DEMAND CONSISTENT FOR LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Robert Half Legal last week released its “2009 Salary Guide,” and the news is good for lawyers in this country.

“Demand is steady for legal professionals in Canada,” the report states. “Law firms and corporate legal departments seek specific practice area expertise, and they are willing to compensate practitioners with the right skills when they can find them.”

On top of hiring remaining steady, the guide forecasts that salaries will increase “slightly” or remain the same in the year ahead. While growth has lagged at some law firms, corporate legal departments are still hiring in order to meet heavy workloads, according to the study.

In terms of regional trends affecting Ontario markets, the study states that salaries in Toronto are higher than the national average. Securities, IP, insolvency, and litigation are the hottest specialties, according to the study.

Ottawa lawyers looking for work should direct their searches at mid-size firms, the study suggests, as they are doing the bulk of the hiring. Overall, salaries in Ottawa have risen slightly throughout 2008, according to the study.

LAWYERS RAISE FUNDS FOR AIDS CAUSES
A pair of fundraisers on Thursday have lawyers raising funds for HIV/AIDS.

Give a Night 2008, organized by articling students at several Toronto law firms, is a cocktail party and auction that will contribute to recipients of the Give a Day Campaign.

DANIELS TAKES POST AT JOHNS HOPKINS
The University of Toronto’s former dean of law has landed a key post in one of the United State’s most prestigious research universities.

Ron Daniels last week became the 14th president of The Johns Hopkins University. The school’s selection committee unanimously chose the distinguished scholar and academic administrator in an international search involving almost 300 nominees.

“Ron is a strategic thinker, known for articulating and implementing bold and visionary academic ideas and initiatives,” said Pamela Flaherty, chairwoman of the search committee, in a release from the university.

“He impressed the committee with his passion for the academic enterprise, his record of academic entrepreneurship, and his commitment to building excellence in both the basic sciences and multidisciplinary research centers and institutes.”

Daniels, 49, will assume the post at the Baltimore school March 2. He has been provost of the University of Pennsylvania since 2005, a position he left the University of Toronto to assume.

While at U of T, Daniels doubled the size of the Toronto law faculty, cut the student-faculty ratio, enlarged the endowment, increased financial aid, and spearheaded several other initiatives to improve the school.