TANYA ALLY
DMJ - Tell us about yourself!
TA: My name is Tanya Ally and I am the current Junior Vice President of the Paralegal Society of Ontario. I am married to my wonderful husband, Sacha Ally, and together we have four beautiful children. I live and work in London, Ontario as an Insurance Defence Law Clerk at Lerners LLP. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking and baking, and having living room dance parties with my kids!
DMJ- What do you do professionally?
TA- As an insurance defence law clerk my focus is on
SABS (Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule) as well as
the defence of torts and other claims as they may arise.
In my previous employment as a paralegal, I represented
clients in a number of areas including: POA, Small Claims, HRTO,
WSIB/WSIAT, CPP Appeals, RSLA and Summary Criminal.
Over the course of the last two years as a director of the PSO,
I have had the opportunity to be involved with the advancement
of the profession in many ways including having held the
position as chair of the PSO's Legal Aid and Marketing
committees, contributing to the Morris Report, and acting as
board liaison to the Law Society's Equity Advisory Group.
DMJ- Has motherhood changed your life as a paralegal?
TA- Motherhood has definitely changed my career - I've replaced mountains of paperwork with mountains of diapers! Children grow so fast; being home on maternity leave watching our son grow is a welcome escape from the rat race - though I do miss the buzz of a busy office or courtroom sometimes!
DMJ- What do you like and dislike about being a paralegal in London, Ontario?
TA- London has an impressive collection of amazingly talented legal professionals and I've learned a lot from my colleagues who are always willing to share insight and information. Our courts, boards and tribunals are mostly all within easy walking distance in the downtown core. The few times I appeared on matters in the GTA made me realize how good we have it here in London when it comes to traffic and travel time!
DMJ- How do you see the future of your professional paralegal activities?
TA- I am so pleased to have been given the opportunity to be involved as a Director of the PSO and now as an interim board member of our newly amalgamated entity, the Ontario Paralegal Association. Regardless of title, I will always strive to be an advocate for the profession and to support and facilitate access to justice whenever possible.
DMJ- Do you have any special area of interest that you would like to be covered by Today’s Paralegal?
TA- I'd love to see serial articles covering the less familiar areas of practice for paralegals such as SABS, RSLA litigation, Criminal Injuries Compensation Board amongst many others. Interviews with those who provide services in these areas may be beneficial to new licensees who ask the question we've all asked at one point or another "what can I do as a paralegal besides the Big 3?"
DMJ- Thanks Tanya; and all the best!
TANYA ALLY