Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50906
Thomas Marshall Attorney general and minister of Justice, Newfoundland and Labrador 1. Since my childhood I have had a strong interest in politics. I had been very active throughout my early life as a teenager and young adult and hoped someday to offer myself for public life. As a member of Parliament, my father, Jack Marshall, instilled upon me the value of public service and encouraged me to offer myself when the time was appropriate. The lessons my father taught me about being an elected official influe nce me each day. The main reason I wanted to enter public life was to help my province, and indeed my country, through public service. Newfoundland and Labrador has a lot to offer, but our elected officials were not Leonard Krog British Columbia NDP MLA 1. From the time I was 10, I was interested in seeking political office at some point in my life. It was part of a long-term plan for my life. I did however become involved earlier than I anticipated, elected the first time at age 38 with young children. I ran as a result of the redistribution of provincial constituencies. In or out of office though, I have maintained my practising certificate because one should never regard politics as a life-long career. 2. The hardest part is reserving time for your family. By virtue of making the decision to pursue politics, you have already decided essentially to place your family second — and anyone who tells you the contrary is deluding themselves and failing to face the reality of modern political life, which is family destroying. Nevertheless, hopefully your family understands your contribution to public life, which can only be made successful by people whose families are prepared to sacrifice as well. 3. Develop your own career and skills and gather as many life experiences as you can. Take an active interest in your local constituency and/or riding association and keep your nose clean because everything you do in life will come back to assist you — or haunt you! 4. No particular books, but the biographies of political leaders such as TC Douglas, Dave Barrett, Sir John A. Macdonald, Lyndon Johnson, Sir Winston Churchill, etc. are always helpful. 5. My favourite place is wherever the people who have actually helped me get elected gather. Never flatter yourself that it is your charm, brilliance, and good looks that win the election. It is largely the party label and the hard-working volunteers who make it happen. s always achieving what I felt we were capable of and deserved. To that point, I felt I could make a worthwhile contribution to my province and decided to run in the 2003 provincial general election. 2. The hardest part about being a politician certainly is time management, particularly as it relates to being able to spend time with your family. It is important to strike the right balance. As my district is located at the opposite end of the province as my ministerial office, I spend a significant amount of time away from home. I attempt to spend as many weekends as possible with my family but even when I am home it is a balance to address the needs of my constituents as well as my family. Support of your family is critical and I do not believe success in politics is possible without it. 3. The best advice I can give you is to work hard, but do not base your career on becoming a "politician." Work hard at your legal career, learn as much as you can, enjoy it, and if you want to serve public life it will happen for you. 4. I'm sure libraries could be filled with books solely about politics and while I have read many of them, covering broad subjects of politics, I cannot say one particular book has inspired me. I can say that I have enjoyed reading about Bobby Kennedy and his too-short political career. I think if you want to be a successful lawyer, a successful politician, or a successful parent, friend, or individual, the more you read the more successful you can become. 5. My favourite place to celebrate an election win is Corner Brook with my family and election supporters. . Student Program Chair, Myriah Graves, 416.941.8846, mgraves@foglers.com 95 Wellington Street West, Suite 1200 Toronto-Dominion Centre, Toronto, ON M5J 2Z9 T: 416.864.9700 F: 416.941.8852 4STUDENTS SPRING 2009 11 olger_4students_Mar_09.indd 1 3/3/09 11:56:49 AM