Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50904
COMPILED BY JEFFREY H. WAUGH COLIN FELTHAM Roebothan McKay Marshall + PROS: St. John's has a small, collegial bar. As a young lawyer you can very quickly develop close working relationships with your colleagues in the local bar, ranging from the most junior to the most senior members. This is particularly true in the litigation fi eld. Scope of work and degree of fi le responsibility. There is plenty of opportunity to quickly develop progressive fi le re- sponsibility and involvement. In the litigation sector a young lawyer can very quickly get into court and begin to hone advocacy and litigation skills. Quality of life in St. John's is second to none. The natural and cultural attractions seem endless, and there are myriad res- taurants and bars with excellent entertainment and nightlife. Yet, the city is very laid-back with a small-town charm. Most lawyers I know practising in St. John's are able to fi nd a good balance between their work and family lives. St. John's is enjoying an economic revival, benefi ting from oil and gas as well as other resource revenues. There is an optimism here like no other time in the history of our prov- ince. This translates into a steady supply of new and exciting opportunities in the practice of law. Affordability. While real estate and other prices are on the rise, when compared to many other Canadian cities St. John's remains affordable when it comes to owning your home. - CONS: Climate. As much as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians love their province, there is no denying the weather could be better if you are a sun hound. Although, for winter weather lovers, there are few better places to live. There is little opportunity to develop a boutique practice of any kind. The market is just not large enough in most cases. CONS OF…. PRACTISING IN COMMUNITY LEGAL CLINICS MARY VELTRI — staff lawyer, Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic (Thunder Bay, Ont.) + PROS: Using law to advance social justice is very satisfying. There are rich opportunities to network with other lawyers practising poverty law in the clinic system: through training sessions, case conferencing by web interface, and various law-reform campaigns. The clinics foster a strong spirit of collegiality and offer a supportive work environment. There is no stress associated with billing clients and running a business. Our entire overhead is covered, and we are paid a salary that is not dependent on the number of billable hours. Our clients like us because we provide free legal services. - CONS: We don't get paid as much as lawyers in private practice or other government agencies. We are losing a lot of talented lawyers to other agencies that pay better salaries. The work can get monotonous at times. Representing the downtrodden can make you weary. Our clients' lives are pretty depressing. It can lead to burnout. C ANADIAN Lawyer 4STUDENTS SEPTEMBER 2008 39