 We are switching things up a bit today with the Women Leading in Law blog series and featuring Professor Jennifer Quaid, a lawyer who chose a rewarding career in academia (after some time with the Department of Justice and in private practice). For any lawyer or law student curious about a similar career, this is the post for you. While the whole post is filled with lots of great advice, what stood out for me was Prof. Quaid's observations about making mistakes in your legal career. I hope you find it useful too: 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I have the best job in the world! I am an Associate Professor and soon to be Vice-Dean Research (as of July 1, 2020) at the Civil Law Section of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa. I teach an unusual combination of courses, but one that is tailor-made for me and the areas of law that interest me: general criminal law, corporate law and competition law. Some day, I would like to teach a seminar on selected topics in business accountability – I am working on my Dean! Aside from my teaching load, which is determined in large part by Faculty needs, I have the incredible privilege to pursue research in whatever subjects interest me. This freedom allows me to explore questions in depth but also affords me the opportunity to respond in real time to new issues as they emerge: some of you may know that I talk to journalists fairly frequently. This is the new reality of the modern academic: being able to provide insights in multiple forms to multiple audiences on very different timelines. It is very challenging but you can’t do one without the other – we need deep research on fundamental questions but we also need to keep our eyes on what is happening on the ground. This balancing act keeps me on my toes but is one of the aspects of my position that I appreciate the most. It is intensely satisfying to be able to contribute to public discourse and provide ideas for solutions to the problems that we face as a society. My core area of expertise is what most people call “corporate criminal liability” but the work I do straddles a number of overlapping areas that are linked by a common theme: when and how can law be used to stimulate good governance and ethical business practices, particularly in the prevention of serious harm flowing from the materialization of foreseeable operational risks. These risks tend to fall into two distinct categories: economic (like corruption, fraud and cartel activity) and safety/environmental (criminal negligence, regulatory). I study both types, which means I have written about the Lac-Mégantic derailment and about the SNC-Lavalin case. Many of my research projects are centred on developing effective sanctions and sentencing practice. My current focus is on anti-corruption measures and how to rescue the fledgling remediation agreement regime (Part XXII.1 CrC) which got off to such a rough start in 2018. I have just received funding for a 4-year empirical study that will compare non-trial resolutions in Canada, France and Switzerland. I am very fortunate to have been able to form a network of 4 colleagues (2 French, 2 Swiss – all women!) associated with 3 research institutes to support the project. Their collaboration is crucial since a big part of the study will be talking to those involved in anti-corruption enforcement on the ground in each country: investigators, police, prosecutors, judges and defense counsel. Empirical studies like these are still rare and depend on developing and maintaining good relationships with stakeholders. As someone who has practised in government and the private sector before joining the academy and who continues to engage with the profession, this plays to my strengths. I am very much looking forward to getting started! Outside my formal research projects, I also volunteer my time to the Legal Committee of Transparency International Canada, an NGO which advocates for robust anti-corruption measures in Canada and works to greater public awareness of the costs of corruption worldwide. Being part of the Committee gives me the chance to work with a fantastic group of lawyers from different sectors who are committed to the mission of TI Canada. The final part of a professor’s job is service and I will be doing a lot of that starting July 1st when I become Vice-Dean, Research. In that role, I will be responsible for supporting my colleagues and their research teams when they apply for grants and other institutional support like infrastructure; the search for funding and resources is a fixture of the research world. I will also responsible for promoting and highlighting the research being done by our professors, graduate students and the many research centres and laboratories associated with the Faculty. At this level I expect to collaborate a lot with my counterpart in Common Law, Vice-Dean Research, Penelope Simons. She is an expert on business and human rights and she and I have plans to create a joint research hub focused on business accountability, ethical commercial practices and sustainable governance in order to leverage the incredible expertise we have at uOttawa Law in the fields related to this topical and important subject. More specifically on the Civil Law side, we spent the last year developing a strategic plan for the next 3-5 years in six key areas, including research. As incoming Vice-Dean, I have the honour of launching the first priority projects for the research sector: one is a new micro-program aimed at undergraduate students interested in research. The idea is to introduce students to the different kinds of research that can be done in law (interdisciplinary, empirical, quantitative, socio-legal, etc) as well as in other fields that are useful in studying legal issues. We also want them to have a chance to try their hand at an often under-studied aspect of the research process: knowledge mobilization; in other words, sharing what they discover in ways that people can understand and make use of it. I have two other major priorities for my term as Vice-Dean. The first is to continue the work of predecessors in working toward reconciliation with the First Peoples of Canada. This is a multi-pronged process that will take many years, but in my capacity as Vice-Dean Research, I would like to develop stronger relationships with First Nations researchers and communities, particularly those with which we already have active connections and those on whose unceded territory our Faculty is located. We already have many researchers who are working with First Nations partners and last year we were delighted to welcome on faculty Professor Eva Ottawa, an expert on aboriginal legal orders and a member of the atikamekw community. I would like to build on that base to weave First Nations perspectives into our thinking more broadly. I believe there is tremendous potential for change and new ideas if we are prepared to listen and learn about First Nations legal traditions and history. The other area of priority for me is to see a much greater embrace of multiple platforms to share our research and connect with people interested in knowing about the issues we are studying and what ideas we have to propose as solutions. This means expanding beyond speakers addressing audiences in conventional academic settings and changing things up both digitally (blogs, podcasts, webcasts and live chats) and in person. One idea we are keen to launch as soon as social distancing rules allow is the “university of the streets” model, where researchers go out into the community and chat with people in more informal settings, like cafés, galleries, community centres and other public spaces. 2. Why did you go to law school? When I first went to law school, I wanted to be a litigator, ideally in a big firm where I would be this alpha female partner breaking down all the sexist barriers that had plagued my mother’s generation. I also wanted to fight the good fight – the classic widow and orphan view of the lawyer as social justice crusader. But there were no lawyers in my family and I had no idea what the practice of law was really like. I found that out progressively and where I am today reflects my gradual realization of that my 20-year old’s ambition was not true to who I was as a person and as a lawyer nor was it aligned with my goals. Before studying law, I completed an undergrad degree in Economics at the University of Ottawa. But while I enjoyed taking a lot of different classes from art history to lettres françaises to math, this was always just a stepping-stone in my mind. Moreover, as I came to the University of Ottawa straight out of Secondary V in Quebec (I skipped CEGEP), I was still very young, only 20 when I graduated. As a native-born Montrealer with strong family ties to Europe, I grew up with an appreciation for the world beyond Canada’s borders and a sensitivity to the way language and culture shapes one’s perspective. Given this, I absolutely wanted to study both civil and common law and in both languages. At the time I applied to law school, there were only two schools that offered the National Program: McGill and the University of Ottawa. The National Program at Ottawa was designed as a 3+1 degree: 3 years in one program and 1 year in the “other” program. It was the Droit civil (Civil Law) Section that admitted me so that is where I started in September 1990. Many people do not realize that while our sister Faculty, the Common Law Section is bilingual and has both a French and English language program, Droit civil is taught exclusively in French. Since the University of Ottawa is a bilingual university, students may opt to write the papers and exams in either English or French, but I never availed myself of that option. I had already taken about half of my undergraduate classes in French and I decided that I wanted to prove I was able to do everything in French. Moreover, I found it much easier to take notes and read the source materials in French since the lectures and exam questions were in French too. This was one of the best decisions I ever made since it laid the foundation for a career in which I would move seamlessly between languages, cultures and legal systems. After three years immersed in French and in droit civil I spent a fascinating year learning the common law in English. At the time, the National Program was small (we were about 12) and so we were sprinkled among the first-year classes. We had a lot of fun though our classmates found that we asked strange and unexpected questions. In first-year contracts, taught by the wonderful Don McRae, we were mystified as why the standard approach was to teach remedies first. “But what’s the definition of a contract?” we kept asking, “we need to know that first!”. Don just smiled. The experience of engaging in comparative law directly like that was invaluable. It opened my eyes to the huge potential in looking at other approaches and in trying to understand where others are coming from. At the end of the day, all legal systems are designed to produce solutions to common human problems. Against that backdrop, cross-pollination of legal principles can provide helpful insights when looking at novel issues. I went to law school at the height of the national unity debates (remember the Meech Lake Accord? That fell apart as I started law school and then there was the Charlottetown Accord – I remember Bob Rae giving a passionate speech in favour at the Faculty, but to no avail). I spent many hours arguing and debating constitutional law and federalism with my civil law classmates, many of whom were indépendantistes, and always in French. I suppose that is where I perfected my legal French, though at the time I still had a slight European accent because I spent my summers working in Switzerland (my mum is from there). But there was always a point in the debate where my classmates would say “Oh, les anglophones …” and then I would say, “I am an anglo, you know.” And then they would say: “Oh, Jen, we don’t mean you. You’re not like them.” I took that as a compliment. We all wanted to be constitutional law experts in those days and find that dream job doing Charter analysis for just causes (most of us never managed it). 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? The short answer is both. The long answer could form the basis of a novel; here is the abridged version. My career is best described as a zig-zag across different practice areas, different employers and different parts of the world that ultimately brought me back to where it all started – Fauteux Hall. If you had told me in 1994 when I graduated from common law that I would be back 22 years later, I would have shuddered, and not in a good way. After I finished Droit civil, I summered at a big Montreal firm. I then returned the summer after to start my articling. I did one rotation in litigation but as I had a clerkship lined up with Frank Iacobucci at the Supreme Court of Canada, I did not remain at the firm for the duration of my articles and never returned. While at the Court I applied for scholarships to go to grad school and through a stroke of luck managed to secure two, but not for the same year. I went first to Cambridge in 1995-96 where I did an LLM. This was an amazing experience that I treated as my reward for working hard at law school. It was at Cambridge, in my Philosophy of Criminal Law seminar, that I first became seriously interested in corporate criminal liability, so much so I elected to write a thesis about it. I then went to Columbia Law School where I was an Associate-in-Law (a 2 year teaching fellowship) while pursuing a doctoral degree in comparative corporate criminal liability. It was as an Associate that I had my first experience teaching and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it (it was beginner’s luck I would find out in later years). I finished my time at Columbia in 1998 and received an LLM for my first doctoral paper. Though I had applied for a few academic jobs in Canada none worked out. I was secretly relieved because I wanted to practice and experience what I thought was “real life” outside the walls of the ivory tower. My experience as a practising lawyer was not typical for my era, where the gold standard was securing a place at a good law firm and remaining there forever. Nowadays, moving around from job to job and doing different types of work is far more common and is viewed in a more positive light than it was then. My first real law job was at the federal Department of Justice in a policy section called the Civil Code Section, which was tasked with the job of ensuring federal enactments reflected civil law principles in those areas where provincial law was incorporated into federal rules (such as bankruptcy). The position was not as stimulating as expected and so I looked around for other options and managed to get a secondment to the Competition Law Division. I had done some of my grad work in this area so was thrilled to go there. I was immediately assigned to a big merger review case. The Commissioner had decided to challenge the Superior Propane acquisition of ICG before the Competition Tribunal and they needed more lawyers to help. Eventually I secured a permanent position at the CLD. It was a busy time for deals in the late 1990s and I loved working on mergers. In those days the lawyers often accompanied the commerce officers investigating the cases (they don’t anymore) and I found the experience of meeting witnesses and stakeholders fascinating. The Propane case, heard in Calgary, was a long slog and it became quite adversarial in the courtroom but the Bureau team was fantastic and we all learned a ton. The Propane case was the first merger case to raise the issue of the efficiency defense squarely and I was teamed up with a commerce officer and an economist to work on developing a new interpretation of s. 96 of the Act. We even travelled to Washington to meet with senior FTC and DoJ officials – all of us were under 30 at the time and we marvelled at how seriously we were being taken. After about 2 years with the CLD, I asked my boss if I could take a one-year unpaid leave to go work in private practice. There was precedent for this – other young government lawyers had done it and private practice lawyers often came to the Bureau on exchange. I wanted the experience because after working on several merger files, I felt like I was at a disadvantage because I did not understand how the deals were put together. I wanted to see the other side, as it were. After weighing different options, I decided to join a prominent New York firm, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in what they call their General Practice Group (in essence, corporate law). Though some had suggested I should join the Antitrust Group (a litigation group), I wanted the deal experience. Things did not go as planned, however. I arrived in January 2001 just as the tech boom started to crash; work dried up. Like many associates I had to take the assignments I was given. This is how I ended up doing securities work, something I never imagined doing. I am embarrassed to admit that back then I did not know the difference between the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In the slow summer of 2001, I attended an information session on the Asia-Pacific practice where I learned that S&C had an office in Melbourne. Not thinking, I ticked the box saying I might consider going there (I really wanted to go to the Paris office but there were no openings). Six weeks later, on September 10, 2001, I was offered a job there, which I accepted. That turned out to be prescient. I was glad to be able to leave my financial distinct apartment on the edge of Ground Zero at the end of 2001. But leaving for Melbourne also meant I was staying beyond my one-year leave from Justice and so I gave up my permanent job there. My experience in Melbourne was exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. I arrived in January 2002 to a tiny, thinly-staffed office (2 partners, 1 special counsel, 3 associates –a very top-heavy ratio). They were working at full-tilt because S&C represented about 80% of the Australian public companies listed in the US. Aside from a female lawyer working part-time out of the Sydney satellite office (only 2 lawyers plus her), I was the only female lawyer in the group. Very quickly, I discovered I was out of my depth; I lacked adequate knowledge of securities laws and accounting rules and I had to catch up very quickly under very stressful conditions. Things got really crazy in July 2002 when the US Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The new enactment, intended to rein in accounting and reporting practices that had enabled companies like Enron to mislead investors, turned the US securities world upside down. The legislation required the SEC to enact dozens of regulations on short notice. The SEC began to systematically subject any company doing a deal to detailed review of all disclosure documents, something that slowed all transactions and injected a huge amount of uncertainty into the process. This was especially the case for foreign issuers because Congress had not considered the implications of some rules for non-US companies. One example: SOX banned executives and directors from doing business with the companies they worked for. There was an exemption for institutions regulated by the US Treasury (ie banks), but not foreign financial institutions. It took 18 months of lobbying and negotiation to get the SEC to issue a special regulation to allow qualifying foreign banks to get an exemption. Since we represented all 4 big banks in Australia, we spent a lot of time calming down angry executives who railed against the unfairness of the rules forcing them to switch their mortgages and bank accounts to their competitors. It was stressful to be working in such uncertain legal times and as the only female lawyer, I often felt isolated, though I did bond with the wonderful female support staff. Fortunately, I developed strong working relationships with clients, other counsel and advisors, many of them amazing woman lawyers and accountants with whom I am still touch today. I learned an incredible amount about teamwork, collaboration and compromise from them as we worked through novel, complex and challenging transactions. I returned to New York in the summer 2004, but by then I knew that my days at the firm were numbered; despite working brutal hours, I had not met expectations. To be fair, I also knew by then that I did not want to stay. I had to make a move. The question was where? My spouse had left a good job in Ottawa as a high-tech engineer to follow me to Australia and then to New York. He had worked for about 18 months in Australia but not at the same level. We decided we should go where he could get a job, especially as I was pregnant. We moved back to Ottawa in August 2005 once my 16-week mat leave/vacation time was over. I spent nearly 18 months with my infant son before returning to work. It was quite an adjustment being at home full-time without a business card. I loved the time with my child, but I felt unmoored and restless too. At the urging of the then Dean of Civil Law, Nathalie DesRosiers , I accepted a position as Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies at the Faculty of Law in August 2006. The job was mostly administrative and was never going to be a long-term position for me, but it gave me the chance to do thinking work while I had small children, which was incredibly important. Caring for babies and toddlers is physically and mentally draining and there were times when I thought I would not manage. But being back in a university environment got me thinking about becoming a professor. The challenge for me was that the world had changed since I was a 28-year old grad student applying for positions in the late 1990s. Securing a tenure-track position was going to take a substantial investment of time, money and family (especially spousal) moral support to build up a competitive file. And at the top of the list was getting a doctorate and scholarships as well as producing peer-review publications. The experience was not unlike getting back into a sport after a long hiatus. It was painful and exhausting to build up the skills, concentration and mental sharpness I used to take for granted. But I also found that once I got back into it, the joy of learning new things and having space to explore intriguing ideas kicked in and I knew I had made the right decision. I was hired by the Civil Law Section in 2013 and received tenure and promotion in 2019. I took a long time, but I have finally ended up in a job I love, working with people I respect and admire and making the kind of contributions that give me a deep sense of professional satisfaction. I would add that I would not be the professor I am without having gone down the windy path I followed. It is not a path I would necessarily recommend, but it forged in me a perspective on law that draws theory and practice together. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? When you have had a long career, there are many things that you remember and that make you proud. They are not all achievements in the traditional sense, however. As an educator, I am proud of my students, they have done amazing things with their legal education. Moreover, their energy and enthusiasm are inspiring and infectious. If I were to single out a traditional achievement it would be defending my doctoral dissertation and receiving my PhD from Queen’s (I dropped out of the Columbia program when I went into private practice). Unlike my previous degrees, which had come easily, it was a long and arduous process for me. When I started, I was working as an academic administrator and had two small children. Two weeks into the PhD program I discovered that I was expecting my third child, which complicated things a little! I was hired by the Civil Law Section when I was three years into what was supposed to be 3-year program; I thought at the time, I would be done in another year. Instead, I juggled family, developing and teaching new courses, writing papers and presenting at conferences, and the dissertation, for four more years. It was exhausting and many times, I thought I was going to have to give up. I felt like I was doing everything badly. This little voice in my head keep nagging at me: was I really up to the standard? Was I deluding myself that I could be a researcher at this level? What kept me going, I must confess, was the determination to show my children, especially my daughter, that through perseverance and hard work I could achieve this goal I had set for myself. Toward the end my stress over finishing kept me up at night. But then I submitted the final text and it was like this huge load was taken off my shoulders. The defense was actually fun because I knew my stuff and my examiners were great. And when convocation came around I will admit I was proud to wear my doctoral gown and Tudor cap. In my mind, receiving the degree was a pivotal moment. For the first time, I truly saw myself as a researcher, as someone who can make a contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the public interest. After so many years of uncertainty and doubt, I felt I had found my place and that I belonged. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? Sexism is still present in law, the legal profession and in our wider society. You will encounter it in some form or another. But the good news is that it is less and less likely that this sexism will prevent you from pursuing your goals. Don’t get me wrong: it may nevertheless interfere with specific plans, like working at a specific place or being appointed to a specific position, especially if you are subject to harassment or abuse, but these will be temporary setbacks at most. The wider arc of history is on your side. Moreover, the events of the past few weeks in reaction to the tragic death of George Floyd suggest that the tide is also turning – finally – on racism, particularly awareness of the systemic and structural factors that have entrenched it in our society. Be aware of imposter syndrome. We all get it, but especially women. It’s that thought that you don’t belong because you are not qualified enough, don’t have enough experience or simply don’t deserve to be there. Resist that nay-saying voice in your head. Don’t count yourself out before you take a serious look at the circumstances. Ask yourself, am I ready for this challenge, do I have the skills I need, if I don’t am I able to learn as I go? And always consider the opportunity cost of passing up the chance to do something that stretches you. Timing of opportunities is rarely perfect. If you can tolerate being uncomfortable and you trust your assessment of the value of taking on something new, then you should go for it. The greatest opportunities I see for women are in leadership positions. I am joining an executive team in Civil Law that is led by the accomplished and trailblazing Dean Marie-Ève Sylvestre and comprised entirely of women, save one. More and more institutions, public and private, are actively looking to recruit women to senior leadership positions. If that interests you, then seek out opportunities to gain experience and develop skills that you will need. And network, network, network. Increasingly there are strong networks of women like me, who you can draw on for support, advice and mentoring. And we want to help! Networks are how you make connections and become known. How you behave in these networks when you are new and relatively inexperienced will speak volumes to those who have been around for a while. A few tips: be polite, considerate and thankful. This does not mean being meek and mild, it means you acknowledge when others have spent their valuable time and effort on your behalf. My secret weapon is the thank you note – yes, a note, in writing. These days it may be impractical to send a handwritten note, though that is the gold standard in my view, but sending a thoughtful email message, written in full sentences, proof-read with a proper greeting and salutation, is an excellent habit to develop. I also encourage sending notes of congratulation for milestones, new positions, promotions, marriages, births or other accomplishments; you might also consider sending words of encouragement to those going through difficult times, like bereavement and job loss (This pandemic has underscored the importance of proactively staying in touch and reaching out). Doing this systematically means that you never appear opportunistic when you approach someone for help. You have a track record of communications that telegraphs your interest in and concern for others. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? For most of us, starting something is exciting but also intimidating. We worry about not knowing enough or messing up or missing that one golden opportunity we believe will set us on the path to success and happiness. Actually the opposite is true. New grads know a lot, probably more than most practising lawyers. They are sharp and fresh and unafraid of trying new things. They believe in change and are generally unencumbered by the kind of resignation we tend to develop as we age, which causes us to abandon lofty goals, stick with what works or to be cynical. But knowledge is only one part of a lawyer’s job; experience is the element new grads lack. And, as much as we would like it to be otherwise, you do not gain experience – at least not useful experience - unless you push yourself a little, take risks and actually get your hands dirty. I don’t mean dirty in the sense of illegal or unethical, but I mean that you will make mistakes. Mistakes are the best teachers even if they may be awful to live through as they are happening; I say that from painful experience. You cannot expect to get through a 20-40 year career without a full range of mistakes, from small to very big. Though this may surprise you, they are probably not going to be legal mistakes of the kind that cause you to give incorrect legal advice. They are far more likely to be miscalculations of time or resources, misreading of clients’ expectations, mismanagement of people, or misjudging what you thought would give you professional and personal satisfaction. Making mistakes is inevitable and unavoidable. What matters is how you respond – this is how you mature as a lawyer and as a person. All too often women are discouraged from taking risks and told to fear making mistakes. Don’t fall into that trap. Volunteer for challenging assignments, seek out new opportunities, get out of your comfort zone, work with different people. Get line experience: experience in different departments and in different regions is a key asset if you are interested in leadership positions. Do not allow yourself to be siloed in a single unit or service. One caveat: there is sexism and a double-standard, still, in how women are evaluated and how serious their mistakes may be considered. Two pieces of advice: understand what is expected of you and make sure you state clearly what your level of experience is – if there is a serious mismatch, you want that to be known upfront. Second, seek out a mentor who can look out for you, provide advice and make sure you are not being set up to fail. Finally, there is not one path to success and happiness. This is especially important for women lawyers to remember. As I have said to many of my students, a career is a LONG time. Even if you do grad school or started law school later, or take ten years off to have kids, you are probably still looking at 20-25 years of time for your legal/professional career. Over that long a period expect your goals and priorities to change. This is not bad, or a sign of poor planning. It is a sign that you are evolving as a person and a professional and that you are listening to yourself. Do not let others tell you what is best for you or what you “should” do. By all means get advice, consult people, be informed. But at the end of the day, it is your life – and you are the one living it. One particularly important thing is to realize that it is possible to be “good” at something and to hate it. Sometimes we believe, with all our heart, that we should excel at something and we do not. This is not the end of the world, but a sign that you need to open your mind and think outside the box. It took me a long time to make peace with the fact that private practice was not a good fit for me and that it was not my fault, nor was it the fault of the firms I worked for. I had always associated academia with a closed community locked away from the hustle of real life. But when I sat down and was honest about I wanted to do, I realized that the university environment would provide me the space and the freedom to work the way I wanted. Don’t get me wrong – I do not work less hard or less hours, I probably work more. Academic life is stressful and constantly under-resourced. But the essential difference is that I love what I am doing and get great satisfaction from the trifecta of research, teaching and service. Figuring out what matters to you, what your passions are, how you want to contribute to society is critically important and only you can do it. But think of this evaluation of priorities as a map that allows you to travel rather than a set of directions leading to a single destination. Every now and then you might need to stop, reassess and change course. The reasons for this may come from you or they may come from external sources that are not within your control. Regardless, if you think of your professional journey in terms of what it brings you rather that where you are going you will be adaptable and flexible and open to new opportunities when they arise. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Jennifer for this insightful and very informative post! 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: 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. 
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 I am happy to introduce you to Maryann Besharat, the leading lawyer profiled in today's blog post.
Maryann was introduced to me by Maneesha Gupta, who wrote the following about Maryann: "Maryann has been very inspiring to me and I would love for other female lawyers to hear (and benefit from) her story. From the moment she stepped on stage, she captivated our audience with her confidence, bright mind and unforgettable wit. Having put out many fires, Maryann drew on practical perspectives from her own career in a way that was empowering and encouraging to any female lawyer." Please enjoy the profile: 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I am the Vice President, Legal Affairs & Compliance Services at Intact Financial Corporation which is the largest provider of property and casualty insurance in Canada and a leading provider of specialty insurance in North America. I am responsible for providing legal services and solutions-oriented advice relating to a broad range of legal issues including insurance-regulatory, compliance, ombudsman, marketing, internal investigations and employment matters. I oversee interactions with several regulatory bodies and am responsible for managing all aspects of Intact’s ethics, privacy and whistleblower programs. My goal is to provide pragmatic advice regarding strategic initiatives of the company. My approach to providing legal advice is to simplify the issues, highlight the real risks and offer easy to understand solutions that balance legal risks with business opportunities. I work with a fantastic team of professionals who bring new meaning to the phrase ‘legal eagles’! They’re sharp, bright and so much fun. Every day is entertaining, engaging and intellectually stimulating. Who says insurance is boring?! 2. Why did you go to law school? My childhood dream was to become a lawyer. As the child of immigrants, I grew up with a deep appreciation for higher education and the understanding that every generation needs to strive to be better than the previous one. My father was in law school before his family emigrated to Canada and he was unable to complete his studies. He’s well read and a bit of an academic without the official credentials. He heavily influenced my desire to become a lawyer with his wit, intelligence and oratory skills. In me, he saw the combination of leadership, social advocacy, drive, curiosity and brute hard work. His gentle prompts along with my mother’s tireless support played a significant role in my decision to go to law school. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? Design, chance and a bit of both. The primary force was chance. I went in-house during the economic recession in 2010 after practising on Bay street for a few years. I was not familiar with Intact, but I connected with the general counsel during my interview and the role appeared to be exactly what I was looking for….different. The position entailed creative thinking & writing, high levels of collaboration, and a multi-disciplinary approach that looked at problems from different angles. I knew I possessed these skills, and I wanted to use them more in my practice. I loved the job from day one. In fact, I kept wondering when I would feel like it was a drab to go to work, and that day never came. I quickly became highly engaged in my role and over time, I became personally invested in the development of the Legal team, the company as a whole and in my career growth within Intact. This is where ‘design’ came into the picture. At some point, I realised that I would like to play a leadership role at Intact and I began developing a plan to grow my legal skills, understand the business and enhance my leadership footprint. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? I am most proud of becoming a lawyer. It was a significant achievement for both myself and my family. I found law school intellectually and emotionally challenging. During my undergraduate, I thought I studied hard, but law school took it to a new level. It was a privilege to study the law and I was impressed with how bright and dedicated the students were (if not intimidated). Law school pushed my academic boundaries and helped me enhance my research, writing, analytical and advocacy skills. It also helped toughen me up, because there are all types of characters in law school and it’s easy to get distracted by minor irritants. I was a little naïve about things and law school helped illuminate human behaviour. I was fortunate to have great family support during law school. Not only did they encourage me to become a lawyer, but they wholeheartedly pushed and cheered me on during law school. When I received my degree and walked across the stage, I fondly remember feeling like this degree also belonged to my parents. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? Let me first start off with the key opportunities: In my experience, women in law are like a sisterhood. There is a great sense of community amongst women in law and we try to rally and support each other. I have benefited immensely from generous women who have coached me and now I am in the privileged position of paying this forward to younger women in the profession. Another key opportunity is to help progress and modernise the practice of law such that we move away from zero-sum outcomes and pivot towards a more balanced and conciliatory approach. Lastly, there is more progress that needs to be made on ensuring the practice of law is a sustainable career that does not destroy marriages and family life. This is not a women only issue and I am pleased to see the proliferation of men that are also helping set healthy work life boundaries. Gender and race discrimination along with pay equity remain key challenges. These issues permeate all workplaces and are not limited to the practice of law. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Strive for marginal improvements – instead of perfection, aim for progress. Every week do one thing to marginally improve. Embrace brevity and simplicity – don’t write for lawyers, write for the average person. If you learn to master this skill, you will become a client magnet. Support the business operations – become a student of the business and understand the key challenges and opportunities. Let failure be your teacher, but keep a few successes in your pocket – the greatest learnings come from failure, but always keep reminding yourself of the big or small wins so that you don’t overly analyse and criticize your shortcomings. The more failures you have, the better you get at extracting the learning from the experience and not dwelling on your wounded ego or hurt feelings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you Maryann for this wonderful advice and information about your practice! 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: 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.  Today's profile features lawyer, trademark agent, and entrepreneur Cynthia Mason. I love how Cynthia has created a practice and business that reflects her values. And she has a great story on why she went to law school! 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I have focused my law practice on helping businesses protect their brands. I started my career at a large Bay Street firm, and for the last 6-years, I have been protecting brands through my own law firm, Mason Professional Corporation. Earlier this year, I launched a new business under the name Markably. It’s an online provider of trademark registrations and brand monitoring and enforcement services. 2. Why did you go to law school? I certainly never had any burning desire to be a lawyer! I had finished my undergraduate degree in biology, and I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life. This may sound totally flaky, but my dilemma really was solved in one evening at a Halifax restaurant. I opened a fortune cookie that said, “You would make a good lawyer.” I thought there could be something to that, I am a problem solver at heart, and I love interacting with people (and, of course, cookies never lie). So, I applied to law school and never looked back. I still have that fortune framed in my office. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? I think I’m where I am today as a result of a lot of hard work mixed with a little bit of luck. The lucky aspect of my career came from working with an amazing mentor straight out of articling. He taught me many things about selflessness and client service. But I also worked really hard to build on those early lessons. I think I have reached where I am today by constantly reflecting upon and improving myself, my services and my business organization. I’m not a person who can walk through life without a clear plan. I really don’t think success happens by chance, and anyone who thinks that it does is seriously selling themselves short! 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? I’m really proud of the fact that I have a profitable business that I love, and I have the flexibility to be present for my family when they need me. After spending more than a decade at Bay Street law firms, I never imagined it would be possible to have a rewarding legal career and still be able to prioritize my family every day. Outside of that, I am pretty darn proud of the fact that I have built legal technology and brought it to market. I took a process that I have refined over the course of my career (registering trademarks), and I’ve systematized and simplified it so that anyone can register a trademark. I’ve learned a lot of new skills in the development of this technology, and I’m excited to learn more about digital marketing, pitching to investors and expanding to other countries. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? I think raising children and managing clients will always be a challenge for women in law. Regardless of how helpful and involved your spouse or partner is in family life, I think a lot of women want to be the primary caregiver in their families. But they also want to have a fulfilling legal career, and these two things are frequently at odds. I think the opportunity here is that women will lead the way in re-defining what it means to have a successful law practice. When I began my career, success was defined by the number of hours you billed and how much money you drew. I can already see it’s evolving, and I think women are the main drivers behind it. Success is really about how many people you can impact in the amount of time you choose to give. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? My advice is to be very clear with yourself about what are your personal values. It’s very difficult to be happy in a job, law firm or company that does not align with your values. I spent a big part of my legal career at a firm that did not share my values, and I tortured myself trying to model myself after their leadership. I regret not looking outside of my immediate surrounding for role models. They’re definitely out there, you just have to explore with an open mind! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Cynthia for participating in this series and congratulations on the success of Markably! 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: 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.   Today we have the pleasure of learning from criminal defence lawyer and law firm founder Roots Gadhia. Roots has the best law firm name: Roots of Law! Read on for some tips and advice: 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business Roots of Law is a Professional corporation that employs 3 and half lawyers (one to be called in June) and a legal assistant… all women. We have a dog and a new born baby that has been in the office since his birth. Part daycare doggie care and law firm we all get along well and work together on files as a team. Clients will meet each one of us at some point and have access to us 24/7. The team model is designed for mentorship and sanity. We enjoy working together and we also socialize together. As a criminal defence firm with my 23 years of experience I have developed a loyal client base that refers clients and returns to us most of the time. We do everything from murders to guns and drugs robberies and sexual assaults. We have a system in place whereby we stay on top of disclosure requests, files and applications with constant client input in their files. 2. Why did you go to law school? I wanted to be a lawyer from the age of 9. The decision to be defence counsel came during law school but the desire to work within the legal system came early when I realized the inequities that certain people experienced because of their race or heritage and I wanted to make changes that would be significant to someone's life. Be in the room if you want to be heard. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? Both. I never thought I would be a business woman and run my own firm. Learning that part of the practice was invigorating. Ensuring that my practice would grow and that I could mentor other lawyers over the years while still turning a profit and doing the type of work I set out to do was gratifying. I love this career path, it is exactly where I want to be. Not a single day is the same, I control my own schedule, the people in my practice are those that I want here and want to be here. I get to mentor young women and men and the rewards are far greater than just money… although I live a very comfortable lifestyle. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? I am a good advocate for my client and a great mentor and employer. Right now I am still keeping my staff employed and we have worked around Covid to maintain client relationships. Each client we have represented has been treated with dignity and compassion and although not everyone goes on to turn their life around, those that do are my greatest accomplishments! 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? Finding a safe place. Women are constantly being bombarded with expectations and denigrated by men in a male dominated industry. Being with other women who are like minded ensures a working environment that they can grow and developed their skills. Our opportunities are boundless as long as there is an environment where we can flourish. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Find a good mentor and taking a chance on yourself. Women play it safe too often and don’t always believe in themselves. Learn something new every year. One thing, a language an art, an instrument, computers… -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Roots for participating in this series. I love your final tip. It is so important to keep learning, and it doesn't have to be law related. In fact it is probably better if it is isn't. Such a great reminder for me. 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: 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'm excited to profile leading lawyer Evelyn Ackah today. Evelyn and I are members of a wonderful monthly Zoom group chat (which started pre-COVID and pre-Zoom craziness!) with a couple of other lawyers who have launched their own practices. Evelyn always has wise advice, guidance, and encouragement to give to the group. She has a wealth of information, and I am happy she has shared some of that information in today's profile: 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. Ackah Business Immigration Law is a boutique immigration law firm based in Calgary, Alberta with offices in Vancouver and Toronto that serves clients from all over the world. Our team helps businesses and individuals’ cross borders seamlessly into Canada and the United States. Corporate immigration is about people - and the businesses that hire them. We transform lives by creating immigration opportunities for people to live their dreams, expand their businesses and create a legacy for future generations. We provide expertise in all areas of immigration law ranging from corporate immigration to personal and family immigration matters. We provide comprehensive immigration services to clients representing; corporations, institutions, not for profit organizations, and, to individual clients. As immigration advisors, we provide assistance with timely and strategic legal advice relating to the constantly changing immigration laws and regulations in Canada and the United States. As an immigrant from Ghana, I understand the immigrant process on a deep emotional level. I was 5 when I moved to Canada and met my Father for the first time (a very common immigration experience). I want to help others achieve their dreams of a new life in a new country. I’m proud to say at Ackah Law we practice Happy Law! Our team works so hard for our clients because success means changing someone’s life forever. We assist corporations and individuals to obtain Work Permits, Study Permits, Visitor Visas, Permanent Residence, and Citizenship. We also handle cross-border issues related to inadmissibility or criminality, among a long list of immigration-related issues. Ackah Law also assists corporations from around the world who want to establish branch or subsidiary operations in Canada or to nearshore in Canada to expand their businesses and create jobs in Canada. 2. Why did you go to law school? I have always talked a lot and had my own opinions. I grew up discussing and debating with my family at the dinner table every night. When I was out doing the same, people would always say to me, you should be a lawyer, you’re always discussing current events or politics or arguing a position. Growing up in Vancouver, I didn’t know any lawyers in the Black community at that time and I couldn’t visualize myself as a lawyer or think that it was a realistic goal. As I started undergrad at Simon Fraser University, I found myself drawn to Political Science which I majored in. I had always been actively involved in the African community and with Feminism and Social Activism and believed in the importance of giving back to my community. In university, I started meeting more lawyers and judges in my community and even one of the first Black judges in Canada who became a mentor to me, and he encouraged me to look into law as a career. I felt that law would give me the added credibility to advocate for the causes that were closest to my heart. I took a gap year off after my undergrad to work two jobs and save for law school and write the LSAT, and I was accepted to law school and the journey began! I attended the University of British Columbia in 1994 and was one of 4 Black people in my entire faculty of 550 students. It wasn’t easy, but I loved the learning, the stimulation and the competition. It changed my life. I was the first in my immediate family to attend university and the first lawyer in the family. I have a younger sister who is also a lawyer. I always say that the sacrifices my parents made as immigrants to Canada paid off as they created the opportunities for their children that they never had and from a very early age, we knew that was our focus: to make them proud and to become independent women who contribute to their community. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? My journey has been so interesting over the past 20 plus years. After finishing law school, I moved to Toronto as I had secured articles at a mid-size Bay Street law firm. I was called to the Ontario bar in 1999. I practiced corporate/commercial law for a couple of years at a boutique law firm and didn’t enjoy it that much. I had an opportunity to move to a global accounting firm that was launching a multi-disciplinary practice and I joined the corporate immigration law group where I began my immigration career. After six years, I joined a global law firm as a senior associate and helped grow the corporate immigration practice. After that, I was recruited to another international law firm as a partner and became the National Head of the Immigration Law Group. I loved working with corporate clients and helping them achieve their business goals using an international workforce, but I didn’t love the 18-hour days, 7 days per week. I moved to Calgary with that same firm in 2008 to be closer to my family based in Vancouver. In 2010, I decided it was time to make some changes, both personally and professionally. I launched Ackah Business Immigration Law to focus on what I do best and to do it my way and on my own terms. I started a law firm that allowed me to bring all of myself to the office every day and that allows others to be themselves as well. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? Personally, I am most proud that at the same time that I was birthing my firm, I was becoming an adoptive single parent to two babies – my twibilings. Part of the reason that I was ready to leave big law was that I knew I wanted to be a mother and I was going to do it on my own – needless to say, flexibility was going to be incredibly important to me. The firm opened in December 2010 and my babies arrived in July 2011 – my life changed and all for the better. They are now 9 years old – a boy and a girl and our adoption journey is quite unique and beautiful. I am so grateful to be their parent and to have the love and support of my family and friends to help me raise them into these amazing little people. Today, together with my fiancé Howard, we live and work in Calgary and are proud to be part of such a vibrant community. Professionally, I’m very proud that Ackah Business Immigration Law will celebrate our 10th anniversary in December of this year. It has been a lot of hard work and personal and professional development to not just be a great lawyer, but to become a leader and an entrepreneur. We survived the 2017 economic downturn in Alberta, and we continue to grow the firm even through the COVID pandemic. We helped our clients to #PivotAndThrive through the COVID crisis, just as Ackah Law has had to pivot and thrive to grow for the past 10 years. Being successful in business means never standing still, and not looking backwards. I’m continuously working with my team for new ways to achieve success and grow our business and to set new goals towards excellence. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? I believe women in law don’t need to compete with each other. We need to build the type of support system that has long existed for male lawyers. I try to mentor and hire immigrant female lawyers and articling students so that I can give them that first opportunity to help them launch in Canada. It’s not easy starting over when you move to a new country, but I’m proud that I’ve helped others in this way. Our society isn’t colour-blind - and it shouldn’t be. Children need to be proud of their heritage and celebrate their differences. Growing up in Canada as an immigrant gave me a strong foundation to pursue my career goals – even when there were few role models that looked like me. As a Black woman in law, I’ve always stood out and people always remembered me because I am so visible. Rather than shrinking from that high visibility, I decided to turn it into a positive. I always wear bright coloured suits and bold accessories and try hard not to look like a traditional navy-wearing lawyer and it works for me. I feel confident and am able to focus on building relationships and being approachable and never worry that I don't look like I fit in. As a lawyer, I’m selling my skills and services to my clients. I don’t only represent myself, I represent my law firm. It’s critical that I project success and confidence and knowledge so that Ackah Law’s clients know I will use my skills and experience to help them achieve their goals. At Ackah Law, we don’t sell dreams, we sell success. From my personal experience, I know that women have the flexibility and management skills to maintain a healthy work / life balance while building a business. Not everyone wants to be a business owner or entrepreneur - but for women who do, law offers many opportunities and career paths. Men seem to have no problem delegating, while women lawyers often think they have to “do it all.” Learning to outsource work, to hire a team, and to delegate tasks allows you to be a #HappyLawyer. Law is still a very traditional field - but there are new, innovative ways of practicing law and running a law firm that are ideal for female legalpreneurs that allow for flexibility and creativity. This need to delegate also applies to your home life. No matter how equal your partnerships are at home, I still see women lawyers carrying the domestic load. I think women need to also get comfortable with asking for help whether it be a nanny, babysitter, cleaning lady, personal chef or extended family help. They need to know that by outsourcing, they create more space to enjoy their family and loved ones and do their hobbies. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? In business - as in life - nothing is more important than relationships. Relationships are built on integrity and trust. Our clients trust Ackah Law to give them our best possible legal advice, and in return they stay with us and refer their contacts to us. I can’t do it all - my relationship with the Ackah Law team means that I trust my team members to give our clients the best possible results for their situation. We practice happy law - our team takes pride in changing the lives of individuals for the better. Networking is vital. Find a number of different mentors and sponsors in your career – not just one. Create a personal board of advisors that you can stay in regular touch with and call on. Once you benefit from your mentors, it’s important to pay it forward and mentor a young lawyer or law student yourself. I really believe in the power of setting goals – big or small to move you forward in life. Spending time creating daily, weekly, monthly and annual goals for all aspects of your life are vital to keeping you on track and pushing you forward. I’ve started doing Vision Boards as well to help me see where I want to be in 3 to 5 years and I really see how it works to keep you focused and making decisions that are in alignment. Giving back makes the world a better place for all of us. I am a member of International Women’s Forum and I am a board member of Operation Eyesight and Enterprise 4 Change. I participate in a number of charitable activities and events throughout the year that benefit the community and I also do pro bono work on a regular basis for the arts communities in Alberta. Lastly, I think young women lawyers need to focus on taking care of themselves – their physical, mental and emotional health. Law can be a grind sometimes, so it’s very important to take care of your body - exercise, meditate, eat well, sleep well and find things to do that you love that are completely removed from law. Always listen to your heart and your gut and don’t let fear stop you from reaching your goals! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for participating in this series Evelyn! 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: 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. I have been posting on a daily basis, but, as we are all getting used to new routines, the profiles will be posted with less frequency. They will still be coming, though, so stay tuned! Today we have the pleasure of learning from Carissa Tanzola and employment and labour lawyer: 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business: As a partner at Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP, I represent both unionized and non-unionized employers in all aspects of employment and labour law. However, over the years I have developed a specialty in workplace accidents, occupational health and safety, workers’ compensation, human rights, disability management and accommodation. I am particularly interested in how these issues intersect in multiple and/or concurrent jurisdictions. Alongside my practice, I have been an active volunteer with the Ontario Bar Association’s Labour and Employment Section Executive for 10 years (having Chaired twice). In 2019, I began volunteering with Pro Bono Ontario’s free legal advice hotline and have agreed to assist with legal content for the ROSA initiative (digital access to justice and training with respect to workplace sexual harassment and funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund). I believe that as lawyers, we have a unique opportunity to help others, and I try to do that. 2. Why did you go to law school? Growing up, I always wanted to be a lawyer. I even completed an undergraduate degree in Political Science in hopes that it would look better on a law school application (it was fortuitous that I enjoyed the courses!) However, as I was applying to law school, I began to worry that I was proceeding because it was my “plan” rather than what I really wanted. I ultimately chose to continue with the application and attend law school because I felt reassured that a legal degree would be generally useful. It was absolutely the right choice and I love being a lawyer. For me, meeting new people, learning about different industries and businesses and assisting clients navigate important legal issues is very fulfilling. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? Like most, I got to where I am today by both design and chance. During my second year of law school, I met a leading labour and employment lawyer at an event about practicing labour and employment law. After the panel discussion, I gathered my courage to approach him and asked if I could speak to him again about his practice. Perhaps not expecting me to accept, he invited me to observe a hearing that summer. I believe my early bold networking efforts set me apart from other summer student applications, helped secure my summer student position, and paved the way for me to continue in the area of labour and employment law. Developing my practice in workplace accidents, workers’ compensation, human rights and disability management happened gradually, but with purpose. I was enthusiastic about these areas and, as such, actively sought to work with lawyers who had specialized expertise and could support my practical education and professional development. By just popping into colleagues’ offices to inquire about what they had on their plate connected me to some really important files that were key to my growth. About two years after the birth of our first child, I was appointed to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) as a Vice Chair. I believe my skill-set was uniquely suited to the role and the opportunity came at a time where I needed to slow down and assess what I wanted, professionally. It was an invaluable experience. I really enjoyed my time at the WSIAT and believe adjudicating cases and writing decisions has given me a unique perspective on the practice of law. However, I also became keenly aware of how important managing issues of overlapping jurisdiction is for employers and I found myself wishing I was able to assist more in that regard rather than merely adjudicate the very specific issues I was seized with. In late 2018, just after the change in the provincial government and while I was waiting for confirmation of my reappointment to the WSIAT, I was invited into the partnership at Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP where I could continue my general practice of labour and employment, as well as continue to build my more specific practice of workplace accidents and injuries, workers’ compensation, human rights, accommodation and disability management. I seized the opportunity. In short, where I am today is equal parts creating my own path, building and solidifying a foundation upon which to draw, and unapologetically looking for and taking opportunities that work for me and for my family. In my case, I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed private practice until I was missing it. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? Of course, I am proud of my two amazing children (ages 5 and 3). They keep me grounded and remind me of what is truly important. I don’t think there is one situation or case I am most proud of. Some have been a lot of fun and true successes. Others have taught me a lot. For me, my achievements are a collection of cumulative experiences:
5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? Since my call in 2008 to now, I believe things have changed for women in the practice of law and that they will continue to change – for the better. However, being an ambitious female lawyer with a young family means I am continually trying to “balance” multiple responsibilities and interests, and sometimes I feel that I have to justify my choices. Thankfully, I have had some impressive women role models and mentors who have helped me to navigate these challenges. Women are strong and capable, and there is increasing support for women to speak up and be relentless and unforgiving in doing so. I believe women have a unique perspective and that they need to be heard. This change is starting to occur and perhaps in the future it won’t even take a second thought. I am also encouraged to see so many women support each other and build each other up. With initiatives like Women Leading in Law, it can only improve further. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Some of the advice I have been given by amazing females (both lawyers and otherwise), as well as some of my own advice is as follows:
Thank you Carissa for your wise words and for taking the time to participate in this series. 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: 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.   Articling student, Leah Coombs, reached out to suggest I profile lawyer Sarah Leamon in this series. Leah wrote: "I am inspired by her success as I am inspired by many of the women you have featured on this blog." Read on for Sarah's story: 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. Sarah Leamon Law Group is a boutique law firm located in downtown Vancouver. We focus on criminal defence, administrative driving issues and family law. We are women-led and LGBT2Q inclusive. We handle sensitive, high-profile and complex cases. We strive to increase access to justice by offering cost effective, straight-forward services. We operate from a client-based perspective and provide personalized, one-on-one client care. We accept private retainers as well as legal aid files so that we can offer the same level of service for people, regardless of their financial status. We also foster a positive, relaxed office environment for those who work with us. We work as a team, which means that we help each other and support each other when needed. With myself, one associate, an assistant and two articled students, we know that mentorship is vitally important to our individual success and to the collective success of our team. 2. Why did you go to law school? At the beginning of my post-secondary career, I really had no ambitions of going to law school. I actually remember enrolling in my first-year undergraduate classes and confidently declaring that although I wasn’t sure what I ultimately wanted to do, I knew I didn’t want to do law. Fast forward five years and I was on my way to law school. I can’t really pin point what changed, but after completing two undergraduate degrees, I felt that law school was the natural next step in my academic career. I was angling towards a lifetime in academia so I wasn’t sure if I would ever actually practice law, but I figured that it was a good degree to have in my back pocket. By my second semester of law school, though, I was all in. I came to the realization that a career in law actually could be exciting. I developed a keen interest in criminal law. I took every criminal law course available. I loved the way that it intersected with other issues that I was passionate about. To my surprise, I became totally committed to the goal of pursuing a career in criminal defence. Looking back, I can’t really identify one driving force in my decision to go to law school but my parents focus on education throughout my life played a major factor in landing me there. I always say that my father told me to go to law school, but the truth is that both of my parents encouraged me along this path…and I am happy they did. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? It would be foolish for me to think that I’ve arrived where I am today by either chance or design – it’s definitely been a combination of both. I certainly had many advantages growing up, including a relatively privileged socio-economic status and my parents emphasis on education, which I am thankful for. But I have always been competitive, ambitious and driven to succeed, so I think that those qualities have shaped my career and where I am today. I also believe that the people you meet and allow into your life have a big impact on where you end up. Some people are put into your life at a particular time to push you in one direction or another, some are there to test you or to teach you a lesson, some to inspire and others to guide. I have certainly had my fair share of mentors, mentees, adversaries and friends along the way. Each one of them has shaped my path. I am grateful to them all for inspiring me and for challenging me. Without them, I wouldn’t have taken the risks that I did - and I certainly wouldn’t have opened my own office, that’s for sure! 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? I have been very fortunate to enjoy a number of achievements in my career thus far. The most obvious is the work that I do for my clients. I often deal with clients who are facing complex mental health and substance abuse issues. I approach them and their cases from a non-judgemental, rehabilitative and collaborative perspective. It is rewarding to see the long-lasting, life-changing difference that this can make for them. I have also had the opportunity to work on some exceptionally interesting cases. For example, working on the United States of America v. Wanzhou Meng case in December, 2018. This was an exceptional experience that stand out to me, among others. In addition to the work that I do for my clients, though, I am very proud of the fact that I was personally invited to appear before the House of Commons to provide a legal opinion about proposed amendments to the Criminal Code. When I received the e-mail invitation, I couldn’t believe it. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that I would be sought out and selected to give opinion on something so important in such an important forum. I was so nervous and I prepared myself endlessly for the appearance…but I must have done a good job because I was invited back to the House on three other occasions and once to the Senate! But that aside, I think that my most significant achievement to date has been successfully opening and operating my own law firm. Opening my own firm was not an easy decision for me. Ultimately, though, it was something that I had to do. There were many who doubted me and told me that I couldn’t do it on my own – but I did! I overcame a number of unexpected hurdles and obstacles very early on - immediately before and soon after opening - and as of today, my firm is not just surviving…it’s thriving, and I couldn’t be happier! It also helps that my decision to open my own office was validated very early on. Only a few months after opening our doors, I won Business in Vancouver’s prestigious Forty Under 40 award. I never imaged that I would be recognized with such an award, but needless to say I was thrilled. It really reaffirmed my decision to branch out on my own and taught me not to second guess myself. It gave me the confidence that I needed to trust myself and follow my instincts. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? As we know, the retention rate for women in criminal law – and particularly on the defence side of things – is dismal. I think that there are a number of challenges that are unique to women in this area, including the archaic public perception of what a criminal defence lawyer “looks like.” While this is changing thanks to some powerful key players in our community, it’s slow going – and that can be very frustrating for those of us who rely on client intake in order to make a living. Unfortunately, systematic discrimination and sexism is alive and well in nearly all corners of our society. The practice of law is no exception. Female-bodied lawyers are subject to increased criticism and scrutiny. They do not receive the benefit of assumed competence that many of their male counterparts do. As for myself, I have experienced sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination at various points in my career, and I am hard pressed to think of a single female-bodied colleague who has not. I think the upside of this (if any) is that, in today’s political climate, many of us are no longer turning a blind eye to it or tolerating it. Things like the #metoo movement have given women the power and confidence to speak out and share their experiences with sexism, which is a necessary step on the path to real change. But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are countless opportunities available to women in law today. For example, groups and organizations for female lawyers have popped up in nearly every jurisdiction across the country. These can offer excellent opportunities for support, mentorship and the development of practical skills. I founded the Women’s Association of Criminal Lawyers B.C. in 2017, because I am passionate about creating opportunities for women in criminal law through this organization. I believe in opportunity through inclusion. Women are strongest together and by lifting each other, we lift ourselves. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Volunteer. Give back to your community. Align yourself with strong women, both inside the legal profession and outside. Don’t take no for an answer. If you fail, try again. Don’t give up. Respect yourself and know your worth. And – of course - don’t take no crap from nobody. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Sarah for your advice and letting us have a glimpse into your legal career. 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: 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.   Meet Robin Parker, today's leading lawyer profile. Robin's colleague, Megan Andrews, reached out to me with a lovely email explaining why Robin should be featured in this series, including that Robin "is – and excuse my corniness – honestly a beacon of goodness in a system that too often feels broken". I don't think that is corny at all and we need more "beacons of goodness". Read on for Robin's story. (p.s. Robin provided the following interesting information about her photo: The photo I am attaching was taken in the back of an RCMP truck in Fort Good Hope, NWT. We were on our way from the airport to the community centre to run the circuit court. Note the bars on the windows! In addition, there were two shotguns in the gun well on the other side of the bars and plexiglass divider between the front and back seats. Quite naturally, the two defence lawyers gravitated to the back seat and the Crown sat up front.) 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I’m a litigator and problem solver, specializing in criminal and regulatory law. My practice is quite diverse. I do criminal and regulatory litigation- trials or hearings and appeals. I am really lucky to get a lot of referral work from other lawyers, so usually there is some wrinkle to the case to make it interesting, like a tricky ethical or procedural issue. I also do a lot of work with sex assault complainants and have mediated sexual assault allegations outside the criminal justice system- extremely gratifying work. The second part of my practice is institutional or workplace investigations, often relating to sexual assault or harassment. I gather evidence and make findings about what happened. I really enjoy asking questions with no agenda other than the truth and I find it interesting to learn how these kinds of allegations arise. In fact, I am endlessly curious about what people do and why. I suppose this is why I like criminal law. The third part of my practice is quite exciting – I work for Northwest Territories Legal Aid as defence counsel in trials and appeals. There are no words to describe the beauty of the people and the land. We fly into remote communities, many of which are only accessible by air (or boat in summer.) We arrive at dawn and literally build the court in the school gym or band office, and we stay until the last case is finished. I would say this is often after sundown, but the sun does not always rise or set in the north. Many of my clients have experienced personal and inter-generational trauma, and struggle with addiction, poverty, physical and sexual abuse. It is a real privilege to be able to build a relationship of trust with my Northern clients. NWT is on complete lockdown because of Covid, and I am really missing it. I should say this is just what I’m doing right now. I’ve been a lawyer long enough that I’ve worked on a lot of different things. For years I specialized in international criminal law. I worked on some exciting extradition and war crimes cases. I worked with the special advocates on the security certificate litigation, and I taught international criminal law in the LLM program at Osgoode. Every now and then an international case crosses my desk, or I’m asked to be a pundit on something like the Meng extradition, but these days my attention is mainly focussed on what we are doing here at home. 2. Why did you go to law school? Unlike many of our colleagues, I am not someone who always wanted to be a lawyer. I wanted to help people and be intellectually engaged, which I get to do every day in my work. I was an extremely idealistic young woman and believed that I could make the system better from the inside – which is why I started out as a prosecutor. Fact is, I am still pretty idealistic. I believe that justice is worth fighting for, and that with work, we can get there. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? i) By aligning my work with my values and taking risks when I felt I needed to learn or grow professionally. To do this you need to know what your values are, and what you want from your work, and your life. Then you need to adjust your work and life. It takes persistence and patience. ii) Passion and hard work. In the beginning I lived, breathed, ate, and slept criminal law. I still do when I am in the grip of a case. iii) Making sure there are people in my orbit I can learn from. If there aren’t people in your circle you admire and look up to, change your orbit. iv) And privilege. I do not come from a family of means – I worked pretty much full time in undergrad and spent a decade paying back loans after law school. I was the first person in my family to get a post-secondary education. Still, I was privileged to be able to access the education and community I did to be able to have this career. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? I’m a single mom. I’ve raised a smart, thoughtful and interesting young woman. She is not my achievement - she is her own achievement! But raising her while being a criminal litigator has, and continues to be, my greatest challenge, and what I am most proud of. It has been incredibly difficult. She is on the autism spectrum and trying to get her the support and help she needed when she was younger was near to impossible. But somehow, we did it together. I have always involved her in my work (she’s reading this as I write it!) She built cushion forts in the lawyer’s lounge at 361 University while I waited for juries and toured the courts at Old City Hall. She attended my graduation at Oxford. Afterward, we went to the best bookstore in the world - Blackwell’s - where I bought her as many books as she could carry. I wanted to thank her for the sacrifices she made while I was apart from her in England for two summers. I don’t want to romanticize it. Many days I was heartbroken, being torn between wanting to achieve at high levels professionally and needing to care for her. There were times when she needed me and I could not be there. It is not possible to “have it all” and “leaning in” is the privilege of women who have economic and family resources I did not. While I was not able to do nearly as much law as I wanted, when I look back, I see that I have done a lot of interesting and good work, while protecting the most important thing - a strong relationship with my daughter. It was hard work all around, which is why I say it is an achievement. Professionally, what resonates the most deeply as I look back are the differences I managed to make for individual clients. These achievements are very private, and look small from the outside, but they give me the greatest pride. A client once said, “I have never thought about my life the way you described it to the judge. Now I understand how I ended up in trouble, and how to stay out of it in the future.” Another client gave me an eagle feather, which I treasure. These kinds of achievements don’t make the Globe and Mail or the Supreme Court Reports; still they mean the most to me. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? We forget that women have not been in law that long. My first boss was one of two women in her graduating class. When I started out, there wasn’t a washroom for women barristers on every floor at 361 University. My first day in court, the judge told me, on the record, that I made him think “inappropriate thoughts.” At Abdullah Khadr ‘s extradition bail hearing on charges of being an Al Qaeda arms dealer, defence counsel asked me when the assigned Crown would arrive. “You’re looking at her!” I replied. While I was still at Justice, another boss told me he didn’t assign me to a terrorism case because he thought it was likely I was going to have a baby (I was 41.) And so on. Litigators my age have legions of stories like this. My approach to this nonsense has always been to ignore it and keep working. But when you ask about challenges, it’s important to remember that not that long-ago women lawyers were trail blazers just by showing up at work. Today BIPOC still are. And therein lies the opportunity. The more diverse our collective perspective and experience, the wiser and richer in creativity and problem solving we are. By making space for each other, we all benefit. It’s both morally correct and good business. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Always be proud of who you are, and never make excuses for it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you Robin for taking the time to share your story and insights. 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: 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 am pleased to profile leading lawyer, advocate, and entrepreneur Lorin MacDonald. Read on for Lorin's story and advice: 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I was born with a profound hearing loss in both ears and have long been an advocate for inclusion. I have a niche human rights law practice focusing specifically on discrimination as experienced by people with disabilities. One of my cases related to the right to equal access to public washrooms being featured on the front page of the Toronto Star in 2017, leading to much discussion as it went viral around the world. However, change is at a glacial pace and it is frustrating, for both me and my clients, to experience the delays within the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Due to my overriding desire to effect change that will benefit all Canadians, last year I created HearVue, a social enterprise to advance inclusive and accessible spaces. The initial vehicle was to highlight captioning at live events to demonstrate how it benefits all attendees – those living with hearing loss, English as a Second Language users, people with learning disabilities, and the wider audience. A month after launching, HearVue’s first trial event took place in Hamilton, Ontario with Michelle Obama. In the six months before COVID-19 shut down live events, HearVue’s captioning appeared before thousands, garnering rave reviews and building much-needed awareness. 2. Why did you go to law school? It was quite serendipitous. I was the Executive Director of a non-profit agency in Toronto when funding cutbacks resulted in closure. I moved back to my hometown of Port Dover, Ontario (a small town on the north shore of Lake Erie, approximately two hours south-west of Toronto) to regroup and consider my future plans. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter I was involved in a car accident that required extensive recovery time. My personal injury lawyer asked what my future plans were, and I mused about going back to school. He asked if I had ever thought about law school, said he thought I’d be good at it, and gave a plug for his alma mater, Western University. I thought, ‘How hard can that be?’, and only applied to Western as a mature student. As a long-time advocate for people living with disabilities, I knew that having a fuller understanding of the law would allow me to be more effective in enacting change. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? Chance, with respect to deciding to go to law school. However, my time at Western was fraught with challenges. First, I needed to break ground to receive the appropriate form of accommodation for me, which was real-time captioning. After my first year at law school, I was diagnosed with cancer, so there were surgeries and treatments, pain and heartbreak from that point forward but I did finish, taking an extra 18 months to do so. My legal education paired with my passion for accessibility has proved invaluable as I do my small part to effect positive change, through my human rights law practice and my social enterprise. Out of pain, my passion grew and led to a plan. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? There are three events that hold a special place in my heart, all related to my passion for accessibility. The first, being part of a team the summer before law school that hosted a forum at Western University to encourage the provincial government that the Ontarians with Disabilities Act needed to be replaced with stronger accessibility legislation. The event took place at the end of my first week in law school in 2004 and was fully accessible – captioning, ASL interpreters, alternate formats, attendant care, water bowls for guide dogs – it was magical to see everyone be able to participate in such important advocacy. Six weeks after the forum, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was introduced and fast-tracked to unanimous passage in May 2005. The second achievement happened in March 2017 when my client’s fight for equal access to a restaurant washroom was featured on the front page of the Toronto Star. This led to much discussion and awareness as it went viral around the world. My most recent achievement occurred when I saw first the trial of HearVue’s captioning with Michelle Obama, then the full launch a week later. As I was listening to Haben Girma (the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School) talk about the importance of captioning, tears were streaming down my face as her words were captured on the screen by my social enterprise! Several events ensued and I was delighted to hear many attendees say how much they benefited from it. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? I have good authority to speak about the challenges of being a woman with a sensory disability in the practice of law. The challenges are many. Because sensory disabilities related to hearing and sight rely heavily on people and developing technology, it can take longer to get the same results. Attitudes are difficult to overcome, as people have preconceived ideas of what you can (and cannot) do. I have also found it very challenging with the medical model vs. the social model of disability is employed; those of us living with disabilities need to be “fixed” so that we fit into the mold of “normal” society. This is so limiting; it’s far better to recognize how varied perspectives are invaluable in a diverse society. However, I have personally found that “diversity & inclusion” initiatives often do not include disabilities, be they visible, invisible, or episodic. And these challenges are why I persist, to gently (and sometimes not so gently!) encourage people to get on board so we can get on with the job. It’s only a big deal if you make it one. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career? Mentorship is key. Join your provincial Bar Association in law school, then your local law associations as well as professional associations. Show up for learning opportunities. Network, network, network. And add value to your connections. Did you come across an article that may be of interest to a colleague? Send it along with a note. Do you see an opportunity to connect two colleagues to each other? Don't hesitate. Always be kind within the legal profession - it is surprisingly small. To quote the late Maya Angelou: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Go out of your way - it will serve you well! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Lorin for sharing your story and advice to the readers of this blog. I really appreciate it. Lorin was also recently nominated (along with several other Women Leading in Law ladies) for the Canadian Lawyer Magazine's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers award under the "Human Rights" category for her work as a human rights lawyer focusing specifically on discrimination as experienced by people with disabilities. Congratulations! Voting open until June 5th: here. 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: 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.   Meet our next leading lawyer and entrepreneur: Karen Yamamoto, Co-Founder of Executive Counsel Group. Read on for Karen's journey in law and some excellent advice for new lawyers at the beginning of their careers (well really for any lawyer!) 1. Tell me a little about your practice or business. I started my business with a colleague twelve years ago with the desire to help small to medium sized businesses who had all the typical legal issues that companies encounter but could not afford to hire full time legal counsel or the senior level external counsel fees. We wanted to fill that gap by offering senior level, flexible and cost-effective legal services. Over the past 12 years, I have helped companies of all sizes, in English, French and Japanese, as temporary on or off-site legal counsel or as their ad-hoc advisor in commercial law (specializing in privacy and technology). I’m called to the Ontario and Quebec bars and have been fortunate in the first half of my career to have worked in a wide variety of companies and industries in both Toronto and Montreal. I’ve worked at multi-national law firms, the multi-disciplinary law firm of Donahue Ernst and Young, innovative start up tech companies as well as large pharmaceutical companies. The variety kept me nimble and adaptable to different industries, work cultures, personalities and mandates. I didn’t realize it at the time but it prepared me well for the kind of services I offer today. 2. Why did you go to law school? When I was in my last year of the physiology program at McGill University, the faculty of law visited our faculty to tell us about how the world needed lawyers with science backgrounds. After completing my science degree and a year off to travel and live in Japan, I realized that the world of law appealed to me more than the sciences. As an immigrant who did not speak English or French when I first arrived in Canada, I experienced and abhorred injustice and discrimination. The idea of being able to somehow combine my interest in science, the power of words, sense of justice and the ability to make a real and positive difference greatly appealed to me and I applied for law school during my year in Japan. 3. How did you get to where you are today? Design? Chance? Both? Both. If the faculty of law had not made the presentation to the science students that day, I likely would have looked at alternative careers in science. Chance put people on my life path who influenced and/or supported me towards my career path - family, friends, community and business colleagues. But starting my own business was definitely by design so that I could have the type of practice and clients I wanted, charge the fees I wanted and have the flexibility I craved. 4. What is your most significant achievement? What are you proud of? Since I am part of the first generation to have attended university on my father’s side, I am proud of having become a lawyer and having worked at top tier firms and companies. However, I am most proud of having launched my own business on my own terms while remaining a very involved parent. There were a lot of naysayers who said my business model would not work and that I shouldn’t leave my “secure” job. I took a leap of faith despite my risk-averse nature and I am so glad that I did. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to contribute even in a small way to the success of a company whether the client is a 3 person company or a multinational organization. For example, I’ve helped multinational companies build robust privacy programs from conception to launch and also helped a young female entrepreneur successfully launch her technology platform in the male-dominated world of tech. I feel very invested in and loyal to my clients and feel the same from my long-time clients. 5. What are some key challenges, and more importantly, opportunities for women in law? I experienced gender discrimination earlier in my career when I worked in big law firms. I believe the issues that women face in big law firms tend to be more entrenched. Since I started my own business, gender discrimination is extremely rare and more times than not, I find being a woman has probably contributed to my success. My clients are looking for results and appreciate me for my collaborative and creative approach. Work life balance remains my biggest challenge but I find it gets easier as I (and the children) get older. It’s interesting to see that the majority of people volunteering at my children’s schools are women despite their full time careers. I have found over the years that the traits that I and a lot of my female friends and colleagues have are advantageous traits to have as a lawyer: community-minded, caring, reliable, collaborative, consensus building, multitasking and engaged. The majority of my clients are repeat, loyal and respectful clients. I strongly believe that these traits contribute greatly to strong, trusting and enduring relationships with clients. 6. What advice would you give a woman starting her legal career?
Thank you Karen for sharing your story and for your valuable advice and takeaway tips. 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 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.  |
 
  Erin C. Cowling is a freelance litigator, researcher & writer at Cowling Legal Freelance and President and Founder of Flex Legal Network Inc., a network of freelance lawyers.
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