Lexpert magazine features articles and columns on developments in legal practice management, deals and lawsuits of interest in Canada, the law and business issues of interest to legal professionals and businesses that purchase legal services.
Issue link: https://digital.carswellmedia.com/i/707166
LEXPERT MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2016 51 IN GRADE NINE I spent a day with my dad for "Take Your Kid to Work Day." As we toured the refinery where he worked, with its complex maze of pipelines, tanks and valves, I was fascinated: how did it work and what exactly did my dad, an en- gineer, do? e answer, he said, was simple. Engineers solve problems. My eyes were opened to the unbelievable impact engi- neers have in our lives and the incredible variety of problems they solve and I was hooked — I then wanted to be an engineer. Four years later, I entered the University of Waterloo's five-year chemical engineer- ing program that incorporated two years of engineering work experience. I had the opportunity to try my hand at a variety of potential career paths in diverse industries, including plastics, pharmaceuticals, min- ing, and oil and gas. I was impressed by the incredible achievements within these in- dustries and proud to contribute. As I progressed, however, I became in- trigued by the interaction between engi- neering and law. No matter the industry or nature of my role, the law inevitably im- pacted me and my colleagues. Looking Back and Ahead Annik Forristal Associate at McMillan LLP Jason Sacha Associate at Ricketts, Harris LLP I GREW UP in Morinville, Alta., a com- munity of 5,000 about 30 minutes north of Edmonton. It had one high school, three video stores — and when a Tim Hortons opened, it was a big event. I knew from a young age I wanted to do something in- volving international business and travel. ere were lots of blue-collar jobs around Morinville and, as a kid, business seemed like a Big City activity, very "New York." I was always interested in cool new tech- nology and was an early adopter of cell phones — initially a cool product from Finland. When I got the chance to go to Finland as part of my business studies at the University of Alberta, I jumped at it. It was the road less travelled (many of my classmates chose the beaches of Australia) but why zig when you can zag? I've always been a voracious reader and wanted to try my hand at writing. I roomed with a filmmaker and started to work to- gether on a number of film concepts and scripts. From there I started writing then producing my friend's films and then shooting some of my own. I formed my own film-production company and created HOW THREE ASSOCIATES WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS ENDED UP PRACTISING LAW STUDENT RECRUITMENT ASSOCIATES We oen saw processes revised or tasks that had been tailored to address legal matters such as protecting rights or limit- ing liability. Additionally, there was oen a sense of frustration, given that what "the lawyers" needed felt disconnected from the problem at hand; a tedious diversion from the clear path forward. Consequently, my focus shied — I wanted to be a lawyer to help engineers solve problems and accomplish their goals. Following graduation, I attended law school at the University of Calgary and worked part-time as an engineer for a while. Interestingly, I discovered that en- gineering and law are not quite as discon- nected as I had originally thought; while the processes and tools may be very differ- ent, at their heart, both lawyers and engi- neers are problem-solvers. Today I practise in areas where I fre- quently work with engineers and other professional problem-solvers. In this en- vironment, not shying away from complex or technical matters and approaching a challenge from different perspectives has proven invaluable.