Job Opportunities Do Not End at the 60th Parallel

Matthew Mowbrey (2L)

On Wednesday, November 2nd, I “Met the North”. As MC, Justice Beverley Browne (with over 20 years experience on the bench in Nunavut) suggested, “isn’t Edmonton ‘the North’?” Many would ask, “what can be up there but ice, and snow…and cold…did I mention cold?” And one lawyer even forewarned, “the North is not for everyone.”

In other words, if the idea of grabbing a grandé, vanilla (non-fat) latté at Starbucks in the morning before work, and then rolling into Oil City afterwards are staples to your day-to-day life then the north is probably not for you. Another lawyer described the north as “the most barren, desolate, and beautiful place” he has ever been. I would usually emphasize “barren and desolate.”

However, after viewing an amazing presentation by Bonnie Tulloch of Northern Affairs, Public Prosecutors Service, and hearing the passionate stories shared by many northern lawyers in attendance that have or currently work in the northern provinces I was impressed for two reasons.

First, and most important: the people. One lawyers’ plane could not land due to winter thaw, so the community took him into their homes and started to organize a snowmobile convoy to get him home (the plane, though, was finally able to land after a couple days). Another lawyer reminisced over the beadwork on fashion display during Christmas mass. Every lawyer in attendance had a story about the warmth and acceptance they felt while working in the North.

Secondly: the work. There is not only a lot of work, but there is a great diversity too. Be it working on policy with bands in the Yukon or assisting with residential school claims or working on copyright disputes the work is both diverse and plentiful. One lawyer articulated that, after eschewing her Toronto articles to work for the Crown up north, you can learn more there in two years than down south in a much longer term.
As a law student, the idealist in me thinks great clients and lots of work. What else could a lawyer want? Well, how about being able to work in the North commuting from Edmonton? A few large firms in Edmonton have 3 or 4 lawyers who work in Yellowknife. Other lawyers spend two weeks up and two weeks down. Yet others fly up in the morning and back in the evening. Another lawyer has a large practice up North but primarily operates from the more temperate climate of Sherwood Park dealing mostly via fax and e-mail. Thus opportunities are even available for those who merely want to toe the waters.

So if you have a sense of adventure, a large heart, and a dedication to representing people who really need you, I would suggest you take a look up north. You may be surprised by what you discover.