Law360 Canada (September 17, 2026, 3:38 PM EDT) -- Informed by her experience fleeing civil war in Somalia as a child, Mariam Moktar, the new president of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), says she wants to help lawyers find certainty, clarity and comfort as they navigate rapid change in the profession.
Moktar, who started her one-year term on Sept. 1, told Law360 Canada that her “Be Sure” mandate is about “giving lawyers the tools, resources and knowledge to address challenges and opportunities head-on in a way that will help the profession thrive.”
Moktar said she would centre the OBA’s efforts to support lawyers around the pillars of “clarity, comfort and certainty.”
Ontario Bar Association president Mariam Moktar
“What that would look like in terms of assisting and providing support for lawyers would be first providing clarity through expanded professional development and legal technology literacy programming, including a new iteration of our AI academy, so our members can make informed, confident decisions about the tools that are reshaping our practice,” she said.
The OBA’s AI Academy is a member-exclusive, self-directed learning platform that offers personalized learning pathways, interactive exercises and a training sandbox for lawyers to practise using AI tools.
Moktar said the legal profession is facing change on several fronts, including the growing use of AI in legal research, contract analysis and case preparation. She also highlighted the challenges that hybrid and remote work can create for mentorship, collaboration and professional development.
“I think it’s easy for lawyers to feel overwhelmed by the changes, or to feel disconnected from their peers, and that’s where the OBA plays an essential role,” she said.
Moktar said the OBA can help by connecting lawyers with practical resources, skills training and a professional community.
“The OBA, we are the bridge builders,” she said. “We connect lawyers to the skill building, the practical resources and the community they need to move forward in today’s environment with confidence and support.”
Beyond the AI Academy, Moktar said the association plans to build on its existing programming with templates, checklists, guides and other curated resources, while expanding peer networks and mentorship opportunities. She said OBA resources are particularly important for lawyers navigating personal or professional transitions.
Her own involvement with the OBA showed her the value of that kind of professional community, Moktar said, adding that she turned to the association for “community” and “connection,” and benefited from its supports and resources as she became more involved in the organization.
She also said lawyers have a responsibility to speak up when the rule of law is threatened, adding that the principle is not merely an abstract legal concept.
“It is what allows people to feel safe and plan a future,” she said. “I’ve lived through what happens when the rule of law disappears.”
Moktar noted that the OBA launched a rule-of-law campaign in April that included programs delivered with 14 libraries and Rotary clubs and is preparing a second campaign for October, with presentations planned for high school students across Ontario.
She added that it’s important to help younger audiences understand why the rule of law matters in their daily lives.
“A strong OBA supports a strong profession, and a strong profession upholds the rule of law for everyone,” Moktar said.
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