Canadian Lawyer

12 M a y 2 0 1 4 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m the nurses' union were especially strained." She characterizes the period as "interest- ing and tumultuous" but it sharpened her knowledge in the area of labour negotia- tions and arbitration. Then it was back to private practice with a firm that special- ized in municipal law. She did a lot of work in front of various tribunals and that led somewhat naturally to a job with the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. In 2006, with a suite of diverse legal skills on her resume, she was approached by EPCOR with an offer to do compliance work which morphed into work in privacy, ethics, code of conduct, and then a leader- ship role in the area of financial reporting controls. She was rising rapidly at EPCOR, man- aging increasingly important projects and lines of business, finally becoming a cor- porate vice president. Ultimately she was offered the new position within the corpo- ration that would have taken her out of the law altogether and led to what she calls her "moment of reflection." As head of Alberta Legal Aid, Polkosnik knows she has taken on a tough assignment. "We really have to be able to enhance access to justice for all Albertans," she says, "and [Legal Aid Alberta] has gone through a process of defining our vision." She is well-aware legal aid, now supported by the government and the profession, is "chronically underfunded" and she knows any significant changes are going to require money, which is why she is hoping to "raise philanthropic funds." Polkosnik accepts one of LAA's major problems is how it is perceived by the pub- lic and potential donors. Philanthropists want to give their money to the arts, edu- cation, the poor, or the environment not to people in trouble with the law. "That's the challenge," she acknowledges. "We have to provide a narrative that resonates with those who provide funding. We are not necessarily that place that gets criminals off the hook — we are really about creating a better Alberta." In her view, legal aid "needs to be mak- ing our value understood." Warming to a subject she is clearly passionate about, she says, "We are a tremendous investment. We are about creating a better democracy. We are about protecting [the public] and protecting the safety of our communities." That is the message she hopes to take not only to the public but also to potential supporters in the corporate boardrooms of the province where she feels comfortable and can talk the language. In the meantime, Polkosnik says she will focus "on finding ways to do the best we can with what we've got." — GEoff ELLwAND writerlaw@gmail.com REgionAl wRAp-up Polkosnik abandons boardroom to head alberta legal aid Continued from page 11 With more than 1,400 pages of essential legal references, Ontario Lawyer's Phone Book is your best connection to legal services in Ontario. Subscribers can depend on the credibility, accuracy and currency of this directory year after year. More detail and a wider scope of legal contact information for Ontario than any other source: ȕ 0WFS27,000 lawyers listed ȕ 0WFS9,000 law firms and corporate offices listed ȕ 'BYBOEUFMFQIPOFOVNCFSTFNBJM BEESFTTFTPGȮDFMPDBUJPOTBOEQPTUBM DPEFT Includes lists of: ȕ Federal and provincial judges ȕ Federal courts, including a section for federal government departments, boards and commissions ȕ Ontario courts and services, including a section for provincial government ministries, boards and commissions ȕ Small claims courts ȕ Miscellaneous services for lawyers Visit carswell.com or call 1.800.387.5164 for a 30-day no-risk evaluation 1FSGFDUCPVOEȕ1VCMJTIFE December each year On subscription $74 One time purchase $77 L88804-626 Multiple copy discounts available Prices subject to change without notice, to applicable taxes and shipping & handling. 2014 ONTARIO LAWYER'S PHONE BOOK THE MOST COMPLETE DIRECTORY OF ONTARIO LAWYERS, LAW FIRMS, JUDGES AND COURTS ntitled-3 1 14-01-10 12:21 PM

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