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WAY OUT THERE: Practising law PANDEMIC PLANNING: How WE’VE GOT GAME: Game-based
in rural and small centres UAlberta Law is meeting the learning that inspires students
challenges of COVID-19 and professors
PREJUDICE
WITHOUT
SUMMER 2020
Calm and
Constructive
BARBARA BILLINGSLEY BECOMES NEW DEAN OF LAW
UALBERTA LAW SUMMER 2020 UPFRONT
CONTENTS
4 Interim Dean’s
Message
5 New Dean’s Message
6 Highlights
STUDENTS
8 20 Simply Soaring
Students surpass
expectations again
and again with two
more clerkships at
the Supreme Court
of Canada, multiple
mooting victories and a
new law tech app
FACULTY
28 We’ve Got Game
Game-based learning as
an innovative teaching
method; Professor
Ubaka Ogbogu becomes
a Trudeau Foundation
12 Fellow; and Prof. George
Pavlich named to Henry
Marshall Tory Chair
EDITORIAL
Helen Metella, Sarah Kent, Denis
14 30 Faculty Member
Highlights
Ram, Curtis Comeau, John Ulan ALUMNI
ART DIRECTION + DESIGN 36 Stickhandling hockey
FKA: Gord Montgomery,
Mark Watson players’ contracts
DIGITAL Alumnus Manav Deol
Tim Young is a sports agent
at renowned firm
Without Prejudice is Wintersports Ltd.
published bi-annually by the
Faculty of Law. All material
37 New moot for first-year
is copyright ©2020 and may law students
not be reprinted without
express written permission Renamed Dean’s Cup
of the Faculty of Law. Moot honours former
Canada Post Chief Justice Beverley
Publications Agreement McLachlin
No. 40063511
38 Class Notes
8 CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
PRINTED IN CANADA
COMMUNITY
Burke Group, Inc. arabara Billingsley becomes Faculty of Law’s 13th dean
B
Return undeliverable copies to:
during unnerving times 40 Witten LLP champions
Faculty of Law
University of Alberta students’ mental health
177 Law Centre 12 RAPID RESPONSE Michael O’Boyle
Edmonton, AB T6G 2H5
How the Faculty of Law is meeting the challenges of COVID-19 Mental Health and
Visit us online at Wellness Fund meets
ualberta.ca/law 14 A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED its fundraising target
and find us on:
UAlberta Law alumni find big opportunities in small centres with firm’s generous
donation
Cover photo by Curtis Comeau 42 In Memoriam
|| 3 || UAlberta.ca/law
UPFRONT
A FAREWELL FROM
INTERIM DEAN I t was a great pleasure to serve as
DAVID PERCY
the interim dean of the Faculty of
Law, at least until about March 12,
2020. On that date, the University of
Alberta suspended in-person classes
and by the middle of the following
week we were all online. The quick
and unexpected switch caused much
anxiety on the part of students, a lot of
preparation time for Faculty members
and long hours of work for Vice-Dean
Eric Adams and Tim Young, who had
to educate everyone on the use of
unfamiliar technology. At the same
time, following the provincial budget
on February 27, the university began to
wrestle with implementing a 17 per cent
reduction in our operating grant, or $110
million in monetary terms.
So, I can credibly claim that my last
four months as dean were memorable.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 deprived us of
the most enjoyable part of the academic
year. We were forced to cancel the
wonderful Spring Reception, normally
hosted by the Alumni & Friends of the
Faculty of Law Association at the Hotel
Macdonald, as well as all the class
reunions. I was particularly sorry to
miss the 50th reunion of the Class of
1970, the first class I ever taught at law
school. I had planned to entertain them
over dinner with a refresher course on
developments in Jurisprudence over
the last half century. The university was
forced to cancel graduation ceremonies,
but the Class of 2020 participated
enthusiastically in an online Convocation
and virtual after-party.
I am delighted to hand over the
keys to the dean’s office to my friend
and colleague Barbara Billingsley
(though I will miss the view of the
downtown skyline). I know that we
could not have better leadership in
these challenging times.
David R. Percy, QC
Interim Dean of Law, 2019-2020
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 4 ||
A MESSAGE FROM
DEAN BARBARA
BILLINGSLEY
H
ello Fellow Alumni!
I am very excited to be
sending you greetings in
my new role as dean of the University
of Alberta Faculty of Law.
Our Faculty has been educating
future lawyers for over a century,
and we are fast approaching some
significant milestones. In 2021, we will
mark the Faculty’s 100th anniversary
as a distinct full-time law faculty on
the University of Alberta campus, and
2022 will celebrate the 50th anniversary
of the opening of the current Law
Centre building. Longevity like this is
no accident. It speaks to the quality,
dedication and resilience of our
professors, staff and students, and to
the enduring support of our alumni.
This edition of Without Prejudice
highlights these qualities. In addition to
featuring alumni practising law in small
centres, it chronicles the successes
recently achieved by our faculty and
students amid an unexpected global
pandemic. This spring, under the In the coming months, our Faculty education. (See the Faculty’s anti-
unflinching leadership of Interim Dean will be faced with the challenge of racism statement on our website at
David Percy and Vice-Dean Eric Adams, continuing to provide superior legal ualberta.ca/law).
and with the tireless assistance of education in the context of COVID-19, Despite these challenges, the
our IT advisor Tim Young, we urgently provincial budget cuts, and the achievements featured in the pages of
replaced traditional in-person classes this magazine remind me of the great
University of Alberta’s academic
with remote instruction, conducted things we can do as a community and
restructuring plans, aimed at reducing
online exams, and held our first-ever inspire me about the future of UAlberta
the total number of existing Faculties
virtual convocation. Additionally, Law. I hope you will be inspired too.
Professor Peter Sankoff conceived by almost half. Like all public legal
of and implemented the 100 Interns institutions, we are also called upon to
Project, arranging summer meaningfully respond to long-standing
internships for 100 law students but recently accentuated concerns Barbara Billingsley
from across the country. about racism in the law and in legal Dean of Law
|| 5 || UAlberta.ca/law
UPFRONT
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA’S NEW
PRESIDENT IS THE FORMER DEAN
HIGHLIGHTS
OF LAW AT QUEEN’S
An Edmonton-born former dean of
law at Queen’s University is the new
president of the University of Alberta.
Bill Flanagan began his new duties
on July 1, 2020. Flanagan grew up in
Stony Plain and Lacombe. Known as an
exceptional communicator, he obtained
a BA in English and philosophy from
Carleton University and then attended
the University of Toronto’s law school,
graduating with a JD in 1985. He earned
a DEA in international economic law in
1986 from the Université de Paris (a.k.a.
the Sorbonne). In 1987, he clerked for
the Hon. Justice Willard Estey of the
Supreme Court of Canada and went
on to receive a master’s in law from
Columbia University in 1989. Flanagan
joined the Faculty of Law at Queen’s in
1991 and became dean in 2005, serving
in that capacity for three terms. During
his tenure, he developed the online
delivery of an undergraduate program
in law and two graduate diploma
programs—one that trains immigration
Bill Flanagan consultants and another that provides
lawyers with business skills.
JULY 1ST
NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE ELDON FOOTE CHAIR IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND LAW,
AND THE KATZ GROUP CHAIR IN HEALTH LAW
Professor Joanna Harrington, an authority on the links between national and international law, has been
appointed the Eldon Foote Chair in International Business and Law for a term extending to mid-2023.
The appointment will see Harrington deepening her research into corruption and bribery in international
business transactions, general matters of transnational criminal law including extradition, and
international civil procedure in relation to human rights matters. Her planned future projects include more
work on the use of deferred prosecution agreements to address corporate criminality to secure an unfair
business advantage and further research into the work of the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office.
The Eldon Foote Chair was established by the late lawyer and philanthropist Eldon Foote, '48 LLB.
Professor Erin Nelson has been appointed the Katz Group Chair in Health Law for a three-year
term that began July 1. Nelson is currently completing a project on transparency and accountability
in Alberta’s Mental Health Review Panel Process. She is also a co-applicant on a multi-year,
interdisciplinary SSHRC research grant entitled, “Surrogates’ Voices: Exploring Surrogates’
Experiences and Insights.” This project will be the first large-scale study of the experiences
of surrogates in Canada. The Katz Group Chair in Health Law was established from part of a
$7 million donation that the Edmonton-based Katz Group Canada Ltd. made to the University
of Alberta in 2006.
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 6 ||
STUDENT GROUP PARTNERS TWO GRADUATE STUDENTS MAKE
WITH UALBERTA LAW TO LAUNCH HISTORY AT UALBERTA LAW BY
DIGITAL LAW COHORT DEFENDING THEIR LLMS VIRTUALLY
Students at the University of Alberta On May 13, Jason Morris, ’20 LLM,
Faculty of Law will have the chance became the first UAlberta Law graduate
to be at the cutting edge of law and student to defend his degree virtually.
technology thanks to the Digital Law Holding the event via Google Meet was
and Innovation Society. The new student necessary because of social distancing
group spearheaded by student Hero measures demanded by COVID-19.
Laird, ‘22 JD, has partnered with Fittingly, Morris’s thesis is about using
UAlberta Law to launch the first Digital technology to make the delivery of legal
Law Cohort for fall 2020. The Digital services more efficient and accessible.
Law Cohort is a learning initiative in His thesis is also atypical because it
which law students are offered both Hero Laird, ‘22 JD was written for the first interdisciplinary
courses within the curriculum and degree granted between the Faculty of
extracurricular opportunities to expand Law and the Department of Computing
their knowledge of how technology Science. Morris’s co-advisors were
may influence the rule of law and Professor Cam Hutchison and Professor
how technology can change the legal Randy Goebel, who supervised from
profession. Coding the Law, taught by the respective Faculties. In June,
Jason Morris, and a new core Digital Donald Netolitzky, ‘20 LLM, also
Law course, taught by Professor Péter successfully defended his LLM thesis
Szigeti, are highlights of the curricular titled "Supreme Court of Canada
opportunities for cohort members, Self-Represented Appellants in 2017,”
who will also be eligible for external supervised by then-Professor Barbara
placements with partner organizations. Billingsley. Several more such defences
are scheduled for the Faculty in 2020.
Jason Morris,
20' LLM
FALL 2020 MAY & JUNE 2020 2020 - 2021
FACULTY OF LAW WELCOMES TWO POSTDOCTORAL
FELLOWS THIS ACADEMIC YEAR
Two postdoctoral fellows studying Indigenous and environmental
law under the supervision of Professor Joshua Nichols join the
Faculty in the upcoming academic year. Keith Cherry, a PhD
candidate at the University of Victoria, takes up a prestigious
Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship in October. His postdoctoral project
will explore the role of peripheral partner communities in urban
decision-making processes. His research will examine the work
of Indigenous activists at remote resource extraction sites and the
primarily non-Indigenous urban activists who support their efforts.
Rebeca Macias Gimenez, who is also completing her PhD at the
University of Victoria, is a recipient of the Grant Notley Memorial
Postdoctoral Fellowship. She joins UAlberta Law in 2021 to complete
her postdoctoral project, which uses a comparative study of
Indigenous Peoples in Brazil and British Columbia. Her project will
address decolonizing the notion of jurisdiction and finding ground for
Erin Nelson (left) co-operative ecological governance between Indigenous Peoples and
Joanna Harrington (right) the colonial state.
|| 7 || UAlberta.ca/law
FEATURE
Challenge
AcceptedBARABARA BILLINGSLEY BECOMES
FACULTY OF LAW’S NEW DEAN
DURING UNNERVING TIMES
By Helen Metella
Photos by Curtis Comeau
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 8 ||
B
eing the 13th dean to lead the Faculty is respected, that their views
Faculty of Law might have given are valued and that their input will be
Barbara Billingsley a tiny bit of fairly considered,” she says.
pause given how tumultuous a year “That objective remains especially
2020 has become, but happily there’s an important to me as the Faculty engages
easy way around such superstitions. with the significant challenges it
If you count Anne McLellan, who was now faces.”
acting dean in 1991-1992, and David R. A former practising lawyer and a
Percy, QC, who has just completed his full-time professor with the Faculty
second tour of duty (as interim dean since 2001, Billingsley is a UAlberta
from 2019 to 2020), Billingsley may alumna who received a BA in political
actually be considered the 15th person science in 1987 and her LLB and LLM
to hold the deanship. from the Faculty of Law in 1990 and
Still, there’s no denying that 1995, respectively. She practised civil
Billingsley assumes the role in an litigation in Edmonton at Brownlee LLP
arduous era. The University of Alberta and at Sharek & Co, and began teaching
is dealing with the aftermath of two at the Faculty as a sessional in 1996.
provincial budgets that are forcing it She has taught insurance law,
to strip $110 million dollars from its civil litigation and constitutional law.
operation through 2021, to downsize She has also served as the Faculty’s
itself academically and administratively associate dean of research and of
in less than a year, and to prepare for graduate studies.
another $100 million in cuts by the end “Barbara Billingsley is perfectly
of 2023. Then, there is the small matter suited to leadership,” says Justice
of a still-raging global pandemic that Russell Brown of the Supreme Court of
has upended every norm of campus Canada, a faculty colleague of hers at
life, from in-person classes to office UAlberta Law for several years before
operations. his appointment to the bench in 2015.
Also, in the month prior to Billingsley “She listens carefully, assesses fairly
taking over the deanship, a historic and reasonably, and acts with integrity.”
flashpoint in centuries-old racial Billingsley is the author of General
tensions has lit fires within societies Principles of Canadian Insurance Law
worldwide. (LexisNexis) and a contributing co-
The Black Lives Matter movement editor of The Civil Litigation Process:
and the deaths of numerous Indigenous Cases and Materials (Edmond). She
Canadians during police actions are has contributed to seven textbooks,
events that demand the Faculty’s authored numerous articles and spoken
immediate attention in relation to its at some 60 conferences, seminars and
teaching and scholarship regarding guest lectures.
injustice, as well as to its obligation to She’s received the Canadian Bar
avoid the perpetuation of racism in its Association/Law Society of Alberta
internal operations Award for Distinguished Scholarship,
When she applied for the position, the University of Alberta’s Rutherford
collegial governance was on Award for Excellence in Undergraduate
Billingsley's mind.“My goal was to Teaching and the Faculty of Law’s Hon.
foster an environment where reciprocal Tevie Miller Teaching Excellence Award.
goodwill exists among faculty, students In addition to such top-tier
and staff in regards to Faculty policies professional credentials, the new dean
and operations, and where individuals has long held the skills needed for the
are confident that their role within the coming challenges, her peers say.
|| 9 || UAlberta.ca/law
“She listens carefully,
assesses fairly and
reasonably, and acts
with integrity.”
— JUSTICE RUSSELL BROWN OF
THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA
Justice June Ross of the Court of Her ties to UAlberta are also of the
Queen’s Bench of Alberta has known bedrock variety. She met her husband,
Billingsley as a student, a fellow faculty lawyer Johnson Billingsley, ’88 LLB,
member and as “a valued member to whom she’s been married for more
of the legal community we both care than 30 years, at that same university
deeply about. She has always been debate club where she met Simons.
open to new ideas, experiences and Her son, Doug, and eldest daughter,
perspectives, and she is a natural Anne, are both UAlberta graduates,
teacher and leader, with a calm, while her youngest daughter, Jane, is
collected and collaborative approach currently enrolled in the Faculty of Arts.
that will serve the Faculty well in these Outside of work, Billingsley likes
challenging times.” to spend as much time as possible
Senator Paula Simons met Billingsley with her family. Her other interests
as a high school student, when both include travel, music, reading and yoga.
were members of the Alberta Debate Additionally, she says, “in recent years,
and Speech Association. They became I have spent a significant amount of
good friends while teammates at the time researching my family’s Polish
University of Alberta Debate Club. wartime history.”
“The Barb I knew then was very As for how she hopes to guide a
much the same person she is today: disparate community of students,
thoughtful, measured, down-to-earth professors and staff, Billingsley will
with a dry and sardonic sense of rely on an insight she developed when
humour,” says Simons. “She looks meeting a wide variety of people when
for common-sense solutions to both practising and teaching law.
problems and applies a rapier-sharp “I have found that, whatever their
analytical perspective to every question specific approach, most people are
she encounters.” genuinely doing their best to achieve
Simons describes Billingsley as a positive outcome. I think that this
both private and straightforward. “She fundamental commonality of motivation
has little patience with hyperbole or and purpose to achieve a constructive
melodrama. People are drawn to her result is a key element to remember
because she radiates competence in any group dynamic.”
and calm.”
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 10 ||Previous Deans
1926-1942 JOHN A. WEIR 1986-1997 TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN
• Faculty’s first professor in 1921 and • Launched Law Campaign 75 to
outstanding teacher, scholar and fundraise and therefore resist the
administrator provincial government’s plan to have
• Ran the Faculty almost alone, a just one provincial Faculty of Law —
stress that likely contributed to his in Calgary
death at 47 1991-1992 ANNE MCLELLAN
1942-1945 MALCOLM M. MACINTYRE (ACTING DEAN)
• A renowned scholar of Canadian 1997-2002 LEWIS KLAR
legal writing • Formed the Alumni & Friends of the
• Founded the Alberta Law Quarterly, Faculty of Law Association
precursor of Alberta Law Review • Started Admitted Students Day, now
1944-1947 GEORGE H. STEER known as the Dean’s Welcome
(ACTING DEAN) 2002-2009 DAVID PERCY
• Tackled diminished enrolment • Shepherded renovation of the Law
during Second World War Centre
• Recruited Wilbur F. Bowker to teach • Oversaw Campaign 2008 during the
full time University’s centennial year
1948-1967 WILBUR FEE BOWKER • Developed alumni relations by
• Guided period of growth at Faculty, establishing contact in all major
hiring strong core of faculty, Canadian cities and several abroad
upgrading library 2009- 2014 PHILIP BRYDEN
• Added flexibility to course selection, • Managed the sudden transition from
taxation and administrative law; a period of expansion supported
established master of laws program by a robust economy to an era
(1965) of far more modest provincial
1968-1970 GÉRARD LA FOREST contributions
• Pushed for construction to begin on 2014-2019 PAUL D. PATON
Law Centre in February 1970 • Oversaw an era of renewal in which
• Modernized the curriculum 11 new faculty were recruited, an
emphasis was placed on Indigenous
1970-1975 GERALD H.L. FRIDMAN initiatives, experiential learning and
• Prolific scholar who oversaw the the student experience
opening of Law Centre in 1972 • Raised the Faculty’s profile and
• Fostered closer relations between fundraising despite an economic
the courts and the law school downturn
1976-1986 FRANK JONES 2019-2020 DAVID PERCY
• Networked with law profession (INTERIM DEAN)
leaders in Edmonton and Calgary • Dealt with two provincial budget cuts
and enhanced Faculty’s international in one year, COVID-19 and online-
reputation only classes
• With Justice Ellen Picard,
established the Health Law Institute
and with Bruce Elman, established
the Centre for Constitutional Studies
|| 11 || UAlberta.ca/lawFEATURE BY HELEN METELLA & SARAH KENT
HOW THE FACULTY OF LAW IS MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF COVID-19
A
t the Faculty of Law, the reality from home, Google Meets and virtual his large lecture course online, provided
of COVID-19 arrived the morning celebrations were the norm. Here are tips and stressed the advantages of
of Wednesday, March 11. CBC highlights of the Faculty’s response and virtual learning to his colleagues. For
journalist Vassy Kapelos cancelled her some of its plans for virtual education instance, he says, the anonymous
engagement at the Merv Leitch QC delivery in Fall 2020. chat function in Zoom gave students
Memorial Lecture. Hours earlier, the the chance to ask questions without
World Health Organization had declared GOING VIRTUAL feeling self-conscious and produced
COVID-19 a pandemic and André Picard, As the first professor in Canada significantly more interactions than in
the Globe & Mail’s renowned medical to implement the flipped classroom the physical classroom.
journalist, had published astonishing method in law classes (recording Professor Steven Penney, another
advice: “Shut it down: It’s time for and uploading lectures online so that veteran of the flipped classroom,
Canada to get serious about social students can learn key concepts before prepared online lectures, posted videos,
distancing.” engaging in discussions, problem- held virtual office hours and hosted
By Tuesday, March 17, all Faculty solving and case studies in class), additional Q&A sessions to prepare
of Law classes were online. Working Professor Peter Sankoff easily moved students for exams. Assistant Professor
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 12 ||Anna Lund, who had made audio of Professor Working his phone, email and Twitter
her lectures available for accessibility Peter Sankoff account during 16-hour days, “I can
earlier in the term, not only created actually say, without hyperbole, that it
pre-recorded lecture content but almost killed me, but I'm as proud of
acknowledged the profound changes making it to 100 as anything I've ever
in her students’ personal and family accomplished in my life.” His brush with
obligations. She invited their children mortality will have no long-term impact
and pets to join virtual classes and on his health, but his initiative gave law
devoted some live classroom time students three weeks of part-time work
to mental health checks. “We talked and the opportunity to take on legal
about, ‘What are you doing for research, complete pro bono work or
exercise, how are you managing assist with legal aid.
anxiety?’” she says.
“It has been absolutely inspiring
To create an even playing field for seeing all these members of the legal
all students, only CR/NCR (Credit or community, especially the criminal
No Credit) evaluations were issued bar and the judiciary, showing their
for the spring semester. However, support for young legal professionals
instructors identified exceptional class and sending in so many donations
performances so that the Prizes and for students to get an opportunity to
Awards Committee could ensure that learn,” says Rebecca Taylor, ‘22 JD,
students were fully supported by all of who interned with criminal defence
the Faculty’s available assistance. and video-streamed content, the lawyer Brian Pfefferle as a result of
celebration’s guest of honour was the Sankoff’s efforts.
BEHIND THE SCENES Hon. Kevin Feehan, ‘78 LLB, Justice
To move smoothly to remote delivery of the Alberta Court of Appeal. FALL 2020
of classes, professors received newly In June, two virtual convocations Although most classes at the
created instructional videos from Tim followed. June 12 was for all of the university will be delivered virtually
Young, the Faculty’s online course 2020 convocants of UAlberta while in the fall, exceptions for some
system administrator. He taught on June 17 the Faculty of Law hosted small-scale classes will be granted.
instructors and students how to share its own celebration, mixing formal The Faculty of Law has applied to
screens for multimedia presentations presentations with personalized video incorporate a few of those in its
and how to troubleshoot equipment memories and greetings. The Hon. delivery, but they will be virtually
failures. For weeks, he left a Google Russell Brown and the Hon. Sheilah accessible, too. The spring’s CR/NCR
Meet open for prompt consultations. Martin, justices of the Supreme Court system gives way to grades in the
He monitored classes, stepping in of Canada, delivered heartfelt advice, fall term.
when needed, while simultaneously and medallists and award-winners were
Orientation for first-year law students
answering inquiries via Facebook, named. To temper the disappointment
on September 8 will be a virtual event,
email, text and phone. When a student’s of students not being able to walk
aging computer began slowly updating with guest speakers and a video tour
across the Jubilee Auditorium stage
in the middle of a class presentation, of the Law Centre. Small groups of 1Ls
to receive their parchment, the name
he helped the student insta-switch will meet for the Foundations of Law
of each graduating law student was
to presentation-by-phone. “Even the course, soon afterward.
announced during the Faculty’s
most technically challenged of our ceremony. Over the summer, professors have
faculty have done well with online adjusted their courses to include
presentations,” says Young. “They went 100 INTERNS more robust use of remote delivery
through the ringer and they came out In mid-March, the pandemic was technologies and to embrace the
successful. Next term, it will just be already adversely impacting law advantages they afford. These
old hat.” students’ employment prospects, include the ability to book guest
with many summer jobs and articling speakers from the law profession
CELEBRATIONS positions suddenly vanishing. So who might not otherwise have been
With in-person events out of the Professor Peter Sankoff decided to available; the option for instructors
question, the annual Celebration find funding and short internships to move seamlessly through different
of Mooting became the first virtual for several law students. Six weeks technological tools — PowerPoint to
celebration the Faculty produced, later, and after being hospitalized for a video; and to devise creative ways to
underscoring the Faculty’s commitment brain hemorrhage on April 19, he met expand and contract the classroom,
to honour and recognize students for his goal of raising $120,000 and had splitting up the class time and student
their hard work despite the pandemic. matched 100 students from across the groups in ways possible with the
With a combination of live presenters country with law practitioners. absence of physical barriers.
|| 13 || UAlberta.ca/lawFEATURE
A Road Less
Travelled UAlberta Law alumni
find big opportunities
in small centres
Story: Sarah Kent | Photos: Denis Ram
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 14 ||J
essica Andreassen, ‘20 JD, had
an assured job waiting for her at
the law firm that her grandfather
established in 1954, in Camrose, AB,
but besides that security, she sees a
bright future for herself working in a
small central Alberta city surrounded
by farmland.
“Growing up in that firm, I could see
how being a lawyer can help people
with so many different issues,” says
Andreassen, who started her articles
at Andreassen Borth in June. “I can’t
imagine working anywhere else.”
While Andreassen will become
the third generation to provide legal
services at the firm in Camrose,
many small town firms are at risk
of permanently closing without
arrangements for new lawyers to take
over the practice. This is a crisis for
small centres that may be left without
affordable or timely legal services in
their community.
|| 15 || UAlberta.ca/lawYet the myth of the sleepy small Another career benefit is that The Small Town Fit
town law firm has never been more prestigious associations and provincial
While some lawyers in rural
inaccurate, say alumni of the University organizations are always seeking
communities specialize, the majority
of Alberta Faculty of Law who are representation outside of the major
are generalists, able to offer their
working in smaller communities from hubs, says Burnham. “You can be
expertise on a variety of cases —
Camrose to Grande Prairie, Sylvan involved in ways that you didn’t
everything from family law to corporate
Lake to Squamish. think were possible and be rubbing
law to criminal law. It takes a wide
Legal practices in small centres shoulders with people you never
knowledge base to be a jack of all
offer lively, challenging and profitable thought you’d be working side by side
trades and a willingness to jump in
career opportunities in addition to with, especially early in your career.”
where needed.
providing more work-life balance. The Lifestyle Playing major roles in their
“People think small towns, small “Being based out of Squamish allows communities, small town lawyers
files,” says Laura MacLelland, UAlberta me to balance work and play. It’s great wear many different hats, serving as
Law Career Services advisor. “That is to finish work and still have time to active members on boards, councils,
just not the case.” go mountain biking in my backyard,” political organizations and community
In small town firms, articling says Caitlin Hodgson, ‘17 JD, who associations. Lawyers’ advocacy and
students and early career practitioners practises at Race and Company LLP leadership skills become invaluable
see greater autonomy working on files, in Squamish, British Columbia. “It’s a as they help guide the community they
hitting the ground running right out vibrant, young community where most live in.
of law school, says Timothy Burnham, residents share a love of the outdoors.” “You can have more of an impact
‘06 LLB. This independence gives The embrace of a close community in your community because everyone
young lawyers important exposure at a also makes practising in smaller wants to know their lawyer,” says
critical point in their legal career. centres more appealing to many Burnham.
“Everything that articling students UAlberta Law alumni. For practitioners in small towns,
were allowed to do, I did, and there are “People tend to form closer interpersonal skills determine
some things that you can do with leave relationships,” says Imran Bhutta, ‘15 whether you sink or swim, says Bruce
of the court, which I sought leave of so JD, who practises at Rouillard Law in Wakeham, director of Career Services
I could do them too,” says Burnham. Sylvan Lake, Alberta. at UAlberta Law. “Those people skills
“There is a pretty steep learning curve, are not only for in the office but for
“For me, to move to a smaller centre
but I climbed up it as quick as I could.” getting out of the office and drumming
with a very different demographic was
Within three years of graduating, a challenge initially,” says Bhutta, up business,” says Wakeham.
Burnham became a partner at the firm who grew up in Pakistan and moved The downside is that you’re always
where he started articling. Fourteen to the Greater Toronto Area in 2004. representing the profession. “There is
years after finishing law school, he “You have to culturally adapt to a the need to recognize the risk that any
has bought out the other partners small town, in a sense, but if someone time you’re speaking, you’re speaking
at Gurevitch Burnham Law Office in like me is able to immediately adapt, as the lawyer.”
Grande Prairie and is now the sole anyone can.”
owner and managing partner.
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 16 ||Jessica Andreassen, ‘20 JD
ARTICLING STUDENT, ANDREASSEN BORTH, CAMROSE
WHY: There are a lot of lifestyle serve clients in your community.
benefits: a lower cost of living, I think that makes for a rewarding
no commute, an emphasis on and exciting career, but it can be
community involvement and intimidating starting out — there’s
work-life balance, and learning definitely a lot to learn!
opportunities directly from BEST EXPERIENCE: With a general
experienced, senior partners. practice, you’re able to help clients
TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: You kind with such a wide range of issues and
of have to hit the ground running in different capacities. That client
and learn a lot about a wide range of relationship aspect is really exciting
practice areas in order to effectively to me.
Timothy J. Burnham, ‘06 LLB
MANAGING PARTNER OF GUREVITCH BURNHAM LAW OFFICE, GRANDE PRAIRIE
WHY: I get to spend a lot of time BEST EXPERIENCE: Regularly,
with my family and be involved in you do work and then you see the
other things in the community that actual impact in the community.
have kept me busy without having You get to see clients come into the
to choose or sacrifice. office when they are going through
TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: It can some difficult challenges or have
be tricky to have access to the an exciting opportunity … then you
resources that some of the larger see them out in the community,
firms have. I have taken on an awful and they are happy to see you and
lot more administration. In a larger thankful for what we were able to
firm, you might offload all of that to do for them. It is very uplifting and
someone else. gratifying to be able to have that
kind of impact.
|| 17 || UAlberta.ca/lawThe Qualifications
At UAlberta Law, fewer than 15
per cent of alumni article outside of
major hubs like Edmonton, Calgary,
Vancouver or Toronto. Even fewer
settle into small town practices.
While attracting and retaining
lawyers is a challenge for rural
law firms, they choose carefully,
scouting for those who will relate
well to their neighbours, says Pat
Caitlin Hodgson, ‘17 JD Neil, the school’s Career Services
officer. “They want people who are
LAWYER, RACE & COMPANY LLP, SQUAMISH
going to stay.”
WHY: My backyard offers so much takes away from my ability to work Andreassen knew early on that
to do: mountain biking, climbing, on other files. she wanted to practise in Camrose,
snowboarding, and hiking. BEST EXPERIENCE: The people!
TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: My I feel that working in a smaller
practice is solely civil litigation community has allowed me to
and the closest courthouse is in become deeply ingrained in my own
Vancouver. As a result, most steps community. I get the opportunity to
in a file (discovery, chambers meet and help people in Squamish.
applications, trials) require me to It’s not uncommon to run into these
commute to the city. This takes a people outside work.
couple hours each day, which in turn
Imran A. Bhutta, ‘15 JD
LAWYER, ROUILLARD LAW, SYLVAN LAKE
WHY: I did the “Red Deer Firm lot of immigration law, intellectual
Hop” organized by the University property law, and bankruptcy law
of Alberta Career Services in 2014. related work is concentrated in the
This involved visiting six of the major bigger centers. If you are interested
law firms in Red Deer and spending in one of those areas, your choices
an hour with each law firm. The may be limited in terms of available
experience definitely piqued my employment in the smaller centers.
interest, and I ended up applying BEST EXPERIENCE: I know most
for and getting an article in central lawyers personally. It is not too
Alberta. small of a bar, but it is small enough
TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: There that you get to know lawyers on
are certain specialized areas that a personal basis. This has been a
do not find much of a market in the fairly enriching experience.
smaller centers. For example, a
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 18 ||working alongside her father, James “I would suggest going to the areas “Students say, ‘I don’t think I want
Harry Andreassen, ‘84 LLB, and aunt, that you might want to live in. Call up a a big firm long-term, but if I start
Margaret Weir Andreassen, ‘81 LLB, few lawyers and go out for coffee,” says there, I can do anything.’ There is a
who are both partners. Bhutta. “You have to be someone who mindset you have to start in this one
“I started working there when I is not afraid of being ‘out there.’ ” specific spot to have all these avenues
was 14. It was my first job — I was open,” says MacLelland. “That is a
Redefine Success major misconception.”
the janitor,” she says. “I distinctly
“Many students define success
remember cleaning the lawyers’ coffee “Define your success your way,
as being large law firms—Calgary,
mugs at the end of the day, wanting to rather than having your classmates
Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton—in
eventually be in one of the offices.” define your success for you,” says
a big glass tower somewhere,” says
For others, finding opportunities in Wakeham. “Everybody is going to
Wakeham.
smaller centres takes initiative since fit somewhere, but not everyone is
Yet to many law students and early going to fit in the large firm and not
small town firms don’t always recruit
career practitioners, big city practices everyone is going to fit in the small
the same way as big city practices.
are not what they ultimately want for town sole practice.”
Formal job postings are rare, and
their legal careers.
searches are often student-led,
says Neil.
“People think small
towns, small files.
That is just not
the case.” — Laura MacLelland, Career Services advisor
|| 19 || UAlberta.ca/lawSTUDENTS
SIMPLY SOARING
Students surpass expectations again and again
TWO MORE GRADUATES LAND By Helen Metella
COVETED CLERKSHIPS AT SUPREME
COURT OF CANADA
Joanne Cave and Leah Strand make it six recent clerks from UAlberta Law
W
ith the most recent
selections, six UAlberta
Law graduates have been
chosen to clerk at the Supreme Court of
Canada in the past five years.
In 2021-2022, Joanne Cave, ‘20 JD,
will clerk for the Rt. Hon. Richard
Wagner, PC, the Chief Justice of
Canada, and Leah Strand, ‘19 JD, will
clerk for the Hon. Russell Brown, a
former Faculty member.
JOANNE CAVE
“My first year of law school was
pretty tough,” says Joanne Cave, a
former Rhodes Scholar. “I was used
to being a good student, but I couldn’t
apply myself. I was focused on
other things.”
Just prior to starting law school,
Cave lost her mother to early-onset
Alzheimer’s disease. In the last stage
of her mother’s life, Cave's father was
diagnosed with the disease, too. So, in
addition to her studies, Cave spent the
equivalent of several days each week
at his home, making meals, completing
chores, liaising with doctors and a
homecare nurse, and fielding calls
when her father wandered away
from home.
Joanne Cave Following first year, while Cave was
a summer student for MLT Aikins, her
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 20 ||Leah Strand
father disappeared for almost 36 hours. programs in public policy while The opportunity to clerk at the
It’s believed he walked to downtown a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. Supreme Court of Canada plays directly
Edmonton from his suburban home. During summer 2020, Cave is to her strengths.
He was found on a median of the clerking at the Court of Appeal of “I’m passionate about persuasive
Yellowhead Highway, dehydrated Alberta in Edmonton. She’ll finish her advocacy, and to persuade judges
and dishevelled. articles at MLT Aikins and begin her you need to think like a judge,” she
“It was extremely stressful,” says clerkship at the Supreme Court of says. “I think this will be a once-in-a-
Cave, who subsequently moved her Canada in September 2021. lifetime opportunity to see how the law
father into extended living before develops, first-hand, and to improve my
starting second year. LEAH STRAND
writing skills.”
Despite such formidable duties, Leah Strand was instrumental
During law school, Strand was a
Cave belonged to the Women’s Law in bringing success and renown to
member of the Alberta Law Review’s
Forum all three years at UAlberta Law UAlberta Law long before her clerkship
editorial board, a member of the
and volunteered for all of the projects to the Supreme Court of Canada was
Women’s Law Forum, a volunteer
delivered by Student Legal Services announced.
with Student Legal Services, Pro Bono
— civil/family law, criminal law, legal In 2019, she was a member of the Students Canada and the Edmonton
education and reform, and the SAGE Gale Cup Moot team that not only won Community Legal Centre, and played
Wills Clinic through Pro Bono Students the most prestigious moot competition on the women’s law hockey team,
Canada. For her dedication to those in Canada but went on to win the
Swift Justice.
programs and to other access-to-justice Commonwealth Moot, a competition
issues, she was awarded the Faculty of of 10 law schools from the world’s Prior to entering UAlberta Law,
Law’s 2020 Cecilia Johnstone Equality Commonwealth countries, held in Strand earned a bachelor of arts in
Award. Livingstone, Zambia. English and communications from
the University of Lethbridge, after
During her upper-years, Cave At the Gale Cup, Strand was
transferring from Red Deer College.
became engrossed by studies also named Top Oralist, and at the
in constitutional, Aboriginal and Commonwealth, she won Best Mooter After completing a clerkship with
environmental law, which supported of the final round. She made the Dean’s the Court of Appeal of Alberta, she
the interests she’d developed while List all three years of law school and moved to Calgary to finish articling
earning a double major in women’s at graduation was awarded the George with McCarthy Tetrault. She begins
studies and sociology at the University Bligh O’Connor Silver Medal in Law and her clerkship at the Supreme Court
of Toronto, and two, one-year master’s was class valedictorian. in August 2021.
|| 21 || UAlberta.ca/lawUALBERTA LAW TAKES GALE CUP MOOT FOR
UNPRECEDENTED THIRD YEAR IN A ROW
Sweeps both Davies and Court of Appeal moots, and performs splendidly at inaugural Western
Canada Family Law Negotiation Moot
Elisa Genuis
Gale Cup Moot Team
Peter Sankoff and Mandy MacLeod (coaches),
Aidan Paul, '21 JD, Alec McIlwraith-Black, '20 JD,
Bonita Arbeau, '21 JD, and Zach Wilson, '21 JD
GALE CUP coached by Professor Peter Sankoff
I
and Mandy MacLeod, ’14 JD, a Crown
n a feat that no other Canadian
law school has achieved before,
prosecutor and a 2013 Dickson
Medallist and Gale Cup finalist.
“W ith this being the
UAlberta Law has won the Gale Cup
This year, Professor Steven Penney
Moot for a third consecutive year.
also helped Paul develop a difficult
last year for (coaches)
The 2020 team members were Bonita argument involving sec 11 (d) of the
Arbeau, ‘21 JD, and Zach Wilson, ‘21 JD Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The
Mandy MacLeod and
(respondent team) and Aidan Paul, ‘21 team is sponsored by Beresh Law.
JD, and Alec McIlwraith-Black, ’20 JD
The prospect of a ‘three-peat’ win
Professor Sankoff,
(appellant team).
was ever-present, but it was never
The appellant team also won a source of additional stress, said
it drove us to do
second prize for Best Factum Overall. the students in a joint statement. “If
And for one of the few times in the anything, it gave us extra motivation whatever we could to
competition’s 47-year history, both to put in the amount of work required
Dickson Medals for Exceptional Oralist to win. Especially with this being the give ourselves the best
Performance in the Preliminary last year for (coaches) Mandy MacLeod
Rounds went to members of the same and Professor Sankoff, the team really possible chances
school: Bonita Arbeau and Aidan Paul, wanted to make it happen, and it drove
respectively. us to do whatever we could to give of winning.”
For its three consecutive winning ourselves the best possible chances
years, the Gale Cup team has been of winning.” —G
ale Cup team members
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 22 ||DAVIES CORPORATE / UAlberta Law is also grateful communications, effective advocacy,
SECURITIES LAW MOOT to Court of Appeal Justices Jack generating creative options, and the
Watson, Frederica Schutz and Dawn ability to follow a “representation plan”
After entering the final round at the top
Pentelechuk; Master Lucille Birkett; that each team presented to the judges.
of the standings, UAlberta made a clean
and Provincial Court Judges Greg Rice, Students Alex Peters, '20 JD,
sweep of the Davies Corporate/Securities
Allan Lefever and Sandra Corbett for and Megan Washington, '20 JD, won
Law Moot Competition, winning the
their participation in the moot. first prize in the creation and use of
overall competition, as well as awards for
their representation plan while Tracy
Top Oralist and Best Factum. WESTERN CANADA FAMILY
Zimmer, '20 JD, and Sheila Raffray, '20
Denis Ram, '21 JD, was named the Top LAW NEGOTIATION MOOT
JD, took third place overall for their
Oralist. Other team members were Jesse At the inaugural Western Canada moot team. Both teams were coached
Fontaine, '21 JD; Melissa Garska, '21 JD; Family Law Negotiation Moot, students by Megan Dawson, a partner at McCuaig
Yan Gao, '21 JD; and researcher Ember participated in three challenging rounds Desrochers LLP.
Lagden, '21 JD. of negotiation on a complicated Family In 2020-21, the University of Alberta
The team was coached by Dentons Law scenario (parenting scheduling and will host the Western Canada Family
Edmonton practitioners John Lemieux decision-making issues, child support, Law Negotiation Moot. Marie Gordon,
(a partner in the firm’s corporate and spousal support, and a mobility issue). QC, and Chris Samuel, director of the
commercial group), Morgan Deacon They were evaluated on presentation, Faculty of Law’s Legal Research and
(a partner in the litigation group) and legal acumen, teamwork, problem- Writing Program are members of the
Kaelyn McGillivray (an associate in the solving, identification of interests, competition’s organizing committee.
financial services group). The team is
sponsored by Stikeman Elliott LLP.
“Being the top corporate/securities
law mooter in the country feels surreal,”
says Ram. “This is a testament to all the
support from the school, our coaches,
and our all-star guest judges.”
ALBERTA COURT
OF APPEAL MOOT
The University of Alberta recovered
the Alberta Court of Appeal moot trophy
from the University of Calgary this year,
emerging victorious in each of the Civil,
Constitutional and Criminal Law rounds.
Davies Moot Team
Team members were Melissa Erickson,
'21 JD, and Annie Tran, '21 JD [Criminal], John Lemieux (coach), Jesse Fontaine, '21 JD,
Marcus Szyron, '21 JD, and Emily Denis Ram, '21 JD, Melissa Garska, '21 JD, and
Bielech, '21 JD [Constitutional], and Yan Gao, '21 JD. Missing: Ember Lagden, '21 JD
Ethan Reis, '21 JD, and Kaitlynd Hiller,
'21 JD [Civil].
The annual competition with the
University of Calgary was hosted this OTHER
year by UAlberta Law, in conjunction with
the Edmonton Courthouse. The moot TRIUMPHS
took place in front of a panel of sitting
judges: one from each of the Court of
Appeal, Court of Queen's Bench, and • UAlberta took second place overall • At the Jessup International Law
Provincial Court. at the Canadian Client Consultation Moot, UAlberta received Second
Competition. Best Overall Memorials, Second
Team coaches were Kyle Kawanami
Best Respondent Memorial and
(Civil, Emery Jameson LLP), • At the Clinton J. Ford Moot, the Fourth Best Applicant Memorial.
Katherine Fraser (Criminal, AB appellant team of Holly Spurrell,
Justice General Prosecutions), Don '20 JD, and Tunahan Uygun, '20 JD, • At the Laskin Moot, Maddison
Padget (Constitutional, AB Justice took top prize. Croden, '20 JD, captured the
Constitutional), and Andrew Foster second place Oralist Prize and the
(Constitutional, Court of Appeal • UAlberta was a finalist at the Donald team placed sixth out of 19 schools.
Legal Counsel). G.H. Bowman National Moot.
|| 23 || UAlberta.ca/lawAlberta Court of Appeal Moot
Civil team, coached by Kyle Kawanami:
ALL 2020 MOOTS Kaitlynd Hiller, Ethan Reis
“O ur mooters have
& PARTICPANTS
Constitutional team, coached by Don Padget
and Andrew Foster: Emily Bielech,
Marcus Szyron given me the best
Criminal team, coached by Katherine Fraser:
Melissa Erickson, Annie Tran bragging rights possible
Donald G.H. Bowman National Tax Moot with
Coached by Chris Sprysak: Amy Boyd, Elisa
Genuis, Jordon Magico, Michael Matwichuk so many team
Bennett Jones Cup in and individual
Health Law Advocacy successes in
Coached by Renee Gagnon and Natasha
Laffin: Tamya Chowdhury, Lauren Hebert, one year”
Ashley Reid, Corinna Steffen
— I nterim Dean
Canadian Client David R. Percy, QC
Consultation Competition
Coached by Farrel Shadlyn,
Barbara Acton and Lynn Parish:
Zachary Bliss, Nicky Sellinger Laskin Moot
Coached by Patricia Paradis and the Hon.
Canadian Competition Law Moot Shaina Leonard: Maddison Croden, Briggs
Larguinho, Spencer Marks, Jacob Roth
Coached by Chris Samuel: Adam Kotlowitz,
Rachel Poelzer, Kyle Roberts, Tanner Shapka
Kawaskimhon Moot
Canadian National Coached by Troy Chalifoux, Hadley Friedland
Negotiation Competition and Darcy Lindberg: Kristen Hamilton, Sarah
Kriekle
Coached by Omolara Oladipo: Peter Cheng,
Liria Nair
Michel Bastarache Moot
Davies Corporate/Securities Law Moot Coached by Albert Nolette and Justine
Mageau: James Allan, Jean-Pierre
Coached by John Lemieux, Morgan Deacon Desrochers, Adrienne Faulkner, Andrew Kim
and Kaelyn MacGillivray: Jesse Fontaine,
Melissa Garska, Denis Ram, Yan Gao,
Ember Lagden
Mathews Dinsdale National
Labour Arbitration Moot
Clinton J Ford Moot Coached by John Carpenter, Kristan McLeod
and David Williams: Lauren Chomyn,
Coached by Troy Couillard: Shireen Bangash,
Mitchell Hayward
Holly Spurrell, Tunahan Uygun, Torri Woods
Gale Cup Moot MacIntyre Cup Western Canada Moot
Coached by Don MacCannell and Steve
Coached by Peter Sankoff and Mandy
Smith: Taylor Chartier, Daisy Feehan
MacLeod: Bonita Arbeau, Alec McIlwraith-
Black, Aidan Paul, Zachary Wilson
Western Canada Family
Harold G. Fox Moot Law Negotiation Moot
Coached by Evan Duffy: David Adie, Allison Coached by Megan Dawson: Alexander
Jandura, Julia Kingdon, Lauren Webster Peters, Sheila Raffray, Megan Washington,
Tracy Zimmer
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot
Coached by Péter Szigeti: Anita Nowinka,
Wilson Moot
Doris Vucijak, Alexandra Warkentin, Coached by Chris Samuel: Leigh Acheson,
Anastasia Yevtushenko, Joseph Zondervan Tony Basu, Molly Clark, Connor Vaandering
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 24 ||ALEC MCILWRAITH-BLACK
AWARDED INAUGURAL
MANDY MACLEOD PRIZE
A
lec McIlwraith-Black, ‘20 JD, is the Brimacombe Selection Round in
the first winner of the annual his second. He also dedicated time to
Mandy MacLeod Prize, awarded mentoring other students in mooting as
to the graduating student who has a Writing Fellow and received Eighth-
made the greatest contribution to the Best Oralist in the Davies Corporate/
UAlberta Law mooting program in their Securities Moot in 2019.
three years of law school. The prize is named for Mandy
“Mooting has been the highlight of my MacLeod, ‘14 JD, “one of the best
time at UAlberta Law,” says McIlwraith- mooters that this school has ever
Black. “Mooting is something that produced,” says Professor Peter
brings the whole Faculty together.” Sankoff. A Crown prosecutor and a
Dickson Medallist and Gale Cup finalist
McIlwraith-Black received second in 2013, she co-coached the Gale Cup
prize for the Best Appellant Factum at teams through their unprecedented
the 2020 Gale Cup as part of the team back-to-back-to-back wins, and led
that earned a historic “three-peat” by Alberta Law to success in the 2019
bringing the Gale Cup home to UAlberta Commonwealth Moot. The award was
for a third consecutive year. He won founded by Sankoff in conjunction with
the Dean’s Cup in his first year, and Interim Dean David Percy, QC.
STUDENTS SHOWCASE PROTOTYPE
ACCESS-TO-JUSTICE APP AT LEGAL
TECH COMPETITION
F
aculty of Law students showcased Andrew Green, ‘21 JD, and Moriah concentrate on discussing legal
a prototype app that makes the Noel, ‘20 JD, during Jason Morris’ strategy and advice.
landlord/tenant dispute process inaugural Coding the Law course. “One of the biggest practical
more accessible at an international Named EMRLD (Electronic Means challenges in improving access to
legal technology competition held for Renter & Landlord Dispute), it justice is having limited resources to
virtually in April. was developed to help the Edmonton meet a high demand,” says Peters. “If
UAlberta Law was the only Canadian Community Legal Centre offer free legal tech can be used to automate
team at the 2020 Iron Tech Lawyer legal advice more efficiently to low- even part of the process, it will free up
Invitational, which focuses on student- income clients. more human resources to help more
led tech solutions that improve access With interview questions written people more efficiently.”
to justice. for a Grade 4 reading comprehension While UAlberta did not advance to
The app was created by Alec level, clients can generate the tribunal the competition’s final round, it was
McIlwraith-Black, ‘20 JD, and Erin application form without additional praised for its comprehensive model
Peters, ’21 JD, Patrick White, ‘21 JD, assistance, so the centre’s staff can and the app’s fit with legal aid goals.
|| 25 || UAlberta.ca/lawGOLD MEDALLIST while working full time, gave me
an advantage in terms of general
CREDITS SUCCESS TO
discipline,” says Schembri. “That
really translated into the success I’ve
had so far.”
WORK ETHIC HE LEARNED When Schembri went back to school
at York University for political science,
IN SKILLED TRADES he received the Dean's Award for
Academic Excellence for achieving the
highest overall grade point average in
Patrick Schembri awarded the 2020 Horace the final year. He graduated summa
cum laude.
Harvey Medal in Law By Sarah Kent
While at UAlberta Law, Schembri
accumulated a number of accolades
for his outstanding academic
T
achievements, including the
he discipline Patrick Schembri,
‘20 JD, learned while working “Going to trade Honourable Mr. Justice Arnold F
in skilled trades has helped Moir Scholarship, the Norton Rose
earn him the 2020 Horace Harvey
Medal, the Faculty of Law’s most
school at night and Fulbright Canada LLP Scholarship,
the Professor Trevor Anderson Prize
in Jurisprudence, and the Dr.
prestigious accolade for a graduating
JD student. on the weekends Alexander Smith Q.C. Prize in the
Subject of Contracts.
Informally known as the gold
medal, the Horace Harvey Medal while working Outside the classroom, Schembri
was involved with Student Legal
recognizes the graduating student
Services and served on the editorial
with the highest grade point average
throughout their three years in the
full time, gave me board of the Alberta Law Review, a
peer-reviewed, student-run journal.
JD program. With the gold medal,
Schembri also received the Mr. Justice an advantage in Schembri spent his summers
working for in-house counsel at major
WG Morrow Memorial Prize.
companies and is now articling at
Following his first undergraduate
degree at Brock University, Schembri
terms of general Bennett Jones LLP in Calgary. “I wish
the best for all of my colleagues at the
began an apprenticeship in industrial
HVACR. “The work ethic that the discipline.” U of A,” he says. “Learning from my
peers has been critical to my studies,
skilled trades gave me, going to trade and I am grateful to have had the
school at night and on the weekends — Patrick Schembri, ‘20 JD opportunity to work with them.”
SILVER MEDALLIST ERIN BOWER
EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO PROFESSORS
FOR THEIR DEDICATION By Sarah Kent
F
or silver medallist Erin Bower is the 2020 recipient of the “I have to thank the professors and
Bower, ‘20 JD, earning top marks George Bligh O'Connor Silver Medal the lawyers who went out of their way
throughout all three years of law in Law, awarded to the graduating to make classes engaging and make
school was no easy feat, but the passion JD student who has achieved the themselves available to students both
of her professors second highest grade point average in and out of the classroom,” she says.
made the long hours studying worth across all three years of their time During her second and third years
the hard work. at UAlberta Law. of law school, Bower served on the
University of Alberta Faculty of Law || 26 ||You can also read
