From courtrooms to clicks: Making the move

Law360 Canada (June 9, 2025, 2:51 PM EDT)

Last summer, over pasta and pizza at an Italian spot in midtown Toronto, I told my team, “We need to discuss a few imminent changes at the office, because what we are witnessing in the world right now requires adaptation — or the alternative will be our demise.”

Everyone who works with me knows that the only constant at my firm is change. It keeps us sharp. It keeps us engaged. It keeps us alive.

My law office doubles as the headquarters for my entrepreneurial ventures and property management business. On any given day, you can hear discussions about liquor deliveries for an event, scheduling snow removal in Muskoka, and frustrations over Toronto courts rejecting motion materials for some trivial error. In the middle of that chaos, I’ll pause to answer a call from “Serena DAUGHTER” flashing on my phone — because, yes, my three kids are listed with titles, and yes, I answer when they call, regardless of what I’m doing.

(And to my fellow lawyers raising eyebrows: client documents are strictly segregated — physically and digitally. I’m fully compliant with my ethical obligations.)

That day at lunch, as forks hovered midair, my team waited for the usual rapid-fire brainstorming session. But what I said next was worse — from their perspective.

“Artificial intelligence is here to stay.”

Last year, “AI” was still a buzzword. Now it’s a daily tool. If you think you can avoid it, think again. Could you avoid email? Could you avoid the Internet?

I remember dial-up — the screeching tone, the Ethernet cords, the transition to wireless. I remember how law school laptops required external modems, and the excitement of getting my first firm-issued BlackBerry. Eventually, I resisted switching to an iPhone until I was the last holdout — and finally caved after a kind but strategic push from my then-colleague, James Fireman. (James, you were right. There, I said it.)

The real shift, however, came post-pandemic. I missed the in-person chaos: rushing from court downtown to a discovery in St. Catharines, signing a client in Whitby, then winding down with Thursday night drinks in Yorkville. I resisted remote work for as long as I could. I believed being in-office was essential — for mentorship, collaboration, innovation. But change had already happened. And the truth is: I was clinging to the familiar.

Then, at an Entrepreneurs’ Organization conference in Calgary, I encountered something unexpected. A friendly voice called out. I turned to see … a monitor. On the screen was a real person, a virtual assistant working from the Philippines. We had a full conversation and I was floored.

The next day, I met Anthony Geraci, a lawyer from Orange County, Calif. We clicked immediately. Later, when he mentioned his company, Move Your Business, a virtual employment agency, I realized the man on the monitor had been one of his team members.

At first, I was skeptical. How could someone across the world manage my work? Could I trust them? Would they work during my hours? Would they speak English fluently?

But costs were rising. Profits weren’t. Ignoring the problem wouldn’t make it go away. Anthony said if it didn’t work out, he’d cover the first month. I had nothing to lose.

Fast-forward to today — my executive assistant, Kezia, based in the Philippines, has become essential. She’s efficient, organized and handles the whirlwind of my life with grace and poise. She’s never complained once. She genuinely wants to make things easier, and she does.

Pairing AI tools with virtual staff has transformed my business. Costs are down. Productivity is up. Profits increased. I’ve made the move — and I’m loving every minute.

If there’s one truth I’ve learned, it’s this: we can either resist change and risk obsolescence, or we can embrace it and evolve. The choice is yours.

About the Author:

Jasmine Daya is a civil litigation lawyer practising primarily in personal injury law at her firm, Jasmine Daya & Co., in Toronto.

The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the author’s firm, its clients, Law360 Canada, LexisNexis Canada or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.