The inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris was pretty unforgettable. It felt like a real turning point in the American political trajectory — and it was an exciting moment to see the first woman sworn in as vice-president. I was in awe of Amanda Gorman and thrilled to see the musical celebrities who contributed to the historic moment. I loved seeing Michelle Obama, Vice-President Harris and Hilary Clinton wearing purple and was interested to learn more about the artists who designed their clothes. Special indeed.
For me, there was something else special about the inauguration. As I watched Barack Obama greet his predecessors, the CNN commentator pointed out that some former presidents only see each other at inaugurations and state funerals. Watching him greet people he doesn’t know very well but was (mostly) glad to see in any event made me truly nostalgic for my own equivalent social gatherings. In non-COVID times, I went to a lot of events. And I didn’t realize how much I had missed them.
On March 5, 2020, I attended the Toronto Lawyers Association’s annual awards gala. I haven’t been to a single event in the legal community (or anywhere for that matter) since. While there, I shook some hands, enjoyed some desserts from the buffet (horrifying to think of now) and saw a lot of people I know a little bit. I caught up with a few law-school classmates, said hello to someone I used to work with, connected IRL with some people I only knew on Twitter and introduced myself to a lawyer who was being profiled in an upcoming issue of Precedent. None of these people fit into the definition of “friend,” but, wow, do I miss these more distant connections. You might not be a former Republican president or Lady Gaga, but I miss you just the same.
It will still be a while before lawyers in Toronto can be together again at events. But I hope Precedent can help bridge that gap. In this issue, our art directors and photographers went above and beyond to arrange COVID-safe photoshoots while navigating the ever-changing lockdown protocols. The result is an issue filled with pictures of Toronto lawyers. You might not know them all, but perhaps you went to law school with one or know another from Twitter. Maybe you’ll spot a former classmate or colleague. And I hope that brings you a bit of the inauguration-style connection we have all been missing.
Melissa Kluger
Publisher & Editor
melissa@precedentmagazine.com
@melissakluger
Tell us about your best ideas
The Precedent Innovation Awards have become an annual tradition. At the outset of spring, we embark on a search for the legal trendsetters who have found creative solutions to some of the profession’s thorniest problems.
And so, if you’ve implemented an original initiative that makes the profession better, we want to hear about it. To submit an application, head over to precedentmagazine.com/innovationawards. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, May 5, 2021. We will feature the winners in our Winter issue.
Photo of Melissa Kluger by Ian Patterson