Articling is also good for relieving stress. At least that’s what Brian Bell would claim.
Bell is CEO of the Windsor Public Library. He accumulated enough sick days to take time off from work. He even provided notes from his doctor saying he was stressed and overworked. But then they found out he was articling during his time off.
We’ve talked about other lawyers who double dip at jobs. But they weren’t CEOs of a publicly funded system, nor did they claim mental health to do so.
Bell had his legal education paid for by the generous library system’s education program. He has not indicated that running a major institution while taking law classes may have added to his stress.
The kicker is that Bell is still receiving his CEO salary, at a whopping $133,000 a year. He wisely declined to be compensated for his articling.
h/t Simon Chester of sLaw
Off to a good start. ; )
I wonder if he’s being paid for his articles. And I don’t know about Ontario, but here in BC you need the permission of the Law Society to work anywhere other than your Principal’s firm.
Tim,
The story clearly states that he is not being paid for his articles.
And he is not working at the library while doing his articles, only receiving a salary.
I hope that clarifcation helps.
Funny that going to law school on the taxpayer’s dime wasn’t stressful enough to merit sick time.
I believe he has since been fired from his public sector job. I wonder how good articling is for his mental health now.