New Suits

Call Day

Call day has come and gone. It went pretty much as expected. Starting at 7:59am (by my clock), by phone started to ring. Each call was swift and to the point. During a hectic half an hour, I filled all my slots for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And then, suddenly, after my last slot was scheduled, the calls stopped. It was perfect ... and bit eerie.

Planning

There was very little time between calls so I was glad to have everything well laid out beforehand. I had received a few letters letting me know that certain firms/gov agencies were going to call but the vast majority of potential employers were still unknown. To ensure minimal travel time, I created a huge map and cross referenced it with an alphabetical list. The system worked really well. The real planning starts now.

Suits and Ties

Interview days are looming on the horizon and I need a new suit. There are currently 3 pages of posts on LawBuzz about "What to wear for articling" and I have been reading the thread with interest. I wonder how long it takes for Maxwell's to tailor and send a new shirt...

Profile: Dugald Christie

I regret to report that this profile is being written posthumously. Dugald Christie was killed yesterday riding his bicycle across Canada to raise awareness of the barriers to justice of low-income (and no-income) individuals. He was cycling along the Trans-Canada highway when he was struck by a van near Sault Ste. Marie.

According the CBC article, B.C. legal crusader killed in cycling accident, Mr. Christie has long advocated for "equal access to the legal system, regardless of a person's income." He has contributed to the non-profit organization Western Canada Access to Justice. Currently, their main page includes the headline: WE WIN BIG TIME! The site outlines the long-standing fight between Mr. Christie and other lawyers against the Attorney General of BC. In short, the B.C. Supreme Court agreed with Mr. Christie that the provincial sales tax imposed on lawyers' fees by the Clark government was unconstitutional.

Mr. Christie dedicated his life to establishing a legal system that is available for everyone, regardless of economic status. Over the years, he managed the Pro Bono Lawyer Consultant Program in BC and helped to establish many pro bono clinics across Western Canada. One headline in 1999 read: Dugald Christie: a modern-day Robin Hood?
In his own words:

"The key is not a mechanical problem, it's a human problem -- and that means getting lawyers in touch with the real problem, which means getting lawyers in touch with the poor. We need to get lawyers mixing and milling with the unwashed, with the mentally handicapped, with the so-called losers of life -- rubbing shoulders with them -- and working on solutions together. Then they will become more sensitive, understand the problem and get rid of their stupid prejudices about the poor."

I'm reminded of an instance in first year Criminal Law class when our professor asked the class (about 60 students):

Prof: "Who here is interested in working as a Criminal Defense lawyer?"
A few students put up their hands.
Prof: "How about you X?" [X was one of the keenest students in the class and regularly sparred with our prof.]
X: "Me? No way. I don't want to be near that riffraff."

Of course, low-income individuals and individuals who have been criminally charged are distinct. However, I would guess that her sentiments would extent equally to law-income Ontarians. M is currently working in a plum position exclusively serving corporate clients.

I believe Mr. Christie's concerns are legitimate. Sadly, he is not longer with us to fight the battle. RIP.

Law Students in the Community

Congrats to Ms. Dawnis Kennedy who was recently named a 2006 Trudeau Scholar! She will be soon graduating with an LL.B. from the University of Victoria and then go on to the University of Toronto where she will pursue a PhD in juridical science. A recent UVic article describes Ms. Kennedy's interests in law and her community involvement.

“I wanted to go into law because my interest and my family’s interest were very much about revitalizing our community and culture,” says Kennedy. “Canadian law has had a huge impact upon our communities. I wanted to think about ways that Canadian law could relate more respectfully to indigenous peoples and support the revitalization movement that is happening in indigenous communities.”