“All advocacy is, at its core, an exercise in empathy.”- Samantha Power
In order to advocate effectively for someone, you really do need to know something about them.
This is a core principle of my practice as a Criminal lawyer, and grew from seeds planted early in life. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Winnipeg, and Macdonald Youth Services, were formative experiences in working with youth who came from very difficult places. This was also true of many folks I assisted through the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) for Residential School Survivors seeking compensation.
It's cliche to say that everyone has their own unique gifts but, like many cliches, it holds some truth. I believe we give ourselves the best chance of a full, meaningful life, by using our unique skills to make things better for people who genuinely need it, while also finding a way to be compensated to keep the office lights on, and a roof over our heads.
I received a number of advocacy awards during my time in law school, and was one of two individuals selected from Manitoba to represent the Province at a National advocacy competition. It was an encouraging start to the career, but law is truly a profession of learning something new everyday.
I remain grateful for the honour of fighting for my clients, and putting my unique skills to work for them.
