Take time to find your calling

By Nick Robichaud

Law school can be a bit of a wilderness experience for students who might be interested in an “alternative” career path. Regional and national law firms aggressively market themselves to students with everything from mugs to mousepads, but opportunities outside the corporate world are less advertised. They are out there, however, even if it takes time to find the right fit.

Like many of my classmates, I began my legal career in the firm where I had worked as a summer student and articled clerk. In 2006, I accepted their offer to become an associate in their bankruptcy and insolvency group. It gave me the opportunity to work with extremely talented lawyers, and I even got to spend some time on my own in court. Even so, I soon realized that I was unhappy with the unpredictable hours and never-ending chase to achieve billable targets. I finally admitted to myself that I needed a change, and oddly enough that change took me back to school.

In 2007, I joined the in-house legal counsel team for Dalhousie University in Halifax. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this position was the variety of files our team handled on a daily basis, including student discipline, administrative law, governance, privacy and access, contract drafting and negotiation, policy formulation, commercial transactions. In-house counsel are in a unique position to see how issues which originate in one department may affect projects elsewhere, and how they are connected with the operation of the organization as a whole. I was immersed in my client’s day-to-day operations and long-term strategy, which made me appreciate how my work affected the university as a whole.

In 2010, I decided to leave the practice of law. After some sleepness nights questioning whether or not I was making the right decision, I decided to leave Nova Scotia to settle in my home province of New Brunswick and pursue an opportunity to work as a policy analyst for a municipal government. I was pleased to discover that the skills and experience I have gained as a lawyer are very useful the work involved, including policy development, research, writing briefs and making presentations to senior management and city council.

Furthermore, I have taken steps to maintain an interest and involvement in the law. I have maintained my membership in the CBA and my provincial law society, and still take part in legal professional development opportunities, in particular those related to municipal law.

Since so many policy issues have a legal component, I am still able to work closely with our in-house counsel on a variety of subjects – the only difference being that, when faced with a particularly complicated issue, I now have the luxury of saying, “We better speak to the lawyers about this!”

Not all students have a career plan after graduation and those who do may be surprised to find their plans change as they develop in their careers. Since graduating, I have learned that it can take time and experience to discover one’s true interests and career calling. The good news is that the skills you will develop in your legal education are desirable to employers in a variety of fields, and many careers beyond the traditional role of a lawyer.

There are many opportunities out there for individuals willing to try new things, and the personal and professional connections you make along the way will point you toward the right path. Personally, the more I continue to learn and grow, the more excited I am about what the future holds – whatever that may be.

Nick Robichaud is a policy analyst in Moncton, N.B. He graduated from Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.

Detours

Take time to find your calling