COWLING LEGAL FREELANCE - Blog

The Economic Costs of Mansplaining in My Life

1/17/2019

Despite the constant reminders that our legal profession is far from reaching any sort of laudable goal when it comes to equality, diversity, and inclusion, I am generally optimistic that things are (slowly) changing for the better. My Twitter feed is filled with amazing diverse lawyers doing amazing things. I see allies speaking up. I see new calls taking a stand and demanding change. I am truly optimistic.

This optimism, however, is often tested (and lately it seems to be tested regularly) by encounters with mansplainers. For those unfamiliar with the (I would argue useful but over-used) term, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “mansplaining” as “to explain something to a woman in a condescending way that assumes she has no knowledge about the topic.”

When I encountered mansplaining early in my career, I didn’t put a label on what was happening as the word was not widely used. I would just leave a conversation or a meeting feeling like a man had figuratively pat me on the head and said “Ahh, how cute”. I would be angry but couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. Now I have no problem recognizing when mansplaining occurs, and I know exactly why I am angry.

Since starting my business Flex Legal Network Inc. in 2015 (a freelance lawyer company matching law firms with freelance lawyers/law clerks), the mansplaining has been off the charts. I will give you just a few of the many examples.

Once at a law firm cocktail party a rather “handsy” man asked about my business and I explained it to him. He replied, “No, that’s not your business, your business is. . .” and he went on to explain my own business to me for a solid five minutes. I kid you not.

On another occasion, speaking with a lawyer who was interested in learning more about Flex I asked him how he found us. He told me “By Googling”. I replied, “That’s great, I work really hard on our SEO”. He instantly put on his ‘Teacher Voice’ and said, “Oh it’s not that, Google has these algorithms you see, and websites with certain keywords and phrases are ranked higher and show up more frequently in search results.” Really? He also enunciated “algorithms” as if I was hard of hearing or couldn’t understand words with more than one syllable.

Most recently I had an encounter with what I have dubbed the “mansplainer extraordinaire”. A lawyer was interested in joining Flex as a freelance lawyer after a long career as a corporate lawyer. We had a pleasant enough phone call where we talked about our own legal careers and then I explained how Flex worked (we are not a law firm, we don’t take on our own clients, we are a company that matches freelance lawyers with law firms who have overflow legal work on a project basis). After the call I sent him Flex’s membership terms for his review.

The following week he emailed me back saying that “it was clear” to him, that I had “not fully thought through [my] business structure” but that he was “willing to work with” me to make sure that my business was “kosher”. He sent me a link to the Rules of Professional Conduct asking if I had reviewed them (seriously? Nope never heard of them. . .) and a link to a blog post explaining in layperson’s terms a “Limited Liability Partnership” saying “please read so we can discuss” (double seriously? I’ve only been practicing law for almost 14 years; did he really think I didn’t know what an LLP was?) He then said he was “just thinking things through to make sure Flex’s arrangements work” - this was followed by a 😉. He also attached his “amendments” to my three-page plain language membership terms. He had completely redrafted them into a ten-page contract full of corporate legalese gobbledygook. He clearly thought he was some lawyer-knight in shining armour coming in to save the damsel in business distress.

I was physically shaking with rage! I was livid! Even writing this a month later I can feel the anger. Why would this man think I wanted or needed him to “fix” my business? What on earth made this man think he knew more than I do about running a freelance lawyer company? Not that I need to explain this to anyone, but obviously before starting my business I did extensive research and planning, including reviewing and analyzing the Rules of Professional Conduct, the by-laws, law society commentary (not just the Law Society of Ontario's but from the law societies across the country and the world), legal journal articles, other secondary sources, and case law. I also spoke directly with the LSO and with experts in legal ethics. It was with all of this information that I chose to structure my business the way I did.

What annoys me the most about this encounter is that it ruined my day. I spent all day fuming and thinking about how I would respond. I wrote draft email after draft email (knowing none of them would be sent).

And then I got angry at myself for letting him affect me the way he did. I was angry that I let him ruin my day. I had a mountain of work to do, but I was paralysed. I billed not a single measly .1 for my own freelance clients and tasks that I needed to complete for Flex went undone.

Knowing I made exactly $0.00 that day has made me think about the economic costs that mansplaining has on my life. I know some people are better at just shrugging this stuff off and often that is the advice I receive: “Forget him” “Don’t waste your time” “You are overreacting”. I wish I could have just moved on with my day and went back to making money, but I am not built that way. Every time I encounter mansplaining, and the paralysing anger it induces, not only is my emotional well-being affected, so is my financial well-being. My productivity suffers.

And I know it is not just mansplaining and it is not just me. I would think that most lawyers who are subject to sexist, racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, etc. comments suffer from a productivity loss and an economic cost in addition to the emotional price-tag attached to such comments.

I struggled with how to conclude this blog post. The optimist in me wanted to end on a positive note. I’m not sure that I can. All I can say is that I waited a few days before I responded to mansplainer extraordinaire. I opted for a polite but clear email that I was not pleased and explained why his email was not welcomed (is there a term for explaining to a man what mansplaining is?) He was genuinely apologetic but also confused as he wanted to let me know his intentions were pure and he was really just trying to help. He said he should have called me instead of sending me an email (hint: mansplaining over the phone is still mansplaining).

I guess my one positive take away from this is that I hope the next time he (or anyone else reading this) has a desire to “help” a woman, that they take a second to stop and re-consider. Some questions to assist: did she ask you to explain something to her? Might she know more than you about the topic? Would most male lawyers with her experience know this?

Meanwhile, I guess I can work on my own reaction to mansplaining. I am no longer willing to take a financial hit for someone else’s bad behaviour.
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Thanks for reading my blog! I write about my lawyer-life, women in law, and write the odd book review.

I had a series on my blog in 2018 called Women Leading in Law which focused on amazing women leading in law (I was tired of hearing about women leaving law). This series is on pause but will return at a later date.

In 2019 (in addition to my personal musings) I will be starting a series profiling law firms that are taking concrete steps to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion in the legal profession. I hope that the new series will highlight what is working (and not working) in increasing the retention and promotion of women and members of other equality seeking groups in law. I have four law firms signed on, but I am looking for at least 8 more firms of all sizes from across Canada that would be willing to be profiled. Know any firm trying to make a difference (beyond posting EDI policies)? Large, mid-sized, boutique? Perhaps firms started by lawyers who were interested in building a new type of law firm with EDI as a priority? Please let me know!

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: 2018 REVIEW & NEW SERIES FOR 2019

12/28/2018

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Wow, what a year!

I started 2018 wanting to focus on the “good” in life and law and this Women Leading in Law series has highlighted not only the “good” but also the “ah-maz-ing”.

I started the series because I was tired of reading about women leaving law and wanted to hear about women leading in law. This year I have met (both virtually and in real life) some super talented, smart, ambitious women succeeding, leading, and kicking butt in this profession. This blog series has given me hope that things are (slowly) changing for the better.

For my final blog post of 2018, I’ve highlighted each of the women featured in this series with a short excerpt from their answers. If you missed the posts the first time around click on the name for the whole profile and be prepared to be inspired!

A side note: The Women Leading in Law series will be pausing for a bit. For 2019 I am starting a new series that will build on the WLL series. I will be profiling law firms that are taking concrete steps to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion in the legal profession. I hope that the new series will highlight what is working (and not working) in increasing the retention and promotion of women and members of other equality seeking groups in law. I have four law firms signed on, but I am looking for more firms of all sizes from across Canada that would be willing to be profiled. Know any firm trying to make a difference (beyond posting EDI policies)? Large, mid-sized, boutique? Perhaps firms started by lawyers who were interested in building a new type of law firm with EDI as a priority? Please let me know!

Also, I am still accepting names of amazing women lawyers for when the WLL series resumes. Please keep sending in the suggestions.

Finally, a huge thanks to the lawyers who participated and to everyone who supported this series with kind words and encouragement.

See you in 2019!
Erin

Women Leading in Law 2018 Review:

1. EVA CHAN, lawyer turned Social Media Consultant to lawyers:

“Believe in yourself, don’t lose yourself, and be true to yourself. Just because you’re starting off your career, it doesn’t mean others who have practised longer than you are always right or know everything. Stand your ground. . . Make a real effort to spend time with family and friends, and do things you love. Don’t focus on that time as being non-billable. It’s important to step away and recharge.”

2. KYLA LEE, Criminal Defence Lawyer:

“People are willing to help you succeed. And they’ll come to you for help too. Help them. Remember, we are all in this together. Each file is not just about our clients but about our contribution to the justice system. When you help other lawyers, and when you seek out their help, you are helping the justice system. It’s a really beautiful thing, and an important part of what we do.”

3. KIM HAWKINS, Executive Director RISE Women’s Legal Centre:

“There are enough challenges out there in the world as well as people who will try to define us if we let them – so it’s important that we don’t create limitations for ourselves. If you hold on to your idealism, you will eventually find work that feels right for you, and law can be a great place to find it.”

4. KATHRYN MANNING, Founding Partner of DMG Advocates LLP:

“Be brave. Be patient. Learn all that you can from different lawyers, clients and opposing counsel. Don’t give up even when it seems really difficult. Know that there are supportive people out there in our profession that would be happy to have a coffee or lunch and chat with you to help you on the path to building your career. I recall very well feeling overwhelmed in the early years of practice – with the lack of control over my time, the feeling that I didn’t know enough to be a lawyer, that the hours would kill me or mean that I could never be a good parent, spouse or friend. But it does get easier and there are a lot of resources out there to help you along the way.”

5. VANDANA SOOD, Supervising Lawyer, RISE Women’s Legal Centre:

“The hardest thing when starting out is knowing what you want to do with your law degree. Once you know, pursue it, no matter the supposed odds, and the path will open before you.”

6. ATRISHA LEWIS, Associate & Trial Lawyer, McCarthy Tetrault LLP:

“I have two pieces of advice for women starting their legal careers. First, always say yes. In the first few years, building experience and skills is so fundamental. Often times saying yes is personally uncomfortable (e.g. how can I possibly find the time?), but I have never regretted saying yes. My second piece of advice for women is to unapologetically insert yourself into the situations you want to be in.”

7. REBECCA DURCAN, Professional Regulation Lawyer and Partner at Steinecke Maciura LeBlanc and Bencher at the Law Society of Ontario:

“Women still get judged for having a uterus. I remember being asked outright during articling interviews if I was married and if I was intending to have kids. This was forbidden even back then. But they asked.There is a belief that if you have kids, and take time off, you are not committed to your job. This is inane. That type of mindset needs to change. I became a better and more efficient lawyer after I had kids. I know that is anecdotal but it is also the experience of several of my colleagues.”

8. JENNIFER TAYLOR, Research Lawyer at Stewart McKelvey:

“. . . set boundaries and prioritize self-care, because you can’t be good at your job if you don’t do those two things. Speaking of your job, make sure you know yourself, and what you’re truly passionate about and good at, and find a position that fits YOU rather than trying to fit yourself into some kind of “as-seen-on-Suits” lawyer mould that doesn’t align with who you are. Finally, consider it a duty to give back to the legal community and the community at large – you will find fulfillment, and your communities will benefit.”

9. KATE DEWHIRST, a Health Lawyer at Kate Dewhirst Health Law:

“Find a mentor. Get a coach. Expand your definition of success. So many lawyers focus on time and money as the only indicators of their success. But I would wholeheartedly encourage young lawyers to also consider measuring their success by the impact they want to have in the world, their growth, the alignment of their personal and professional values and whether they are having fun.”

10. ESI CODJOE, Labour and Employment Lawyer and Vice Chair at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario:

“Understand yourself, it enables you to make hard choices that can inevitably lead to your success. When we know ourselves we can be braver, and pursue our goals with a gusto. I would also note that it is important to be tenacious. It helps you to push forward when there are obstacles placed in your path.”

11. CLAIRE HATCHER, Criminal Defence Lawyer at Pender Litigation:

“Be flexible as to the path you take, but know that it is really a rewarding career (even if it sometimes feels like the worst decision you ever made). Give yourself perhaps a 5-year period where you know you’re going to have to work almost every day, at least to some extent, and perhaps for people who really aren’t that kind or considerate of your time or wellness. Go the extra mile with your research and written work product – and as a junior, make yourself indispensable both inside and outside of court.”

12. ANU K. SANDHU, Family and Professional Regulation Lawyer:

“I suggest focusing less on where the crowd is going and turning inward to understand why you pursued law and how you want to work. There is so much room to do various and interesting pieces of work that reflects you. Supporting each other on social media or through notes or even by meeting for coffee/drinks and actively putting yourself out there is something I would encourage (even if you have children!). I also think that young women need to be careful not to undersell themselves and to be clear about things that they do not want to do or behaviour you will not tolerate (follow your intuition!). It isn't always easy but it will leave you with a sense of integrity.”

13. JESSICA PRINCE, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould:

“I have an incredible network of women lawyers across the profession. When I was still in practice, we would refer work to each other, and if we had a file in an area that none of us could cover, for example a real estate matter, we would fish around for names of female real estate lawyers and make sure that the work went to a woman. Show your sisters some love and send them your conflict work.”

14. ELLIOT SPEARS, General Counsel, Law Society of Ontario:

“Do it because you want to do it. Do everything to the best of your ability. Know yourself. Be true to who you are. Do it your way. And make sure to have something in place that will restore you after your battles, be it a family and/or friend support system or some activity outside of the legal world.”

15. BINDU CUDJOE, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Canadian Western Bank (previously Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at BMO Financial Group):

“Developing resilience is our greatest opportunity – it is what keeps us trying even when the systemic barriers remain, when we stumble over difficult clients, when we struggle to juggle all of the responsibilities we have at work and home. The drive to keep trying is powerful, and it means that one day we will see meaningful inclusion throughout society so we can reap the benefits of diverse perspectives and experiences.”

16. SHANNON SALTER, Chair of the Civil Resolution Tribunal:

“Sometimes the inequalities women face seem so big and insurmountable that people don’t know where to start, or even that they might, unwittingly, be part of the problem. So use your spot at the table to make inequality visible, and make it impossible to ignore.”

17. DYANOOSH YOUSEFFI, Legal Studies Professor, Writer and Social Advocate:

“Look deep within your heart. What is the thing that you wanted to do as a child? What is the thing that still makes you cry? What is the thing that tugs at your heart? Pursue THAT.”

18. CHARLENE THEODORE, Legal Counsel for the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association:

“You need to put in the time and gain experience to have full agency over your career - you can’t circumvent that. That being said, earning a law degree in this country bestows privilege. You didn’t put in all of that work to be stuck in a job you hate. Always know that you have options - at every single stage of your career.”

19. NICOLE CHROLAVICIUS, Counsel at PooranLaw Professional Corporation:

“Follow your true passions! While it may be easier to follow the safe path, true happiness sometimes lies in that curved, uncertain road less travelled. It may take some time to find it, but you’ll be glad you stayed the course.”

20. MAY CHENG, Certified Specialist in Intellectual Property (Trademark & Copyright) Law and Partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP:

“Success is not just the partner role in the corner office, it can be leaving big law to start your own firm working from home, or going in house with a start-up. Law degrees are becoming more of a calling card for a broader range of professional careers than ever before. Find what you love and go after it. And don’t let anyone tell you what you’re worth!”

21. JANIS CRIGER, Bencher at the Law Society of Ontario:

“Network, particularly with other women. Amplify other women every chance you get and ask that they do the same for you. Be a card-carrying member of the sisterhood and speak honestly to other women about why they need to be members too.”

22. RENATTA AUSTIN, Family and Criminal Law Lawyer at Eglinton West Law Office:

“My advice to women starting their career in law is to claim your space. We are often told to put our head down, work hard, play by the rules and wait for our turn. That approach has not worked for a lot of women who feel like they lack control over their lives and careers or find that they’re still bumping up against all kinds of glass ceilings. I say kick down the ceiling and claim your space.”

23. LAURIE LIVINGSTONE, Litigator at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP:

“I believe that as each glass ceiling is smashed, it creates a longer runway for the next generation of women to gain momentum before they start hitting barriers. I believe that increased momentum is, and will continue to, speed up the rate at which we smash through each successive barrier and even more rapid change will follow.”

24. NATHALIE GODBOUT, QC, Partner and Co-Founder, Godbout Fawcett:

“. . . don’t let the world tell you how you are supposed to do this. You can and should design your practice and your life to be a reflection of your goals and your core values. . . Don’t give in to the archaic constructs of this amazing profession of ours. We can and will change it; in fact, it’s already happening.”

25. LISA JEAN HELPS, Criminal Defence Lawyer and Founder, Helps Law Corporation:

“Women are starting to push past the natural barriers of the practice thanks to women-led firms and family-centric practices. I think we’re going to see huge strides in the next generation as the practice starts being flexible to accommodate women and men who want to be parents and skilled trial lawyers at the same time.”

26. MEG CHINELO EGBUNONU, internationally trained corporate-commercial and business lawyer, newly called in Ontario:

“While fear will see you making initial mistakes, and feeling lost 95% of the time, courage will push you to rise above the mistakes, apply yourself to the job at hand, and eventually shine through the assignment. And when it is time to make the fearful career risks, it is courage that will help recognize opportunities, while listening to your gut instinct.”

27. MELANIE SHARMAN ROWAND, Patent Agent and Lawyer, Torys LLP:

“Work hard to distinguish yourself early in your career. If you establish a solid reputation now it will open doors for you later. Get as much experience as you can and be proactive in shaping your career by seeking out work that interests you.”

28. GILLIAN HNATIW, Partner, Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP:

“. . . I have fought to be valued for who I am, rather than what someone else wants me to be. One of my key mentors, Jasmine Akbarali (now Madame Justice Akbarali!), taught me that if you can’t get where you want to go without being true to who you are, you either have to pave a new road or pick a new destination.”

29. ERIN BEST, Partner, Stewart McKelvey:

“I see adversity as an opportunity. If something looks difficult, fewer people will do it, even if the reward is great. That is a scenario that attracts me. Sometimes it is just a matter of having the confidence to put your hand up to volunteer for a task. Sometimes you have to be vocal about asserting your willingness and your ability. . .Go all in.”

30. MELISSA MCBAIN, Partner, Daoust Vukovich LLP:

“Remember that you are the captain of your own ship; don't let anyone else take the wheel. You get to decide how you want to live. Don’t worry so much about pleasing other people or living by someone else’s standards or rules.”

31. ALEXI WOOD, Partner and Founder, St. Lawrence Barristers LLP: “Experience is important and deserves to be considered, but not blindly followed. We have the opportunity to evaluate the status quo, and consider if there are ways to improve. It is essential that we ask questions, critically evaluate the answers, and forge our own paths where existing structures aren’t adequate.”

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: ALEXI WOOD

12/17/2018

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Several people wrote to me to suggest that I profile Alexi Wood as part of this series. So here she is!

Alexi tells us about her unique path in law, why she chose the path she did, and provides advice for lawyers starting on their own paths:

1. Tell me a little about your practice or business:

I love my current practice! In September 2017, I founded St. Lawrence Barristers LLP with Phil Tunley. St. Lawrence Barristers is a cutting-edge litigation boutique, that assists clients in a range of commercial and regulatory matters. My practice areas include commercial litigation, health law, privacy, defamation, and harassment. I act for a wide range of clients, including individuals, small and medium size businesses, and not for profit companies. I have acted for clients before a variety of administrative tribunals, at all levels of court in Ontario, and at the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition, I am an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law where I teach Advanced Torts and Trial Advocacy.

2. Why did you go to law school?

I went to law school to work in international human rights and humanitarian law. I was fortunate to work for a couple of different international NGO’s right after law school (in South America and Africa) and with the UN in Geneva. I then moved back to Toronto, where I grew up, and went to work for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association for 5 years.

I did the reverse of what a lot of people do – I started in not for profit, and then moved to private practice. It was only after that work, and 7 years after I graduated from law school, that I articled, and have been in private practice since.

3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both?

I have always been guided by a strong belief in social justice, which was instilled in me by my grandfather who taught me to “make a contribution.”

I have never been one to measure my life in certain expected milestones. At each stage in my practice, I have considered opportunities that arose and made choices, which led me to where I am now. I started my own firm for a variety of reasons. A main reason was to be able to have the freedom to control my practice – not just in the areas of law in which I practice but in the way in which I practice. My practice allows me to tackle interesting legal issues and challenges, while maintaining a strong social justice practice.

I also like to believe I have been able “to make a contribution” to the practice of law in a variety of ways, whether it be contributing to the law by helping to push the boundaries of legal precedent or contributing to the profession by mentoring and teaching.

4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of?

Opening my own firm is high on the list of my most significant achievements! I have had many incredible opportunities that all built towards opening St. Lawrence Barristers last year. I am very proud to have contributed to the advancement of the law for a range of amazing client and organizations, including appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association on a variety of issues such as privacy and police powers.

Since founding St. Lawrence Barristers, I am proud of the work I have done assisting my clients. In particular, I am very proud to have represented, along with two exceptional lawyers, my colleague Jennifer Saville and co-counsel Tatha Swann, a group of actresses who alleged they experienced harassment while working at Soulpepper Theatre Company. In reaching an early resolution to this matter, I am proud of the way we advocated for our clients and contributed to the discussion about harassment and gender discrimination.

5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law?

This is an interesting time to practice law in Canada. While there is still a lot of work to do, women are succeeding in breaking through barriers, including the standard responses of “this is how we’ve always done it” and “this is how things work in the practice of law.”

Experience is important and deserves to be considered, but not blindly followed. We have the opportunity to evaluate the status quo, and consider if there are ways to improve. It is essential that we ask questions, critically evaluate the answers, and forge our own paths where existing structures aren’t adequate.

6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?

There are many different measures for success, and the traditional firm model is not the only model. There are benefits to starting (or staying) in a traditional firm, but it’s not the only option. Your career is long and there are many different paths you can choose at different stages.

Don’t be afraid to ask why. Ask the tough questions, evaluate the answers, and choose the path that is right for you.
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Thank you Alexi for taking the time to answer these questions and participating in this series!

ICYMI: Previous posts profiled 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. Sign up to have these profiles sent directly to your email address and stay tuned for the next post soon!

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! The series will be "pausing" at the end of December 2018 for something new and will return at a later date.

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: Melissa McBain

12/4/2018

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This profile, featuring Melissa McBain a partner at Daoust Vukovich LLP, came about thanks to The Advocates' Society End of Term Dinner this year. A lawyer at my table, Daniel Waldman, told me he enjoyed reading my blog (*blush*) and that Melissa would be the perfect lawyer to profile in this series. I agree. Read on to learn more about Melissa, her career and her advice to new lawyers:

1. Tell me a little about your practice or business:

I am a partner at Daoust Vukovich LLP. Considered one of the best law firms in Canada for commercial property, leasing and development, Daoust Vukovich LLP has a team of highly qualified lawyers and law clerks serving the specialized needs of clients who acquire, develop and use commercial real estate, whether as landlords or tenants. Our firm is unique and exceptional in that it is the only boutique law firm of its type in Canada. Our approach to the law, in our areas of practice, is practical and "real world". Understanding our clients' businesses is our priority. We provide expert industry knowledge with a business-minded approach, to effectively and timely achieve our clients’ goals. We are also the lawyers who teach lawyers; we are well attuned to new legal developments in the areas of property leasing, real estate and related litigation.

Our firm is also unique in that we have as many women in the partnership as we do men!

My law practice is dedicated to representing commercial landlords and tenants in a variety of commercial leasing matters. Over the years I have developed expertise in managing commercial lease transactions for all types of properties, including office, retail, industrial and mixed-use. My practice includes the interpretation of commercial leases and the coordination of major projects, including multi-location deals and due diligence on acquisitions.

In connection with my law practice, I am also active in commercial leasing and real estate industry organizations. I frequently write and speak at legal and industry conferences and seminars including the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Canadian Law Conference, and the Law Society of Upper Canada. I am a member of Toronto CREW (the Toronto Commercial Real Estate Women’s Association), an active member of the Greater Toronto NAIOP Programs Committee, as well as the Program Planning Committee for the Canadian Law Conference of the ICSC. I was the Vice-Chair of the ICSC 2018 Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference Program Planning Committee and am currently the Chair of the ICSC 2019 Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference Program Planning Committee.

2. Why did you go to law school?

Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what else to do with my honours degree at the time and had no idea whatsoever what I was signing up for! I thought about being a teacher or a psychologist (I majored in psychology), but neither of those options completely drew me in. By fluke, in 3rd year of undergrad, I went with a friend who was interested in law school to hear the Dean speak about applying. Law school was never on my radar before that, and afterwards I thought to myself “hey, I have high marks and that sounds like something that could open a lot of doors, maybe I should apply!”. While that story is not even a little bit inspiring, I believe it is a common one as I met several others in law school with similar experiences!

3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both?

Definitely both. Prior to graduating law school, chance probably played the biggest role and I would probably not describe my path as being ‘strategic’ at that stage in my life. The words “young and foolish” do come to mind! I was a summer student at our firm in 2nd year of law school and returned as an articling student, became an associate, and then was admitted into the partnership. It was at the articling stage that I really started to focus on my career path in terms of where I wanted to go with my legal practice and in the real estate industry. Since then, the trajectory of my career has been largely impacted by deliberate decisions.

4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of?

Professionally, I am most proud of being a member of our firm’s partnership. This is not because of typical assumptions about status or achievement that arise from the concept of being a “partner of a law firm” (though that definitely does help a little when you walk into a boardroom full of 50 year old men), but because I truly have a seat at the table with this wise and wonderful group of individuals. I have a voice and opportunity and I do not take that for granted. With the support and influence of each of my partners, over the last 11+ years at this firm, I have built a thriving legal practice and a strong profile as an expert in my practice area. As a result of this support and influence (and, of course, my own hard work and dedication to my career), I was named in the 2019 Best Lawyers™ in Canada list.

5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law?

In terms of challenges, in my view, there is no denying that the “boys’ club” mentality is still alive in the legal profession. I don’t think I need to belabor this point. Suffice it to say that it is, in fact, real and it still exists. I think it is one of the key challenges for women in law (as it is in many professions), especially when combined with ageism (i.e. those negative assumptions that are made about the capabilities of young women). We still often have to prove ourselves twice and that is a challenge. And, more than that, it’s infuriating.

Now that I have vented, there are many great opportunities for women in law, there is also no denying that. This blog series provides evidence of that. One of the great opportunities I have experienced in the legal profession is having strong mentors and champions (both men and women). Finding the right mentors and champions opens up a lot of opportunity in the legal profession – these are the people who actively support you, and ensure your experience and career is propelled and that you receive recognition.

6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?

Remember that you are the captain of your own ship; don't let anyone else take the wheel. You get to decide how you want to live. Don’t worry so much about pleasing other people or living by someone else’s standards or rules. Singer, songwriter and record producer, Santigold, said it best:
“I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe”

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Thank you Melissa for taking the time to answer these questions and for your great advice!

ICYMI: Previous posts profiled 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. Sign up to have these profiles sent directly to your email address and stay tuned for the next post soon!

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! The series will be "pausing" in December 2018 for something new and will return at a later date.

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: Erin Best

11/21/2018

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This week we are heading to the East Coast to learn about Erin Best a partner at Stewart McKelvey in St. John's Newfoundland. I was introduced to Erin when I reached out to my network so I could profile more women lawyers outside of Ontario. Read on to learn more about Erin's life before law and her interesting litigation practice. She also has the "Best" first name too! (Okay, that was a painfully bad attempt at a pun but I felt I had to having the same name and all - Don't worry I'll stick to lawyering/blog-writing. . .)

1. Tell me a little about your practice or business:

I am primarily a litigator. I started out doing insurance defence and found this to be an excellent way to hone my skills since I got to run a high volume of files through the litigation process. Now, as chair of our NL litigation group I have the privilege of being exposed to many diverse areas of litigation. I’m happiest when I am learning something new, so litigation suits me in that regard. I’m currently acting as counsel for our former premier at a public inquiry so I am in hearings full time for about 10 months. I learn something new every day. It’s wonderful.

Another area I practice in is IP. I was a singer before I went into law so I have always had a keen interest in copyright which grew into an interest in intellectual property generally. My intellectual property practice and the pro bono work I do in that area has become an exciting and meaningful part of my life.

2. Why did you go to law school?

I recommend law school to anyone with a thirst for learning, whether you plan to be a lawyer or not. I went to law school because I wanted to be a lawyer. I admire the ethics and the integrity of the profession.

3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both?

I came to law a little later than my classmates and I have always felt like my maturity gave me a little extra perspective. I have worked hard but I think working smart is more important. I always take the time to take stock, think and plan. That time spent planning has been crucial. That being said, law is demanding and I have been lucky to be healthy enough to keep up.

4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of?

I have had some great experiences in the NL courts, but I am the type of person who will always look back and remember what I could have done better. I am very proud of my pro bono work for musicians and artists in NL. I have put in a lot of hours in that area and made friends for life. I felt pretty good when I walked up to the stage to accept my Leading Lawyer Under 40 award, not because I won the award, but because so many people from my firm flew to Toronto to cheer me on. That was really something. As for my most significant achievement, my network and my practice are continuing to expand at a rapid rate, so I think my most significant achievement is yet to come.

5.   What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law?

I see adversity as an opportunity. If something looks difficult, fewer people will do it, even if the reward is great. That is a scenario that attracts me. Sometimes it is just a matter of having the confidence to put your hand up to volunteer for a task. Sometimes you have to be vocal about asserting your willingness and your ability. I constantly seek out role models who can inspire me to build that confidence and I have found many. My firm has a female CEO and CFO, both incredible people. I am a big fan of Eleanor Beaton, Amy Cuddy... I could go on.

6.   What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?

Go all in.

You read so much about work-life balance these days, but the truth is that balance is different for everyone. Trying to mimic someone else’s idea of balance is futile. For example, we are often told that we need to unplug and take time away from work to manage stress. Leave work at the office they say. Well, I find that funny because it was not until I gave myself over to the practice of law as a lifestyle that I realized what work-life balance meant for me. Law is not a 9-5 job. I prefer to allow my life experience to inform my practice and vice versa. I need to love what I do, otherwise what is the point of doing it? I don’t shut off my lawyer brain when I go home for the evening. Quite the opposite actually. Most of my best thoughts on a file happen while I am walking my dog or watching a great concert or spending time with family. Once I immersed myself in my practice in this way I started to find it more satisfying and ultimately, less stressful.

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Thank you Erin for taking the time to tell us about your practice and your legal career to date. And thank you to my Twitter network for introducing me to Erin!

ICYMI: Previous posts profiled 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. Sign up to have these profiles sent directly to your email address and stay tuned for the next post soon!

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! The series will be "pausing" in December 2018 for something new and will return at a later date.

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: Gillian Hnatiw

11/5/2018

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This week this blog series features leading lawyer Gillian Hnatiw. I believe I first "met" Gillian a few years ago on Twitter and then subsequently in real life at various legal networking events (yes, the legal community in Toronto is rather small). I have always been impressed with Gillian's unwavering commitment to advancing equality and I love her no-B.S. feminist tweets. Read on for Gillian's reflections on her career, her achievements, and advice for new lawyers.

1. Tell me a little about your practice or business:

I am a partner with Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP in Toronto. I have broad civil litigation practice with particular expertise in claims for sexual assault and harassment, as well as other types of gender-based violence like voyeurism, the non-consensual distribution of intimate images and other forms of image-based violence. In addition, I practice in the fields of administrative law, health law, professional liability and regulation, and employment law, with some general commercial litigation and appeal work thrown into the mix. I really enjoy Inquests and Inquiries, and have been lucky to be involved in some major ones over the years (namely the Coroner’s Inquests into the deaths of Ashley Smith and Katelynn Sampson). I have also been fortunate to do some high level intervention work for organizations like the CCLA and LEAF, which has given me the opportunity to get on my feet at the Supreme Court a couple of times. So every day is different!

Outside of my ‘paid practice’, I am on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), which is dedicated to advancing substantive equality rights for women and girls in Canada through litigation, law reform and public education. It is, in essence, the litigation arm of Canada’s women’s movement. LEAF has been integral in shaping sexual assault laws and safeguarding reproductive rights for more than 30 years.   Although it consumes increasing amounts of my time these days, I am very proud of the work it does.

2. Why did you go to law school?

I don’t have a very good answer! The truth is, I was starting the fourth year of a history degree at Queens and had no clear plan about what I was going to do next. Law school was an idea that I had been tossing around, but mostly to placate all the adults in my life asking ‘what are you going to do?’ Then all of the sudden it seemed like everyone in my program was writing the LSAT and actually applying to law school. I was sort of swept along with the tide. I explored a range of other options, from various post-graduate programs to teaching English abroad, but when I was admitted to U of T’s Faculty of Law in January it became a bit of a foregone conclusion that I would go. I recognize there’s a lot of privilege in my ‘gee whiz, it just happened’ story - and I will say in my partial defense that I worked my ass off throughout undergrad – but that’s basically what happened.

In truth, I wish I had wanted it more at the time. I recall having reservations about whether law school was the right path for me, but nobody I spoke with at the time would validate those reservations. I was repeatedly advised that a law degree would never hurt me (which I admit I’ve come to agree with) and that I would be foolish to pass up the opportunity. Also, I had the good fortune of enrolling in 1999, when tuition was not as crushing as it is today. I was able to make the decision to attend without facing the prospect of spending $100,000 for my degree.

Law school itself was a real mixed bag of experiences for me. First year was very disorienting, in part because I arrived with no clear idea of why I was there in the first place. By contrast, it seemed like all of my classmates had a clear sense of purpose that I both lacked and envied. Firms from Bay Street and Wall Street were omnipresent on the University of Toronto campus and I recall really struggling with all the pressure to ‘network’ and land a big firm job. It was difficult to have credible conversations about what I was looking for in an articling experience when I wasn’t even sure I wanted to practice. I have never been very good with insincerity or just telling people what they want to hear. In hindsight, I know I wasn’t the only one in my class who was struggling with these things, but it sure felt that way at the time.

The law finally started to click for me when I began volunteering at Downtown Legal Services, U of T’s legal clinic. I took it for credit in second year and began hiding out there as much as possible. I ultimately served on the clinic’s Executive in my third year. I sometimes say that I “majored” in clinic. Once I started working with real clients who had real problems, the law started to make sense to me, both as a field of study and as a profession. 16+ years later, it’s the clients that continue to anchor my commitment to practice.

3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both?

I would say a healthy mix of both. In my early years, it was probably more chance than design. After summering at Downtown Legal Services, I articled at Lerners in Toronto. Despite my lingering reservations about Bay Street, it turned out to be a great fit for me. As a student, it is so difficult to know what you are getting into, especially when job offers get made so far in advance and your interests are still evolving. I knew I wanted to litigate, but I was very unsure about private practice. I had this idea that I would be buried in research, miles away from any client, for years. Fortunately, that was not my experience at all. Lerners was pretty small at the time (approximately 25 lawyers in 2002) and I was given a lot of hands on opportunity from the start. To my surprise, I really thrived at the firm. I was hired back after my call to the bar in 2003 and ended up practicing there for fifteen years, first as an associate and then as a partner.

As my career evolved, I became more intentional about charting a specific course and practicing on my terms. I have been involved in sexual assault work since my articling year. I was lucky enough to junior for Elizabeth Grace, who is one of the pioneers in the area. From the beginning, the work really resonated with my feminist principles and gave me a deeper sense of purpose. At the same time, it involves a lot of emotional labour and I cannot do it all the time. I’ve always counter-balanced my assault work with other areas of practice. In my early years, I also did a lot of complex corporate commercial litigation with Earl Cherniak and others.   It resulted in an eclectic practice mix, but I really enjoyed it. The intellectual challenge of the commercial work offered a healthy counter-balance to the particular needs of my sexual assault clients. I learned a ton about litigation and built my basic skills.

Five years and two kids into my career, I was finding it increasingly difficult to juggle everything. With Elizabeth’s support, I orchestrated some changes that allowed me to begin practicing in the areas of health and professional regulation. The work was still challenging, but the pace was slightly more predictable. Plus, the tort law principles that animate most medical malpractice claims dovetail with the theories of causation and damages that underpin most sexual assault claims. By narrowing my focus for awhile, I was able to feel more on top of things during a hectic era in life.

Most recently – fifteen years and three kids into my career – I made some very big and very intentional changes to my practice. In February, I left Lerners to join Adair Goldblatt Bieber, a new Toronto litigation boutique that opened its doors on January 1, 2018. At this point in my life, I have a much clearer sense of what I want the next 15 years of my career to look like. I also have a better sense of the compromises that I am and am not willing to make to get there. Lerners changed a lot during my time there. Staying at the firm was going to require me to make too many compromises, and I realized I wouldn’t be happy in the long run. So it was by design that I started looking around for a new home. However, it was incredible good fortune that the exact firm I was looking for – young, smart, dynamic, courageous - came into existence at the same time that I was looking to make a change. I have known and respected Jordan Goldblatt for years, but it was largely chance that made him my partner.

4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of?

That’s a really tough question. Professionally, I think it’s a significant achievement to have built a practice that is both intellectually and personally fulfilling. I’m proud of the work I do for assault survivors, who struggle to secure ‘justice’ through the legal system. I’m very proud of my advocacy on equality issues generally, through my paid practice, my pro bono practice, and my work for LEAF. And I’m proud of the time and effort I invest mentoring younger women in the profession and helping them to advance.

I’m also proud of the fact that I’ve built a practice that is meaningful to me. I’ve always been a feminist. In law school, the idea that I would be able to weave my feminist ideals into a Bay Street practice seemed impossible. But, somehow, that’s the reality of my practice today. It hasn’t been without compromise or sacrifice – there have definitely been points in my career when I have paid a price for rejecting political expedience or refusing to bend to someone else’s idea of what my career path should look like – but I have fought to be valued for who I am, rather than what someone else wants me to be. One of my key mentors, Jasmine Akbarali (now Madame Justice Akbarali!), taught me that if you can’t get where you want to go without being true to who you are, you either have to pave a new road or pick a new destination.

In my personal life, my most significant achievement is my kids. Super cliché, but undeniably true. They’re currently 6, 10 and 12 years old. I am super proud of the interesting, independent humans they are becoming.

Overall, I think I am most proud of the fact that I have built a successful practice while remaining true to myself and investing in life on multiple fronts. It is not easy to balance a public-facing career with the needs of a young family. This is not news to anyone. But I wanted a career and I wanted a big family. I'm so glad I didn’t cave to the pressure to give up one for the other.

5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law?

Some of the challenges are obvious. I feel like I end up talking a lot about babies in these types of interviews, but my kids have had the most obvious impact on my career path to date. The first decade of practice felt like a revolving door of maternity leaves. My grasp on any ‘career’ often felt tenuous. My husband and I graduated from the same class at U of T. We articled in the same year (different firms!) and were called to the bar at the same time. But our career arcs have been very different. In addition to my three maternity leaves – he never took paternity leave – I slowed down for a few years when the kids were really young. We knew that we couldn’t both take a run at partnership at the same time, so we made a conscious decision to prioritize his career for a few years. It was only after our third child was born in 2012 that I committed to building a practice and a profile in earnest. The past six years have been intense. It often felt like I would never catch up and there were many times that I seriously considered leaving private practice. But I am so glad I stuck it out. If you can find a way to hang in through the tough early years of practice and parenthood, it does get better. But you need to stick it out.

A related challenge lies in the fact that the ranks of women in private practice tend to thin as you become more and more senior. Where do they all go? Think of all the firms you know. How many of them include (let along start with) the name of a woman? Thanks to the systemic barriers that have traditionally worked to push women out of private practice – the ‘old boys’ networks, the ‘mommy track’, the everyday sexism women face in boardrooms and courtrooms – they are few and far between. This can make it harder for women to find mentors and sponsors to help them advance to the next stage of their career. I’m only in my sixteenth year of call and already it feels like I beat some significant odds. However, I am encouraged by the fact that many of the women in my cohort are treating this phenomenon as an opportunity to support and amplify each other. I am part of some amazing women’s networks and I really feel like I have some incredible allies out there. And I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that there are many men in the profession who are extremely supportive as well. My current partners are all male and it’s hard for me to overstate how supportive they are of my practice and my plans.

Which brings me to opportunities: I am optimistic that the profession is finally starting to appreciate the importance of diversity. Not just as a watchword, or as a feel-good initiative, but as a necessary ingredient to running a successful firm or business. Study after study has demonstrated that a plurality of voices lead to less group think, better decision making and, ultimately, a stronger organization.

6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?

1) Take the long view. It is marathon not a sprint. For many reasons, the early years are daunting: the hours are long, the expectations are high, the financial pressures significant. If you are like I was at that stage, you will spend a large part of everyday feeling like you have no idea what you’re doing. It feels like everything is riding on your performance on a day to day basis and that you can’t afford to take a breath or a break. But there is a long arc to anybody’s career. It is important to take the time to invest in yourself long term.   Check in with yourself every 6 months and make sure you’re still happy with the direction your career is heading. If the answer is no, invest the time to course correct.

2) Seek out mentors and sponsors. It’s hard to overstate the importance of having someone you trust to show you the ropes and help direct opportunities your way. Mentorship is a bit like dating - you have to click with someone for it to really work, and you’re likely to have a few false starts. Stick with it. If you can’t find someone within your firm or organization, get involved in an external organization that lines up with your area of practice or identify someone who looks like they have the career you want and reach out. Put yourself in the path of the right person.

3) Be true to yourself. Sometimes, the advice to lawyers in their early years is to say “yes” to everything that comes your way. I only partially agree with this. Yes, you should be willing to give up some sleep and social time for opportunities that will help you build the practice you want. Yes, you should network broadly and pay attention to building your reputation. But that doesn’t mean you should say yes to absolutely everything. Be sure to safeguard your personal relationships and your mental health. Also, give yourselves permission to recognize there are many ways to be successful. Be sure that the goals you’re pursuing are, in fact, your goals.

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Thank you Gillian for taking the time to answer these questions so thoughtfully and for giving us a glimpse into your career.

ICYMI: Previous posts profiled 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. Sign up to have these profiles sent directly to your email address and stay tuned for the next post soon!

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! The series will be "pausing" in December 2018 for something new and will return at a later date.

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: Melanie Sharman Rowand

10/19/2018

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A few months ago, a reader of this blog series asked if I could profile women lawyers who successfully re-entered the practice of law after taking some time away. The leading lawyer profiled in this post, Melanie Sharman Rowand, did just that: successfully returned to practice after a nine year break. Read on to learn more about Melanie's practice, her experiences and her tips for lawyers starting their legal careers:

1. Tell me a little about your practice or business:

I am a patent agent and lawyer in the IP and Regulatory Group at Torys LLP in Toronto. I have an advanced degree in botany/biology and specialize in the life sciences sector – including food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. My clients range from start-ups and universities to leading national and international corporations. I use my science background every day and am always learning something new.

2. Why did you go to law school?

I was in graduate school and felt that law school would open up a variety of career options. My game plan was to become a patent lawyer, which was what I ended up doing.

3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both?

Both – plus a lot of hard work and the good fortune to work with progressive colleagues. My career path was unusual in that I took off 9 years after my second daughter was born. I stayed in touch and was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to return to my old firm. I worked very hard to establish myself in the early years of my practice and I worked very hard to relaunch my career when I returned to work. There are a lot of talented and experienced women who took time off when their children were young and are looking to re-enter the workforce – there is a lot of untapped potential out there.

4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of?

Relaunching my practice was my biggest challenge and proudest accomplishment. I have been back at work for four years now and it almost feels like I never left. However, I have come back with a little more life experience and maturity, which can be helpful when interfacing with clients.

5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law?

There are tremendous opportunities for women in law. But for those women who wish to have children, there can be a tension between the timing of their biological clock and the partnership track. On the positive side, women (and men) have more options than ever before. Law firms are becoming more open to alternative working arrangements, and there are an increasing array of in-house options to choose from.

6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?

(i) Work hard to distinguish yourself early in your career. If you establish a solid reputation now it will open doors for you later. Get as much experience as you can and be proactive in shaping your career by seeking out work that interests you.

(ii) Foster connections with colleagues and classmates and treat everyone with respect– remember that it is a really small bar with lots of mobility so your fellow classmates and colleagues may be future clients, employees or employers.

(iii) Tap into the women’s networking groups – they are fantastic.

(iv) When an opportunity falls in your lap, don’t be afraid to run with it.

(v) Work hard and do your best, but don’t be overly hard on yourself – if you have a setback, dust yourself off and keep going.

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Thank you Melanie for taking the time to answer these questions (these questions can be hard to answer!) and for sharing your experiences with us.

ICYMI: Previous posts profiled 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. Sign up to have these profiles sent directly to your email address and stay tuned for the next post soon!

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! The series will continue until December 2018.

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: Meg Chinelo Egbunonu

10/5/2018

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This week this blog series focuses on an internationally trained woman leading in law: Meg Chinelo Egbunonu.

I first met Meg at an OBA event, after which I connected with her on LinkedIn. I have been impressed with Meg's blog posts, her insights, and her real "go get-em" attitude. After practicing for several years in Nigeria, Meg was recently called to the bar in Ontario on September 28, 2018. Congratulations!

1. Tell me a little about your practice or business:

I am an internationally trained corporate-commercial and business lawyer, recently transitioned into the Canadian legal ‘market’. My past international experience as a lawyer cuts across diverse areas of work, including Corporate Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate & Project Financing, Banking & Securities Regulation, Business Regulatory Compliance, Legal Advisory, and Litigation. I have practiced as in-house counsel and in private practice, while advising a range of clients from small businesses, to multinational organisations, regulatory bodies and non-governmental organisations.

I just concluded the Ontario licensing process, and I am integrating into the Ontario legal space.

2. Why did you go to law school?

My first instinct is to blame this on Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie’s “Miss Marple” stories!

From a very young age, I realized that I enjoyed activities which required a highly analytical thought-process. Every time I read mystery books, I would solve the mysteries at the middle of the book, then finish the book to corroborate my theories of who committed the crime. Local Nigerian games like Ludo, and “Ayo” which required a lot of calculative thinking in winning, were my favourite games.

I also found out rather early that I was a good advocate, often leading my secondary school in inter-school debate victories, and winning the best debater prize. I was that person who would speak up against injustice as a youngster- which, as the culture at the time was that a child was only “to be seen and not heard!” and being the only girl and the last child with four older brothers - surely taught me to stand my ground and ensure my voice was heard, in order to obtain desired results... even in the most mundane things (like sharing the Christmas chicken with my brothers).

There was no “aha!” moment: law was my natural first choice, despite my father severally suggesting banking to me. And even though I harnessed my creative talents as a youth in poetry, writing, and dancing, when the time came to choose my course for my undergraduate studies, it was law or nothing else.

You could say that I just always wanted to be a lawyer.

3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both?

I think it is a combination of both, with a little more of deliberate action on my part. My journey has surely been an interesting one.

Having graduated from the Nigerian Law School, I had started out in practice as a Criminal Litigator. In my first year, during the compulsory National Service program of Nigeria, I was moved to the Corporate Commercial unit by the mid-sized law firm I worked in.

At first, I despised Corporate Commercial and Business Law litigation and transactional work. My only exposure to law had hitherto been criminal litigation.

With time however, I began to pick up an interest in corporate work. I began enjoying literally tearing down and reconstructing commercial agreements. I began to understand the dynamics of Boardroom politics, and became a certified Corporate Governance professional as a Chartered Secretary in the United Kingdom. I subsequently had considerable in-house experience, which exposed me to the practicalities of managing a business, even as a lawyer.

When it was time for me to do post-graduate studies, I did not have the finances to fund my Masters degree. So I searched for scholarships, and was eventually awarded a double scholarship by the Schulich Law School and the Faculty of Graduate Studies of Dalhousie University for a Masters degree in Business Law. The program introduced me to a higher level of analytical thinking and exposure in global business and commercial law matters. More importantly, I got personal exposure into law practice in North America, and that was when the seed to become a North American lawyer was born.

But I went right back to Nigeria after my program, eventually joining one of the best and biggest law firms in Nigeria as a corporate-commercial lawyer. So when the opportunity to return permanently to Canada presented itself, it took me a long time to make the decision and eventually make the move, as I was leaving what I considered my ‘dream-job’, a life of comfort, and amazing colleagues for a future I was not sure of.

But I made that move, wanting “more”: a larger exposure on an international-scale to the kind of corporate commercial/business law work that I had come across when I advised international clients.

And I have not looked back ever since.

4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of?

This is a rather humbling question, as I feel like I am just getting started, and there is a world waiting to be conquered.

Aside from my practice of law, I am passionate about (and have been involved in various advocacy causes regarding) female empowerment, child rights, social justice and good governance. To that extent, perhaps, I could say that a significant achievement has been being recognised for my activism, and given the privilege to speak at a regional TED event, about not being confined by the boxes and stereotypes created by society, which boxes (at the very least) perpetuate mediocrity, and (at the most) contribute to harming us.

Another significant personal achievement that comes to mind was my creating and becoming the chief content creator of Meet My Busy Mind which is an analytical online platform dissecting a range of issues, from Beyonce’s newest song, to the kidnapping of school girls by the terror group Boko-Haram. I have had a lot of feedback from people on how this blog has positively impacted their life, and the high point for me was earlier this year when the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers featured one of my articles from the blog in its quarterly magazine. The blog is my immediate platform for expressing my voice, and encouraging the next generation of Nigerian women to let their voices be heard.

Professionally, my most recent achievement has been my breaking into the Canadian legal market. While it is a process I cannot say I have completely concluded, I have made significant progress, especially in light of the strides I have made and the time within which I concluded the Ontario lawyer licensing process.

Prior to now, I had heard how arduous it was to break in as an internationally trained lawyer, and from my personal research, the licensing process would usually take between 18 months to three years to be successfully concluded.

But I began the licensing process last year, writing all NCA (National Committee on Accreditation) exams at one sitting last October, writing the Bar exams this year, and meeting the other requirements of the Law Society of Ontario, culminating into my being called to the Bar of Ontario on 28th September. This is two days shy of the day I landed in Canada to begin this life.

While I am still interviewing and exploring opportunities to begin practice here, I am proud of myself for being able to conclude all the exams in a space of 9 months, obtaining my licence within less than a year of having permanently moved, and thankful for the formidable network of mentors and friends I have built in the Ontario legal community.

5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law?

For a profession such as ours, one prevailing theme I have observed that cuts across in both Nigeria and Canada is that the legal profession is more male-dominated.

Naturally, women would have the additional expectation of proving themselves more than their male colleagues, while navigating prejudices such as being seen as “emotional” (as against passionate), or aggressive (as against ambitious). Until that glass ceiling is shattered globally, it has often resulted into female lawyers having to do more and hold themselves to higher standards than their male colleagues.

There are also the unique challenges which the intersectionality of being a racialized, immigrant female presents; dealing with a myriad of issues including having to convince prospective employers on the transferability of your skills to the Canadian market, while finding innovative ways to satisfy usually unaired (but strongly present) questions that domestic commitments would not hinder your ability to pull your weight as your male counterparts.

Notwithstanding, there are opportunities which abound for women in the profession. There are opportunities for entrepreneurship as sole practitioners or freelance lawyers. For those like me from a Big Law background, there are opportunities in private practice and in-house counsel positions.

I believe it boils down to sheer grit, determination and not giving up, despite the number of times doors shut in one’s face. Since the profession is a highly competitive one, it may require being a little bit more innovative, and even running with trends that others are still grappling with, such as Artificial Intelligence, or Commercial Transactions in emerging economies.

The beauty of our profession is that you can really be anything, and go any direction you want to.

6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?

Be courageous. That would be my advice.

Being courageous does not mean you will not seek guidance at various times, or that there will not be pitfalls in your career. It does not promise that you will not have 7.30am – 2.30am work-days, or that you will not grapple with fear.

Rather, it is being courageous that will enable you to volunteer on that new brief, do the first-time research on the work, and achieve groundbreaking success for the firm. It is courage that would be with you when you are thrown into a different area of law than that which you are used to. While fear will see you making initial mistakes, and feeling lost 95% of the time, courage will push you to rise above the mistakes, apply yourself to the job at hand, and eventually shine through the assignment.

And when it is time to make the fearful career risks, it is courage that will help recognize opportunities, while listening to your gut instinct.

Courage is the hallmark of the lawyer as an advocate or a solicitor.
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Thank you Meg for taking the time to answer these questions and for sharing your experiences with us!

ICYMI: Previous posts profiled 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. Sign up to have these profiles sent directly to your email address and stay tuned for the next post soon!

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! The series will continue until December 2018.

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: Lisa Jean Helps

9/26/2018

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This week we are fortunate to hear from Lisa Jean Helps the Founding Partner of Helps Law Corporation and one of the leading criminal defence lawyers in British Columbia.

When I first reached out to the Twitterverse back in December 2017 for "leading lawyers" to profile in this series, Lisa was quick to respond with several wonderful candidates. This showed me she is clearly the type of lawyer who never hesitates to lift up and celebrate those around her. And of course, her candidates all suggested that I profile Lisa as well. So here it is!

1. Tell me a little about your practice or business:

I started Helps Law Corporation in 2004, at the conclusion of articling, mostly from my apartment. We’ve definitely grown! We now have a large office space across from the Court of Appeal in downtown Vancouver. I have two staff members, a student and an associate now. We are mostly criminal defence trial counsel, although we also take on appeals (which accounts for about half of my actual work) and regulatory hearings at regulatory bodies for professionals, like the Teacher Regulation Branch and College of Dental Surgeons. We also do immediate roadside prohibition work, the administrative sanction that has replaced criminal impaired driving charges.

2. Why did you go to law school?

I was working in the book industry for the Great Canadian Book Company as an assistant buyer and I loved it! I was the restock manager for the entire country. GCBC was owned by Hachette, which was headquartered in Paris and I was told the easiest way to move up the corporate ladder was to get a law degree. So I went! I’d always been interested in the law, but a lawyer who came to my high school’s career night was so discouraging, I went into books instead. I often feel so lucky that I ended up where I’d always wanted to be.

3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both?

You can never underestimate the power of mentorship. I knew from my first semester at UBC Law that I wanted to be a criminal lawyer (I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise to my amazing boss, Anna, at Hachette for never going back…) but it seemed like such tough going. I was encouraged by then-Dean Joost Bloom, and Richard C.C. Peck, the latter of whom helped me find my amazing principal, Paul Danyliu, to article with. From Paul, I knew what kind of cases I wanted to do and it was just a matter of working toward getting them.

4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of?

I am proudest of the mentorship I have been able to return. I’ve been the principal to seven articling students, and literally hundreds of criminology and law students. I am so proud of how many of my “kids” go on to fulfilling careers that are right for them.

Otherwise, I’m proud of building a good business and of always being prepared for court! I loved being at the Supreme Court of Canada for R v Sinclair, the leading case on right to counsel, and I’m proud of being asked to ad hoc as a prosecutor. I also love lecturing to the police and feel very honoured to do so to the municipal undercover unit and at the RCMP training centre. It’s unusual for criminal defence counsel to be asked!

5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law?

Key challenges are always going to be that you are held to a different standard than your male peers. There is always going to be a judge or other counsel who treats you as though you have less authority or less right to be there. However, I believe that, because women are socialized to be considerate of other’s feelings and to value empathy, there is a huge opportunity for women to excel as trial lawyers. A good trial lawyer can always figure out where the witness is coming from and what they’re motivated by; this kind of imagination is crucial, and I think women have it in droves. We haven’t been taught that women have an advantage as trial lawyers, but we do.

I do see the practice widening in scope. Women are starting to push past the natural barriers of the practice thanks to women-led firms and family-centric practices. I think we’re going to see huge strides in the next generation as the practice starts being flexible to accommodate women and men who want to be parents and skilled trial lawyers at the same time.

6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?

I just wrote a whole article about this, which can be found on my linkedin page here.

However, for women specific advice, I’d say this: find amazing mentorship. It’s out there. Go out to events and meet people, especially something like the Trial Lawyer’s Association of BC’s Women Lawyer’s Retreat,and talk to women who are doing the work you want to be doing over the course of your career. I have never had anyone turn me down for a coffee and a talk, and even just hearing a reassuring word is sometimes all you need to keep going.

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Thanks Lisa. It is so true that a kind or reassuring word can be so powerful for someone who needs to hear it!

ICYMI: Previous posts profiled 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. Sign up to have these profiles sent directly to your email address and stay tuned for the next post soon!

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! The series will continue until December 2018.

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WOMEN LEADING IN LAW: Nathalie Godbout, Q.C.

9/14/2018

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Welcome back to the Women Leading in Law series. After a call out to my "tweeps" on Twitter for amazing women lawyers on the east coast I was introduced to Nathalie Godbout, the next lawyer to be profiled for this series.

1. Tell me a little about your practice or business:

I am a partner and co-founder of Godbout Fawcett, a law firm located in Saint John, NB that specializes in professional malpractice defence and complex litigation. Our boutique firm opened in December 2016. Our focus is on providing the client with a supportive, personalized experience of legal support for whatever challenge they are facing.

2. Why did you go to law school?

I suspect my childhood had everything to do with it! I was the kid in the neighbourhood that wanted everything to be fair, for everyone to be meaningfully heard. I was also the kid that other kids sent in to negotiate on everyone’s behalf. My advocacy work probably started when I was 5 years old and has been developing since then. That passion has never left me.

3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both?

There is a well-recognized saying from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe that is my life’s mantra: “At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you.” It has always felt to me that the moment I committed to becoming a lawyer was the moment everything started falling into place so that it could happen. My parents have been endlessly supportive. And today, I credit my powerful circle of friendships - my army of women – for holding me to my vision of what a great law firm could look like. I am proud of what we have accomplished here in such a short window of time.

4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of?

I relish the moment that a new client can finally relax and know that our firm has got his/her problem well in hand. There is a look, an elusive resting posture that comes over them; it is very gratifying. More personally, I wrote an article a few years ago entitled “To The Woman In Room 805” that spoke to an incident of intimate partner violence that I had witnessed; it went viral, and helped to trigger an important conversation in both my real and online community about what this experience is and what we can do to change it. I received countless messages from women who told me the article changed their lived experience and, in some cases, gave them the courage to make a plan and leave their abusive relationship.

5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law?

The challenges are known and many, born mostly of societal stereotypes of what we are somehow expected to be: perfect spouse, mother, organizer, empathetic friend, all while practicing our trade in a legal community built on mostly male constructs. Our firm is, at least in part, a temple to what it can look like if you rebuild it from scratch. So we did. The opportunity for us was a chance at showing other lawyers and their families a law firm that empowers its team, is technologically savvy, allows for remote work and shared responsibility in files, with generous time off, incentive-based earning, powerful networking, and constant learning. We are not slaves to the billable hour, and value the outcome far more than the profit. Because when you start focusing on the work product, the satisfaction of your client, and the happiness of your team, the profit and new clients naturally flow. Yes, we are running a business, the humanity is never allowed to get lost in the financial statements.

6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?

Years ago, when I started my family in my late 30s, my husband and I had to reinvent the way this was traditionally done. Ultimately, my husband stayed home with our newborn and I went back to work 3 weeks later. He brought her to my office every day so I could nurse her. It was chaotic and non-traditional and perfect for us. My advice is: don’t let the world tell you how you are supposed to do this. You can and should design your practice and your life to be a reflection of your goals and your core values. At times, I was surrounded by people that clearly thought I was letting my baby down, that my husband had somehow been tricked into trading off on his manhood, and that my clients would not understand any of it. They were so very wrong. We have magical memories of those years when our daughters were young. They waved joyfully (most days) to me as I left to go be a strong advocate for my clients. They were happy because I was happy.

Don’t give in to the archaic constructs of this amazing profession of ours. We can and will change it; in fact, it’s already happening.
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Thanks Nathalie for participating in this series and I love how you have a built a career and practice that suits you and your core values. Congratulations.

ICYMI: Previous posts profiled 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. Sign up to have these profiles sent directly to your email address and stay tuned for the next post soon!

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! The series will continue until December 2018.