practice areas, especially immigration, family law, and real estate, as well as lawyers with skills in integrating technology into practice or who speak additional languages. A volunteer and participant may claim up to 12 CPD hours per year, and LAWPRO waives any deductible and claims history levy surcharge on claims arising from eligible mentoring relationships, subject to the program requirements.
Asking for Help is a Professional Skill
The practice of law has always been demanding. Hariri, who previously practiced as a sole practitioner, observed that lawyers can sometimes feel disconnected and alone in the profession.
The takeaway is simple: one of the most effective risk-management strategies is knowing when to ask for help. Whether the issue is a difficult file, a new practice, or uncertainty about the next step, the colleague down the hall, or its modern equivalent, may still be one of the profession’s most valuable risk-management tools.
Visit PracticePRO’s Mentoring page for more information, including a list of mentoring programs available in Ontario.
By Safiyya Vankalwala, PracticePRO Manager & Counsel, LAWPRO