 When I was around eight or nine years old, I was riding my 1980s “Blue Angel” bicycle on a rocky trail near my home in the country. Going down a steep hill, my feet slipped off the pedals and I lost control of my bike. I could not back-pedal to brake. Hurtling down at a high speed, my front wheel hit a large rock and I flew high over the handlebars, landing headfirst on the gravel and dirt (no helmet of course, it was the 80s). My father, who was behind me and witnessed my crash, probably thought I was dead. I’ve never seen him so upset, with tears in his eyes as he picked me up and held me, my face bloody from the impact.
In the following weeks, as my cuts and bruises healed, I was too afraid to get back on that bike. I left it in the garage, avoiding it. Then those weeks turned into months and those months into years. I grew accustomed to the idea of never getting on a bicycle again. And to this day I haven’t. Fast-forward to March of 2020. When the pandemic hit, it was a scary time. Like most people, I was worried for the health of my loved ones, but also, I was concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the length of the lock-down, the effect it would have on my young children, and the economic impact on my business and law practice. But a part of me, the introvert part of me, finally felt at ease. Being forced to stay home, was, in fact, liberating. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy being social and interacting with other human beings. Like most introverts, though, social gatherings drain me, and I have to “psych” myself up and put on my “extrovert” face before I go out. Then, after the event, dinner, or party, I need to be alone to recharge my batteries before I do it all again. It can be exhausting. Pre-pandemic, I would attend several client meetings, business coffees, and networking events during the week and several personal social events on the weekends. In the first few weeks of the pandemic, when these events were cancelled (or moved online), I was in heaven. For the first time in what felt like forever I didn’t have to leave my house! It was amazing. But then those weeks turned into months, and the months turned into years of being able to avoid social gatherings without judgement. And just like I grew comfortable with the idea of never riding a bike again, I have grown comfortable with the idea of never leaving my house again. This is not good. Introverts may dread social situations, but as human beings, we need them. While avoiding in-person social gatherings has given me short-term relief, it also seems to have reinforced my discomfort and trepidation. I feel like this prolonged avoidance has made things harder for me to return to a “normal” life. Fortunately, unlike the little girl avoiding her bike, I have every intention of attending social gatherings again. But, as I return, I will do so at my own pace (one step is publishing this blog post, as I re-emerge into the online social world, something else I have been avoiding since I paused my blog in 2021). It was only a few weeks ago that I had my first in-person business coffee since March of 2020. I left the meeting feeling energized (how I imagine extroverts feel when they leave parties) confirming for me that while I may think that I would prefer to hide at home forever, I need to get back out there. Slowly. I will dip my toes in and get used to the water. No headfirst dives for me. Luckily, I have my own business, so no one is mandating that I return to the office full-time. I hope law firms or legal departments that have asked their employees to return in-person are being mindful of this adjustment period for some of us. And it’s not just returning to the office, it’s returning to in-person client meetings, CPD events, and court appearances, too. While Zoom court has its downsides, I am sure many anxious lawyers enjoyed not having to worry about finding the robing rooms, or courtroom number, or arriving late, or remembering what table to sit at, etc. Those of you who are extroverts, or even ambiverts, may not be able to relate to anything that I’ve written. You may be like many people I know who have been eager to re-enter the world and have been attending in-person events for some time. I’m writing this post to remind people that as the world is re-opening (or has already re-opened for many of you) there may be a steep readjustment period for some of us. To those of you reading this who are dreading returning to the office, remember that it is good for us to leave our house and get back out there. However, be kind to yourself – take breaks from the busy office, take some alone time at lunch, maybe ask for a hybrid working model, etc. It may be hard at first, but it will get better. As for me, as I summon the courage to start attending more in-person social gatherings, maybe this summer, 35 years later, I will finally find the strength to borrow someone’s bicycle and truly test the old saying, “It’s like riding a bike.”
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 I tend to give (mostly solicited, sometimes unsolicited) advice to other lawyers on how to deal with the stresses and challenges of working in the legal profession. Some of that advice has been (in no particular order):
The thing that has not been working for me is this blog. Once a joy and an outlet for my stress, something I looked forward to writing each month, has now become a bit of a chore, that dreaded item that falls to the bottom of my To-Do list, causing me grief. I’m not exactly sure why I feel this way now. I could chalk it up to any number of reasons. It could be because this pandemic has wreaked an emotional toll on me, with working from home, kids in online school, not seeing family and friends… It could also be that my freelance lawyer & law clerk business, Flex Legal, has grown significantly in the last six months - which is great, don’t get me wrong - but it is taking up all my time and energy. I probably should have stopped writing months ago, but I am not “a quitter”. I’ve always placed great importance on being someone who follows through on a commitment. I want others to know my word is good, you can trust that I will do what I say I will do. It’s one of my top values in life. But this value can also be my downfall. I once stayed in a job that was causing me severe mental stress because I was not a “quitter”. In my younger days, I stayed in relationships I knew were not right because I was not a “quitter”. And, I stayed writing this blog because I promised myself, I would write at least one blog post a month, and I always follow through on a promise. And I have. I started this blog back in 2014 when I was unemployed after spending 7 years at one firm and 7 months at another. I was at a crossroads in my career. That is when I decided I would give “freelance lawyering” a shot. I did some research and designed my own website for this new freelance practice and read somewhere that a good way to get traffic to your site was to have a blog. So, I thought, why not? My first post was called: “Is Legal Ghostwriting Unethical?” Since that time, I have written one or two blog posts a month, including posts on case comments, book reviews, summaries of legal events, EDI issues, legal career advice - basically anything and everything related to being a lawyer or law. I also started a successful blog series on Women Leading in the Law, when I was tired of reading about women leaving law, and wanted to read about women leading in law instead. I could never really anticipate which posts would be popular, I just wrote about things that interested me. Surprisingly (or not), my most read blog post, with over 10,000 unique page views is: “What are a Lawyer’s Professional Obligations When Leaving a Law Firm?” It has been a fun seven (!) years, from when my mom was the only one reading this blog to winning the top CLAWBIE award (the “Fodden Award for Best Canadian Law Blog”) in 2017, to being contacted by the CBC to use my “influence” (ha!) as a blogger to share news about a CBC radio documentary on Justice LeDain, and being mentioned in an article in a national newspaper. I have learned a lot about myself, other lawyers, and the legal profession through writing this blog, but I keep hearing the words in my head from one of my favorite childhood books by Dr. Seuss … “The time has come, the time is now, … ‘Erin C. Cowling’ will you please go now?!” The time has indeed come, and the time is now, to say goodbye (or at least press the pause button) on this blog. Before I sign off, I want to say thank you. Thank you to my mom for being the first to read these posts. Thank you to everyone who has signed up for my emails and read and commented on my posts (even you trolls, you know who you are). Thank you to everyone who has emailed me directly when something I have written has struck a nerve. Thank you to the 74 amazing women who took the time to answer my questions for the Women Leading in Law series. This was a huge accomplishment and I’m glad it brought a spotlight to so many talented women lawyers across Canada. Keep up the great work. And thank you to you for reading this and making me feel like I am not alone in this crazy and amazing profession. Farewell! I may be saying goodbye to this blog, but I am not going anywhere. You can read more about freelance lawyering and other insights about the legal profession over at our Flex Legal blog. You can also always reach me at erin@cowlinglegal.com or erin@flexlegalnetwork.com , or on Twitter @Cowlingerin & @Flexlegalnet and on LinkedIn  Welcome back to the Women Leading in Law blog series. Today's post features Maneesha Gupta, an IP lawyer and the founder of Mindful Lawyer Canada, Canada's premier mindfulness community for legal professionals. I think at this point in the pandemic we could all use a little more mindfulness in our lives. Read on to learn more about Maneesha's journey and success in law: 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I am an Intellectual Property and Technology lawyer practicing in all aspects of IP, advertising, and technology law. I am currently working at TD Bank. I advise on cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, automation and risk management for AI adoption. I started Mindful Lawyer Canada to motivate people to lead inspired lives. The idea was born on Bay Street in 2018. I felt drained, powerless, defeated, and lost. Early on in my career, I also saw that a lot of things were broken in the way lawyers talked about self-care and mental health. I put my hobbies on the backburner and remember how hard it was to attend personal appointments due to limited time and a fluctuating work schedule. I had spent hours looking for an easy-to-access group of lawyers seeking wellness, personal development, and peer-to-peer solutions. Initially, my aim was to create a community meditation space for lawyers. MLC has since expanded beyond that to a suite of corporate wellness programs, weekly mindfulness sessions and events catered to any legal professional. Pursuing mindfulness with peers can be an incredible way to boost our energy, support our physical and mental health, and connect with others. For the law firms, proactive and scalable mindfulness and inclusion helps to retain talent, reduce lawyer burn-out, save money, and improve the health and productivity of employees. I remember within the first week with a post on it, someone contacted me to run a mindfulness event for hundreds of legal professionals. And then the second big tech event was booked, and how inspiring and encouraging that was. The pandemic has taught us that we need connection and community in our lives now more than ever. 2. Why did you go to law school? Unlike most people, I wanted a law degree as a stepping stone to the next chapter in my career. I have a long way to go. I come from a large family of established doctors and engineers, so it took a lot to convince them that this was going to be my path. I paid for everything myself in school and worked multiple jobs to make it all fit. At Osgoode Hall Law School, I loved the faculty, took part in a moot, and enjoyed my favourite course called Beyond Bay Street, which confirmed this was the right decision for me. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? Mostly design. Despite all the science degrees around me, I gravitated towards becoming a lawyer. There was no inflection point – a career in law was my "calling" and I streamlined all my goals with that in mind. I am self-driven and proud to be a first generation lawyer. I also come from a close-knit and exceptionally hard-working family. My parents left India more than 50 years ago and from a young age, they instilled in us the importance of standing on your own two feet, honouring your roots, having integrity, and giving back. My parents and I share a strong bond - they are my closest friends, a huge part of who I am, and how I got to where I am. I am also inspired by other women leading in law. Eva Chan is a trailblazer who leads by example. Eva has taught me so much about being focused, authentic, intentional, purposeful, and supporting others. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? While there are many things I am proud of (running full marathons, being a dragon-boater, dance), nothing will beat the feeling of passing my bar exams and being called to the bar with my colleagues. All my dreams came true that day, and my sacrifices and hard work had paid off. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? We have a white-male driven legal profession with significant gender and racial challenges. Consequently, people of colour, persons of disability, women and other gender identities often repeatedly demonstrate their commitment and competence thereby feeling exhausted and demoralized. Earning a law degree in Canada is a privilege – a legal education gives you the opportunity to rise up, influence decision-making and create space for different races, backgrounds, and genders. Don’t waste your time being a passive bystander in your career. No matter what direction you decide to take, invest in your own growth and make it work for you. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Integrity, reputation, and ethics are paramount to your character and career – start and end with these values in mind. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t stay in jobs where you are living an inauthentic life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you Maneesha for taking the time to participate in this series and I look forward to seeing Mindful Lawyer Canada's continued success! I started this blog series because I was tired of hearing about women leaving law and wanted to hear about women leading in law. The "Women Leading in Law" series focuses on good news stories and highlights amazing women succeeding in the legal profession. Each post includes the profiled lawyer's answers to six questions. Prepare to be inspired! ICYMI - previous posts profiled the following amazing lawyers: Victoria Perrie, Amee Sandhu, Tanya Walker, Alysia Christiaen, Patricia Gamliel, Megan Cornell, Yola Ventrescu, Hilary Book, Margaret Waddell, Nandi Deterville, Jennifer Quaid, Maryann Besharat, Cynthia Mason, Roots Gadhia, Evelyn Ackah, Carrisa Tanzola, Sarah Leamon, Robin Parker, Lorin MacDonald, Karen Yamamoto, Victoria Crewe-Nelson, Lynne Vicars, Kemi Oduwole, Anne-Marie McElroy, Jennifer Gold, Jordana Goldlist, Megan Keenberg, Yadesha Satheaswaran, France Mahon, Sarah Molyneaux, Richa Sandill, Vivene Salmon, Kim Whaley, Alisia Grenville, Frances Wood, Maggie Wente, Anita Szigeti, Neha Chugh, Christy Allen & Nancy Houle, Suzie Seo, Kim Gale, Alexi Wood, Melissa McBain, Erin Best, Gillian Hnatiw, Melanie Sharman Rowand, Meg Chinelo Egbunonu, Lisa Jean Helps, Nathalie Godbout Q.C., Laurie Livingstone, Renatta Austin, Janis Criger, May Cheng, Nicole Chrolavicius, Charlene Theodore, Dyanoosh Youssefi, Shannon Salter, Bindu Cudjoe, Elliot Spears, Jessica Prince, Anu K. Sandhu, Claire Hatcher, Esi Codjoe, Kate Dewhirst, Jennifer Taylor, Rebecca Durcan, Atrisha Lewis, Vandana Sood, Kathryn Manning, Kim Hawkins, Kyla Lee, and Eva Chan.   Since the beginning of this blog in 2014, I’ve written at least one blog post per month. This has been a relatively easy goal to reach.
Until now. This month I started several posts only to get stuck in my own writing process. Which made me realize that I actually have a writing process. It’s not one that I strategically developed; it’s more like a process I fall into time and time again without any conscious effort. But in the end, it seems to work for me. So, I ditched the last draft I was writing and decided to write about the seven stages I proceed through every single time I write something. Almost like the seven stages of grief, every time I draft a blog post, factum, statement of claim, affidavit, or article for a publication, I inevitably go through the following: Stage 1: “Woohoo! I’m excited! I love writing!” I’m always excited and filled with anticipation when I start with a blank page. I feel the creative juices bubbling beneath the surface ready to move my fingers on the keyboard. I’m excited about the prospect of creating something from nothing and the potential for greatness. I’m excited to craft a winning argument to help a client win their case. I’m excited to tell a story in an affidavit. I’m excited to share my thoughts in a blog post or article. This is one of my favourite stages in my writing process. Stage 2: “I’m the worst writer ever and my client’s case is crap (or the idea for this article is crap).” And…. from the soaring heights of excitement, I come crashing down into the depths of despair. This usually happens after I start writing for a bit and put some words on the page. I then realize that perhaps the client’s case is not as great as I initially thought. Or, what I thought was the legal issue I was researching perhaps isn’t the one I should be focusing on. Or, the article idea now seems boring. I can’t seem to get my ideas straight. The paragraphs don’t flow. There is no organization. What I’ve written is an incoherent mess (or at least I think it is). Stage 3: “I’m back on track. I totally know what I need to do now!” Once I get the initial mess out on to the page and stare at it long enough, I reach a point where I can see through the mess and clarity emerges. [Cue image of clouds dispersing and sun shining through – this is the “aha!” moment] The structure and ideas all make sense. At this point I can really start writing. I get into a groove and the words start flowing again. Stage 4: Dun Dun Dun! …..The Dreaded Spin Cycle This stage of my writing process always sneaks up on me. I think I will make it through without visiting this stage, but inevitably it arrives. It’s the stage where I am sucked in so deep into the writing, I feel like I have fallen down a rabbit hole. Sometimes at this stage a factum has ballooned to 100 pages, or the legal opinion has 20 different possible outcomes to questions that weren’t even asked. This is the stage where I keep reading and writing and writing and reading and reading and writing…but I don’t feel like I have made any progress. I just sit there spinning around and around and not going anywhere, like a hamster on her wheel. This is the time that I must WALK AWAY. I normally leave the work and start another assignment or work on my invoices or some other task I need to do. I try to stay away for a day but if that is not possible, at least a few hours. Stage 5: “Phew. I have something done. Maybe it’s not horrible after all. I can work with this.” When I come back from the time away, I am usually pleasantly surprised with what I have written. There is enough there for me to work with, and now it is time to do a “big picture” edit or to cut and slash (saving the stuff I cut, obviously, because I will likely change my mind and want it back again). This is where I mold what I have into the first real draft of the final product. Stage 6: “Sweet. I like this. This is not bad, not bad at all.” As I work with the written product, I start to like it more and more. I get excited again. It’s turning into something that makes sense, is clear, cohesive and concise. I get excited about editing it and revising it and making it better and better with each draft. Stage 7: “I’m finished! It’s good. I’ve served it (or given it to the client or posted it on my website). It’s out into the world. Such relief…… Maybe I will read it one more time. …..NO! How did I not see that TYPO?” This happens too many times for me. Despite reading it over many times, out loud, and backwards, there is always that one typo I never see until it’s gone and out into the world. Sigh. But also, at this stage I feel a deep sense of pride about what I have written and accomplished. And then I start on my next project….. What’s your writing process? Is it as crazy as mine?  I am so happy to start the New Year with another wonderful profile in the Women Leading in Law series. Meet Victoria Perrie a criminal lawyer with Legal Aid Nunavut. The photo is of Victoria straddling the latitudinal line representing the Arctic Circle, at below -50 temperature, in Naujaat, Nunavut, while there for circuit court!
1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I am a criminal lawyer with Legal Aid Nunavut. I work in Kangiqłiniq, or Rankin Inlet. We are a small office with three criminal lawyers, two family lawyers, and three court workers. Legal Aid Nunavut has a decentralized approach to service delivery, with offices and organizational leaders spread across the territory in Iqaluit, Kangigłiniq, Iqaluktuuttiaq, and Uqsuqtuuk. What is really special about working in Nunavut the opportunity to travel and constantly meet new people. The office I work at is the regional office for the entire Kivalliq region. Lawyers from my office represent clients in each of the seven communities in the Kivalliq. I travel at least once every three weeks for work – and I love it! There are four official languages of Nunavut. I regularly deliver legal services through an interpreter, and appear in court for hearings which will have consecutive interpretation. Cross-examination with interpretation is a skill you will learn, if you’re working in Nunavut! Learning to speak clearly and concisely is a must to ensure you are communicating with your client and interpreter effectively. Working on Inuit territory has given me the chance to explore the land, learn from elders and develop my litigation skills. From watching the northern lights dance in the sky, making long treks across the sea ice in the back of a qamutik, eating whale, seal, and polar bear, learning to prepare and harvest a caribou, to arguing in circuit courts, the Nunavut Court of Justice, and supporting public legal education – Nunavut really has a lot to offer for personal and professional development. 2. Why did you go to law school? I went to law school to learn colonial law and gain skills to be a better advocate. Throughout my pre-law life, I worked in a number of advocate service positions. I have worked for folks with diverse abilities, with many people living with FASD and ARND, those engaged in sex work, and kids in care. I wanted to learn to better use my voice to support the populations I had worked with, and to help others access justice. I thought a law degree would help me understand how to navigate systems and hone my advocacy skills. Becoming a lawyer taught me just that. Law school also taught me humility, courage, respect, and how to deal with the rollercoaster of stress and anxiety that comes with existing in a colonial institution. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? I wouldn’t say I got to where I am today by chance or design, but rather by standing on the shoulders of giants who have come before me. Every ‘career’ decision has been made by following my heart. I have only worked on projects or took employment from places doing work that I believed in. If a firm or organization or project or person leading the work didn’t reflect my personal values or didn’t have a purpose I truly believed in, I wouldn’t engage and moved along. What has got me this far is going with my gut, not giving up, doing things I’m truly passionate about, being brave enough to fail, always trying new things, and sticking to my morals. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? I spent a lot of time thinking about this question and trying to decide what I would call my most significant achievement. The answer I’ve come up with is that it hasn’t happened yet. There are many things in my life that I am proud of: passing the bar, publishing papers, starting a theater school for Indigenous youth, speaking at conferences, working internationally, helping clients navigate colonial systems, my family and friends, but none of these individual experiences of pride can be chalked up as greater than another. For me, once a goal has been accomplished, I move on to the next, constantly changing my focus. Stay tuned for my most significant achievement. I can’t wait to find out what it is. My most recent experience of pride, was developing and teaching a for-credit law school course in Rankin Inlet. Working with several community partners, I was able to launch my Indigenous developed and delivered program as a for-credit high school course. This course discussed colonial law, Inuit law, and the differences and similarities between the two. Students learned from elders, community justice workers, and practicing lawyers. This class intended to culminate into a final moot presentation at the Nunavut Court of Justice to a room of Inuit justice participants. Unfortunately covid arrived in Nunavut in November 2020, putting an end to in-class instruction and school travel plans. I am now working to revamp this program and make it even better for delivery in fall 2021. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? White heteronormative patriarchy in colonial Canada is this huge umbrella of oppressive sludge which we all wade through to do our jobs. The “old boys club” of law still very much exists, even though some women are now allowed to sit at the table. Rules of ‘good character’ are set for members of the bar, making it difficult for some to access a legal career. For me, the most challenging notion is that I actively uphold and enforce the colonizers imposed laws, on land where laws have and continue to exist since time immemorial, by virtue of being a criminal lawyer. I think, within this challenge, lies opportunity. Opportunities to address situations of injustice in the court room, at the office, or on a conference call. The opportunity to be actively anti-racist and attempt to provide a trauma free experience for a client. The opportunity to be part of the change and working towards legal revolution where Indigenous opinions and legal frameworks are considered in all situations, by lawyers and judges, in policing, and by justices at all court levels. Each day is an opportunity to advance the concept that the Indigenous laws which exist on these lands need to be adhered to. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Trust your instincts and know yourself. I know after 3 or more years of law school, you’re probably exhausted. It is important to know what kind of person you are, or want to be. If you are uncomfortable with something, don’t do it. Don’t stay in a job or an internship or an article that kills your spirit: you WILL find something else. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Take up space and make your voice heard in the board room, the court room, and in your communities. Don’t do something because it would ‘look good’ on your resume. Do things that you love. If you haven’t already, think about your boundaries, and what they are. Don’t tolerate clients, colleagues or workplaces that cross those boundaries. Most importantly: listen to Myrna McCallum’s podcast: The Trauma-Informed Lawyer. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Victoria for taking the time to participate in this series and we all look forward to hearing about your next great achievement, I am sure it will be amazing! I started this blog series because I was tired of hearing about women leaving law and wanted to hear about women leading in law. The "Women Leading in Law" series focuses on good news stories and highlights amazing women succeeding in the legal profession. Each post includes the profiled lawyer's answers to six questions. Prepare to be inspired! ICYMI - previous posts profiled the following amazing lawyers: Amee Sandhu, Tanya Walker, Alysia Christiaen, Patricia Gamliel, Megan Cornell, Yola Ventrescu, Hilary Book, Margaret Waddell, Nandi Deterville, Jennifer Quaid, Maryann Besharat, Cynthia Mason, Roots Gadhia, Evelyn Ackah, Carrisa Tanzola, Sarah Leamon, Robin Parker, Lorin MacDonald, Karen Yamamoto, Victoria Crewe-Nelson, Lynne Vicars, Kemi Oduwole, Anne-Marie McElroy, Jennifer Gold, Jordana Goldlist, Megan Keenberg, Yadesha Satheaswaran, France Mahon, Sarah Molyneaux, Richa Sandill, Vivene Salmon, Kim Whaley, Alisia Grenville, Frances Wood, Maggie Wente, Anita Szigeti, Neha Chugh, Christy Allen & Nancy Houle, Suzie Seo, Kim Gale, Alexi Wood, Melissa McBain, Erin Best, Gillian Hnatiw, Melanie Sharman Rowand, Meg Chinelo Egbunonu, Lisa Jean Helps, Nathalie Godbout Q.C., Laurie Livingstone, Renatta Austin, Janis Criger, May Cheng, Nicole Chrolavicius, Charlene Theodore, Dyanoosh Youssefi, Shannon Salter, Bindu Cudjoe, Elliot Spears, Jessica Prince, Anu K. Sandhu, Claire Hatcher, Esi Codjoe, Kate Dewhirst, Jennifer Taylor, Rebecca Durcan, Atrisha Lewis, Vandana Sood, Kathryn Manning, Kim Hawkins, Kyla Lee, and Eva Chan.  I know it’s not quite over yet, but I am happy to shuffle 2020 out the door…it is no longer welcomed around here. I don’t have to remind all of you about the crappy stuff that has happened to the world this year.
Nevertheless, while 2020 didn't turn out the way I planned, there were a few good things that came out of this year: I perfected my bread making skills and my butter tart recipe (no to raisins, yes to a splash of maple syrup). I’ve spent ten months in jeans & t-shirts (my beautiful fancy shoes are gathering dust on a shelf). It only took a pandemic for the Ontario court system to realize the fax machine should be permanently retired from duty. My blog's readership increased in 2020 and I brought back my Women Leading in Law blog series. ….and it’s Clawbies (Canadian Law Blog Awards) time again! Every year I write a post summarizing my Top Ten articles for that year and I am always pleasantly surprised when I check my Google Analytics to see which ones are the most popular with my readers. Below is a list of my 10 most-read blog posts in 2020 (some written in previous years), followed by my #Clawbies2020 nominations: 10. Book Review: Full Disclosure by Beverley McLachlin (2018). This book was published in 2018 by the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and this post is my review of the murder mystery set in British Columbia. 9. Women Leading in Law: Frances Mahon (2020). This post was one of several posts in my Women Leading in Law blog series that I revived in March 2020. 8. As a Lawyer, When Would You (or Should You) Report Another Lawyer for Professional Misconduct (2014). An oldie but a goodie. This post often appears on my top ten list. (I’m not sure what this says about our profession….) 7. “Thank You for Telling Me My Work Sucks” Why Negative Feedback Can be a Good Thing (2020). This very recent post is on how to handle receiving feedback at work. I am happy to see it made it to the Top 10 so soon. 6. Women Leading in Law: Richa Sandill (2020). Another great entry in my Women Leading in Law series. 5. Barristers Robes: The Courtroom Equalizer (2017). An older post about the positive side to everyone wearing the same uniform in court. One thing I regret leaving out of the post is the fact that it is definitely not an equalizer when litigators are appearing against self-represented litigants. 4. What Are a Lawyer’s Professional Obligations When Leaving a Firm? (2015). Another post that remains popular with lawyers over the years. It’s an important question to address if you are thinking of switching firms or starting your own practice. 3. Plain Language Please. ‘Tis Time to Say Goodbye to Legalese (2015). I am quite surprised this post popped up in the Top 10 this year as it has never made it on to this list before. Perhaps more lawyers are thinking of using plain language? I hope so. 2. Women Leading in Law: Anita Szigeti (2020). Anita’s profile talks about her interesting legal practice in mental health law. And my most read blog post for 2020……. 1. My Career Conundrum: I’m a Litigator and I Hate Conflict (2020). Wow! This post generated so much feedback and prompted dozens of lawyers to reach out to me by email, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. This post definitely struck a nerve in the legal profession. Now for my #Clawbies2020 nominations:
So that’s a wrap on 2020! All the best in 2021!  I recently moved houses. (Yes, we are those “COVID made me move” people.)
While I was packing up over a decade’s worth of ‘stuff’, I found a performance review from my third year of practice shoved in the bottom of an old banker’s box. Reading the comments made me think about how much I have grown as a lawyer, especially when it comes to receiving negative feedback. For some context, the following are direct quotes from reviews from the partners I worked with that year (edited for confidentiality) discussing my written advocacy skills: “Erin’s written work product was clear, direct, and concise.” “Very solid writing skills. Precise and clear.” “Erin has very strong drafting skills. Her writing is point first and persuasive.” “Erin consistently produces first rate written work product. It is clear, user friendly and responsive to the issues it is intended to address.” “I did not think Erin’s written work was at the expected level. I was disappointed with the draft facta (sic) in the ‘XYZ’ matter and they required substantial re-working.” I didn’t remember the first four reviews, but that final one has stuck with me for 12 years. Especially the word “disappointed”. As a recovering people pleaser, I hate disappointing anyone, especially someone who is relying on me to do a good job. I also remember my reaction when I first read that review. I remember avoiding the partner in the halls. I was angry. I was hurt. I thought it was unfair. I was in a bad mood. It didn’t matter that the rest of my review was glowing. That final comment was the only one that counted. It took me a long time to learn how to handle this type of feedback and criticism of my work. It took me even longer to realize that negative feedback can be a good thing. Over the years I have relied on a few tips that have helped me when receiving negative feedback. These tips work for lawyers of all ages and stages because as we progress in our career, partners may no longer be critiquing our work, but management, opposing counsel, judges, and our clients are: 1. Don’t rush to respond. Take a breather. Our first instinct will be to be defensive. I remember wanting to explain to the partner why his criticism was unwarranted, why I decided to draft the documents the way I did, why he was wrong. I felt the need to explain away the criticism. Folks, this is not helpful. It wasn’t until I was on the other end of providing feedback that I truly understood how unproductive this defensive behaviour can be. I remember one articling student. Whenever I politely provided feedback or suggestions on how to improve his work, he immediately pushed back with an excuse: “Well so-and-so does it this way” or “You should have told me you wanted it done this way” or “I’m only an articling student”. I was trying to mentor him and help him improve his legal practice, but he wanted none of it. He never listened to the specific feedback; instead, because he did not hear the glowing review he expected, he pushed back. Eventually I just stopped working with him. When a more senior lawyer, or a client, gives you negative feedback, fight the urge to speak. You will be defensive. We are only human. Take a breather. Maybe ask for time to respond if you need to. And listen. Truly listen to what they are saying. Try to understand the root of the criticism. Is it a fact (you missed a deadline)? Or an opinion (I don’t like how you wrote this)? If it’s a fact, immediately own up to the mistake or accept the criticism. If it is an opinion, see the next tip. 2. Ask questions to understand the feedback. If the feedback is not a fact, but an opinion, ask questions to understand. If we do not understand the negative feedback, we cannot act on it. What parts of the Statement of Claim need improvement? How could it be improved? What parts of the document did they like? etc. 3. Don’t avoid the person or hold a grudge: You are only hurting yourself. Yes, it is uncomfortable knowing that someone didn’t like your work. But if you avoid that partner or client, you are only hurting yourself. You will be missing out not only on opportunities to work with, and learn from, that person again, but you will also miss out on showing that you listened to their feedback and used it to improve. 4. Remember that not all criticism may be warranted. Sometimes the criticism is unwarranted. Consider where the criticism is coming from. Did your work product really fall below expected standards or does this partner always rewrite everyone’s work, no matter what? Does ego play a part? Or more importantly, is the criticism directed at you because of your gender, race or sexual orientation? This is why asking questions is so important. By digging into the criticism, it will be easier to see the intent behind it. 5. Understand the Positive Side to Receiving Negative Feedback Remember that proper feedback comes from an intent to help. That partner or client wants to let you know what went wrong so you won’t do it again. Often, we don’t see our own shortcomings. Be grateful that someone has taken the time to provide that feedback to you and that you now have an opportunity to be an even better lawyer than you already are. So, back to my negative review. Why did that partner write that comment? Maybe I wrote some crappy factums. Maybe I was working several long hours, for several days and I was too tired to produce stellar work. Maybe I forgot to use active voice. Maybe I missed some case law. Maybe the partner had a particular way he liked factums to be written and I failed to follow his preference. Or, maybe I just suck at writing. But I will never know. Instead of asking questions to understand the feedback better and to learn how to improve my legal writing, I ignored the partner. I missed an opportunity. Don’t be me.  Welcome back to the Women Leading in Law blog series. Today we are privileged to learn from Amee Sandhu founder of the law firm Lex Integra. I first met Amee at a women lawyers event and enjoyed running into her at various events over the next few years. Eventually we joined the same business book club together. Amee has lots of great advice to share and has an interesting journey through law:
1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I have been a lawyer for almost 21 years. I was called in Ontario in 2000. After a long career in-house, and a few years on Toronto’s Bay Street before that, I started my own practice about 15 months ago. I have also started teaching business law to undergrads, and mentoring with the Law Practice Program at Ryerson University I went through a re-structuring at my last employer and decided that I would start my own practice. My mother, a small business woman, had been asking me since I was called to the bar why I did not have my own law firm. It only took 20 years! I felt that this would give me more control over my schedule and allow me to be more present with my kids. We can have a separate discussion about whether my kids agree that this has worked! My firm is called Lex Integra. I am a solo-preneur. I exclusively practice in the areas of business law and corporate ethics. My clients range from other law firms, tech start-ups/ scale-ups, women-preneur businesses, TSX/ NYSE stock exchange listed companies, crown corporations, and professional firms (eg. accounting, architecture, law). I help my clients mainly in these 4 areas:
2. Why did you go to law school? I went to McGill Law. I went for a few related reasons. In my law school application, I focused on how I wanted to use my skills and degree to help others. My father had succeeded in persuading me (after decades of trying!) by explaining that law was a career where I could change my career direction every few years. He was so right about this! It was actually while I was in graduate school doing my Master of Arts that I realised my original career idea of being an academic was not a good fit for me; I wanted to work with others. From my family point of view, knowing how much my parents sacrificed as immigrants, and how their education plans were thwarted, I wanted to do it for them as well. My dad was on track to being one of the youngest professors of econometrics at his university in India. His move to Canada changed that career path for him. As still happens to many people today, so many decades later, my father’s university credentials were not recognized in Canada. He gained admission to McMaster University to earn his Canadian credentials, but by that point, I was on the way and so he had to find work instead. My mother was the first female in her village in Punjab to go to high school. To do that, she had to leave her village and stay with another family in a bigger, nearby town. This was due to the modernizing vision of my Nana (maternal grandfather) who was the Lambardar of their village and an elected Sarpanch as well. Had my mother’s family not immigrated to Canada, I am sure she would have been gone on to university in India. But instead, my mother and her whole extended family migrated to the UK and then later to Canada. This made it hard for the young generation of her family at that time to continue their education in a traditional sense. You could say I partly pursued my profession because of all of them and what they gave up for our generation. My parents always valued education above all else. As a 10-year-old child, while we were not well-off, I knew I would go to university. I actually thought it was mandatory for all children, considering how my parents always talked to us about it. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? Definitely chance. And by seeing change as an opportunity, as opposed to a threat. I always did a “gut check” to see if I was happy or satisfied in my work. Unfortunately, sometimes it took me too long to recognize if I was not. I have been happiest when I can connect my daily work with a broader purpose. When I followed a career path that was based on my values, interests, mentoring, where I had some control over my working conditions and ability to grow and learn, I was and am happiest. Also, respect for those I work with is key. Once I made peace with the fact that I was not going to follow the “typical” career path, I was much more content. I articled at a prestigious large law firm, now called Borden Ladner Gervais. I did not get hired back (that year only about 50% were hired back); I still have great relationships with many I met during that time. I went on to learn a tremendous amount as a young associate at an excellent mid-sized firm with top-notch lawyers. The next big move I made was to go in-house. As a 3rd year associate, I went from Minden Gross LLP to work in the Canadian nuclear industry at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. I am almost 50 years old now, but if I need advice, I still call my former AECL or Minden Gross mentors, who are mostly enjoying their well-earned retirements now. Once in-house, I was given two amazing opportunities to grow. Each involved leaving the legal department: First, a secondment to the head of commercial operations at AECL, and then years later to become an integrity officer at SNC-Lavalin in the newly created ethics and compliance department. I could write books about what these two experiences were like in terms of the professional learning and growth. Each move ended up lasting 5-6 years. I jumped at each chance, because I knew that I was going to learn from some of the best and brightest people in the world. If I hesitated, it was because I worried about the impact on my legal career – but I figured I would cross that bridge when I came to it. But in the end, it made me a better lawyer, because the new roles took me into business operations in such a way, that I understood business drivers, challenges, and risks in a new way. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? Starting my own law firm. I am grateful to everyone who has offered their guidance and assistance. My work on the ethics and compliance team at SNC-Lavalin. We created, rolled out, implemented and operationalized a world-class ethics and compliance program world-wide, across several continents, countries and languages. We changed hearts and minds around the world. I am still asked to speak on panels and conferences regularly. I am so proud of that work we did as a team. As an individual, I am also extremely proud. I have received so many personal messages from employees thanking me for my work. In 2011-2012, I was the lead lawyer on one of the largest deals in Ontario. I was the lead lawyer for SNC-Lavalin Nuclear-Aecon joint venture in negotiations with Ontario Power Generation for the refurbishment of the Darlington Nuclear Power Station. As stated in many newspapers at the time, phase 1 was worth $600 million and phase 2 was in the billions. We negotiated the phase 1 and phase 2 agreement at that time. I must add that I was pregnant with my twins for part of this time. And in my life before kids, running a marathon. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? Great question. This is hard for me to judge, because as a woman of South Asian descent, I cannot differentiate how things would have been for me if I was a white woman. I don’t know if I experienced things because I was a woman, or because I was a racial minority, or both. I think one key challenge is that women are both socialised and expected to behave in certain ways. This includes being expected to be polite and “wait your turn” when other people take up space in meetings. Or worse, when you don’t behave according to that script, being told or made to feel that you are difficult to work with. This is even more the case if your cultural background does not conform to the hegemonic culture, and you were raised with other socialization traits. Another aspect of this socialization is for women to take on the emotional burden within families, jobs, among co-workers, etc. This can be a wonderful addition to your life, and to those around you. But it does take time and energy and focus. We are often not aware that we are doing this, or how much precious energy this is taking that we could be spending elsewhere. I have seen it referred to as the third burden that women have, after their job and domestic and care responsibilities. In terms of opportunities, I see tremendous opportunity. With the rise in female business owners, I see an opportunity for female business lawyers to support them. There is also room for lots of disruption in the legal opportunity. When I first left private practice in 2020, I noticed the large percentage of women leaving to go in-house. I understood the question “why can’t we keep women in law firms”? But I also knew that lots of my male lawyer friends were unhappy as well. But they stayed. I always felt bad for my male friends who felt this social pressure to conform in a way that it appeared female lawyer did not. In a way, it seemed that women lawyers gave themselves more permission to leave work environments that were not working for them. That may be different with the younger generations, and I hope so. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?
Thank you Amee for taking the time to participate in this series and for sharing your experiences and advice with us! I started this blog series because I was tired of hearing about women leaving law and wanted to hear about women leading in law. The "Women Leading in Law" series focuses on good news stories and highlights amazing women succeeding in the legal profession. Each post includes the profiled lawyer's answers to six questions. Prepare to be inspired! ICYMI - previous posts profiled the following amazing lawyers: Tanya Walker, Alysia Christiaen, Patricia Gamliel, Megan Cornell, Yola Ventrescu, Hilary Book, Margaret Waddell, Nandi Deterville, Jennifer Quaid, Maryann Besharat, Cynthia Mason, Roots Gadhia, Evelyn Ackah, Carrisa Tanzola, Sarah Leamon, Robin Parker, Lorin MacDonald, Karen Yamamoto, Victoria Crewe-Nelson, Lynne Vicars, Kemi Oduwole, Anne-Marie McElroy, Jennifer Gold, Jordana Goldlist, Megan Keenberg, Yadesha Satheaswaran, France Mahon, Sarah Molyneaux, Richa Sandill, Vivene Salmon, Kim Whaley, Alisia Grenville, Frances Wood, Maggie Wente, Anita Szigeti, Neha Chugh, Christy Allen & Nancy Houle, Suzie Seo, Kim Gale, Alexi Wood, Melissa McBain, Erin Best, Gillian Hnatiw, Melanie Sharman Rowand, Meg Chinelo Egbunonu, Lisa Jean Helps, Nathalie Godbout Q.C., Laurie Livingstone, Renatta Austin, Janis Criger, May Cheng, Nicole Chrolavicius, Charlene Theodore, Dyanoosh Youssefi, Shannon Salter, Bindu Cudjoe, Elliot Spears, Jessica Prince, Anu K. Sandhu, Claire Hatcher, Esi Codjoe, Kate Dewhirst, Jennifer Taylor, Rebecca Durcan, Atrisha Lewis, Vandana Sood, Kathryn Manning, Kim Hawkins, Kyla Lee, and Eva Chan.  Welcome back to the "Women Leading In Law" blog series, where everyone can read about the personal experiences of some amazing lawyers from across the country and learn great advice on succeeding and leading in law. Today's post features litigator Tanya Walker the founder of Walker Law Professional Corporation:
1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I am the owner and founder of Walker Law Professional Corporation. I opened the firm initially on Bay Street ten years ago with the aid of a part-time assistant and a $5,000 loan from my father. Walker Law is now located in the nucleus of the financial district. The firm employs eight full time staff members. At Walker Law, tasks are delegated based on complexity, meaning that a junior lawyer, articling student, or paralegal is provided with the opportunity to work on a client’s file while being supervised by a senior lawyer. This strategy reduces clients’ legal fees because the client is billed at the significantly lower rate of a paralegal or junior lawyer and is only charged for the supervision of the senior lawyer. Not only does this strategy benefit clients, but also the junior on the file. When given the opportunity to work on a client file, the junior staff member tends to experience a higher morale because he or she is presented with the opportunity to learn and develop. Walker Law provides litigation assistance focusing on facets of civil litigation including property, employment and contract law. The firm has been retained to represent clients at various stages of the dispute resolution process. We represent small to medium sized businesses as well as Fortune 500 companies. 2. Why did you go to law school? As a child, I wanted to become a lawyer because I watched the Cosby Show and aspired to be like Claire Huxtable, the black mother on the show who worked as a lawyer. My aspiration was reinforced by encouragement from my parents who observed my argumentative spirit and felt that I would be a good fit as a lawyer. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? I owe my success to hard work, my parents, and my mentors. Initially it was my parents who at a very young age instilled in my sister and I “big picture thinking” which meant investing time and energy on things that result in getting you where you need to go. One aspect of that big picture thinking is to believe that any goal that we desire is attainable and to start working towards that goal. Since I knew I wanted to be a lawyer, my parents taught me to be well rounded, to work hard, and to effectively manage my time. Shortly after I was called to the bar, I was accepted to work at a firm on Bay Street. During this time, a law firm was previously hired to assist ours with a complicated litigation matter. I was assigned to be a junior lawyer on the file and developed a relationship with the two partners at the law firm. During my fourth year of practice, the partners offered me the opportunity to open my law firm by renting office space from them. They also agreed to mentor me. After I first opened Walker Law, I started working out at a luxury gym in downtown Toronto in hopes of meeting influential people. It was in my spin class at that gym I met John Campion, one of the leading lawyers in Canada, who encouraged me to run for Bencher and mentored me in running a campaign, to the extent that I saw him as my campaign manager. Overall, having guidance from the right mentors enabled me to be prepared for the right opportunity. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? My most significant achievement is becoming the first female black elected Bencher from Toronto in the 223-year history of the Law Society and being re-elected last year. There are 40 lawyer Benchers that are elected every four years by lawyers and in Toronto you usually require approximately 3,000 votes from lawyers to be elected. Last year there were over 120 lawyer candidates. As a Bencher, I help to create rules and policies that govern and regulate nearly 55,000 lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. I am grateful that my community involvement has been recognized. Last year I received the 2019 Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Gold Key Award, the Lexpert Rising Stars award in 2018. I also received in 2018 the WeConnect International Women’s Business Enterprise of the Year award. I also appear regularly on national television stations such as CityTV, CBC, and CTV as a legal analyst. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? The key challenge that I see is that people in the profession are not accustomed to seeing lawyers that look like me. In the past I have been mistaken as a junior lawyer in court when accompanied by a male junior lawyer. I have also been mistaken as court staff or as someone who is charged with a crime even though I do not practice criminal law. The opportunity is for lawyers to show that they can be from different races, backgrounds, and genders and should not be dissuaded by others to pursue a law degree. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Learn as much as you can because knowledge is power. Consider investing time in your career. When a lawyer assigned me a task on a file when I first started working at a firm on Bay Street, I would only docket the appropriate time for the task but realistically I would review the entire file twice. Once to learn the file in its entirety and a second time to see if there were any outstanding steps that needed to be completed. When I returned to the lawyer, I would explain that A and B were outstanding issues on the file. That lawyer would then request that I ensure A and B were completed. Over time, you learn to develop your skill and expertise and can use the knowledge you have acquired to assist you with other files. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you Tanya for taking the time to participate in this series and for sharing your experiences and advice with us. I started this blog series because I was tired of hearing about women leaving law and wanted to hear about women leading in law. The "Women Leading in Law" series focuses on good news stories and highlights amazing women succeeding in the legal profession. Each post includes the profiled lawyer's answers to six questions. Prepare to be inspired! ICYMI - previous posts profiled the following amazing lawyers: Alysia Christiaen, Patricia Gamliel, Megan Cornell, Yola Ventrescu, Hilary Book, Margaret Waddell, Nandi Deterville, Jennifer Quaid, Maryann Besharat, Cynthia Mason, Roots Gadhia, Evelyn Ackah, Carrisa Tanzola, Sarah Leamon, Robin Parker, Lorin MacDonald, Karen Yamamoto, Victoria Crewe-Nelson, Lynne Vicars, Kemi Oduwole, Anne-Marie McElroy, Jennifer Gold, Jordana Goldlist, Megan Keenberg, Yadesha Satheaswaran, France Mahon, Sarah Molyneaux, Richa Sandill, Vivene Salmon, Kim Whaley, Alisia Grenville, Frances Wood, Maggie Wente, Anita Szigeti, Neha Chugh, Christy Allen & Nancy Houle, Suzie Seo, Kim Gale, Alexi Wood, Melissa McBain, Erin Best, Gillian Hnatiw, Melanie Sharman Rowand, Meg Chinelo Egbunonu, Lisa Jean Helps, Nathalie Godbout Q.C., Laurie Livingstone, Renatta Austin, Janis Criger, May Cheng, Nicole Chrolavicius, Charlene Theodore, Dyanoosh Youssefi, Shannon Salter, Bindu Cudjoe, Elliot Spears, Jessica Prince, Anu K. Sandhu, Claire Hatcher, Esi Codjoe, Kate Dewhirst, Jennifer Taylor, Rebecca Durcan, Atrisha Lewis, Vandana Sood, Kathryn Manning, Kim Hawkins, Kyla Lee, and Eva Chan. The Struggle to Switch Practice Areas in Law (and How Solo and Small Firm Lawyers Can Help)10/7/2020  (This was originally published in the OBA's Sole, Small Firm and General Practice Section's Newsletter)
I did not meet a “real-life” lawyer until I went to law school. I had no lawyers in my family. I was the first to go to university. I learned about lawyers from the usual places, like Perry Mason (re-runs, I’m not that old), Matlock (I watched these live, I am that old) Law & Order, and Ally McBeal. I didn’t know the difference between a solicitor and barrister, I thought all lawyers were litigators and went to court. I had no idea what it was like to practice law. I did not understand what the different areas of law entailed in real-life, other than the substantive law I learned in class. I was very naïve. Now, imagine my surprise when I was told that I better choose my articling position wisely because that would determine the type of law I would practice for the rest of my career. Looking back now, it is a silly thing to tell a law student, but many are still being given this advice. Through my part-time role as Regional Alumni Advisor to the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, I provide career coaching and advice to lawyers in their first ten years of practice. Due to the pandemic, and a less than robust market for legal jobs, many new lawyers have reached out for advice on job hunting. These lawyers were either not hired back after articling or were let go due to COVID after working at the same firm for several years. Some of these lawyers, for a variety of reasons, are wanting to change practice areas. Some chose an area of law that they later learned did not suit their personality. Some thought they would love to argue in court, only to realize they suffer from debilitating anxiety. Others didn’t have a choice and were happy just to find an articling position or lawyer position in any area of law. Now they want to find a job in a practice area better suited to their interests and skill set. Unfortunately, it is these lawyers who are struggling the most with finding new jobs. Even though they explain in their cover letters why they wish to change practice areas, many hiring lawyers and law firms will not respond or give them an interview. If they do respond, it is with concerns that they will not be “committed” to this new practice area or they question whether the lawyer is “really interested” in this new area of law. Or some hiring firms will not give them a chance because even though the lawyer may have 3-5 years of post-call experience it is not experience in the firm’s specific practice area. Some well-intentioned lawyers are giving these new lawyers the advice to not even try to switch practice areas because “no one will hire them” and they should “just stick with what they know." We need to stop doing this. Imagine your whole legal career being determined by the articling or first year position you just happened to find? Or, what if you discover that your personality and your strengths are not matched with the practice you thought you would love? It should not be the end of the line. Imagine being stuck in a practice that you hate, just because of the outdated idea that a lawyer cannot switch practice areas? I see a unique opportunity for solo and small firm lawyers to assist these lawyers. We can give these lawyers a chance. If you are hiring a new associate, do not automatically count out lawyers with experience outside of your practice area. I understand most firms want to hire someone with some experience in the firm’s area of law, but a lot can be learned quickly, and many skills are transferrable. For example, all lawyers have clients. Client management, file management, meeting deadlines, organizational skills, communication skills, etc. are all skills lawyers learn and can be transferred between practice areas. Legal research skills are applicable across the board. Courtroom skills are transferrable as well. A criminal lawyer would be on her feet a lot more than a civil litigator at a large firm and can easily transfer those skills from a criminal practice to a civil litigation practice. There’s some overlap between a family law practice and an estate litigation practice. And a corporate litigator may know more about drafting contracts than you might think. If we cannot assist lawyers looking to transition practice areas by offering them a job, we can at least be a sounding board or mentor. If they decide to start their own firms in a new practice area, solo and small firm lawyers can assist by being that “go-to” person if a question comes up. Or you can introduce them to your network of lawyers in that practice area, let them know about the best resources, or CLE programs, or organizations for them to join to get up to speed. We can also give encouragement to other lawyers who are trying to make this transition. We should not be telling them to not bother to try. This is how we lose great lawyers from the practice of law. We can all take small steps to assist those who are struggling to switch practice areas. The first thing is to be a little more open minded. Have you switched practice areas? What worked for you? |
 
  Erin C. Cowling is a freelance lawyer, entrepreneur, legal career consultant researcher & writer, and President and Founder of Flex Legal Network Inc., a network of freelance lawyers.
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