Human Rights Lawyer - Canada & Thailand

Tell us about more about Level. What kind of work does your organization do?

We’re a Canadian charitable organization that seeks to level the playing field and increase access to justice for marginalized communities, worldwide. Level – Changing Lives Through Law was founded in 2005. Originally, our organization was called Canadian Lawyers Abroad, though we rebranded to Level in 2015. Generally, we focus on providing public legal education through youth outreach and research/advocacy programs.

One of our newest programs is called Dare to Dream; it’s a specialized justice education program for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit youth throughout Canada. One of the goals of the program is to expose Indigenous youth to the positive side of the justice system and encourage them to consider a career in law. We are trying to build a bridge between Indigenous communities and the justice system throughout Canada, and we think our society will benefit from having a more diverse bar and bench.

We also run a Student Chapter Program at twelve law schools across Canada. Every year we identify a human rights issue to focus on and this year we picked Women’s Rights. In past years we have focused on human trafficking or refugee rights, for example. Our student groups raise awareness about the issues on their campuses by hosting conferences and contributing research papers to an annual human rights journal.

Additionally, Level runs a summer global internship program – we send about 20 law students every year, either overseas, or to work with Indigenous communities in Canada to support their human rights initiatives. Currently, we’re also developing a new research program that will provide opportunities for law students and recent graduates to work with established lawyers to tackle social justice issues.

How did you end up in role as Executive Director at Level?

From a young age, I was interested in becoming a lawyer and working in the justice sector. After high school, I went to Queen’s University to study Sociology and Psychology, following which, I did an internship in Tanzania where I worked with a community organization that facilitated public education workshops on HIV/AIDS, child protection and women’s rights. I spent four months working in rural Tanzania, frequently travelling to remote areas to deliver highly sensitive information about HIV/AIDS and children’s rights – it was a transformative experience. It was the first time in my life that I was able to wake up and feel so invested in and excited about the work I was doing. I started law school a few days after returning home from Tanzania.

In my first year of law school, I was fortunate to come across Canadian Lawyers Abroad (today Level). I applied for a summer internship and was selected to work in Bangkok, Thailand with an organization called ECPAT. There, I had the opportunity to work on legal projects that combatted the commercial sexual exploitation of children. This was my first opportunity to work with a team of lawyers and human rights advocates, and enabled me to develop my legal research and writing skills. Though the work was difficult, I thrived in this atmosphere, which also helped me feel confident in my choice to become a lawyer.

Following law school, I decided to take an articling position at a family law boutique firm in Toronto, which is kind-of an interesting choice with my social justice background. I had the desire to become a litigator and learn the hard skills of being an advocate, going to court, and representing clients. In Canada, to become a licensed lawyer we have three requirements: you have to graduate from law school, write the bar exams, and article for 10 months. It was important for me to get called to the bar, and to have flexibility in terms of my career in law. I chose family law because I wanted to work with people. I spent a couple of years working at the firm, gaining litigation experience and working on some very challenging cases. Even though it was an intense job – long hours, etc. – I always made time to volunteer for social justice organizations or projects that were important to me. For example, I stayed connected with Level, and would help out the co-founders with events or programs. When Level began looking for a new ED in 2013, I was recruited out of litigation to take on that role.

What do you enjoy most about working in an international setting, both personally and professionally?

For me, it’s the diversity – the diversity in worldviews, culture, and more importantly, in the way that we tackle problems. I love it when someone challenges me to see a social justice issue, or the solution, in a different light. I’m a strong believer that a diverse work environment is the best place to learn new skills, tackle problems and to be challenged to think outside the box. Diversity enriches the work environment for everyone.

Can you describe any professional challenges you encountered while working cross-culturally?

I haven’t experienced many challenges while working cross-culturally, but I think that’s because I received some key advice very early on in my career, which was, to always keep an open mind and to listen carefully. I’ve been overseeing students on global placements since 2011. One thing I think students can struggle with, occasionally, is adapting to a new work environment that is different from what they are used to. It’s really important for people to understand that what they think is an ‘effective working style’ doesn’t mean it’s the ‘right’ style, or the only working style. We spend a lot of time coaching students to be patient and flexible – two things that are critical to adapting to a new environment.

Also, if you are taking a job in a new culture, educating yourself about that culture – the history, practices and customs – is an absolute must. People often say that there are no silly or wrong questions when you’re starting a new job. I actually disagree with that. I think a basic level of cultural competency is absolutely expected. For example, if we have staff or volunteers that are working with Indigenous communities in Canada, they are required to attend a cultural competency training event where we invite an Elder to help us understand more about Indigenous worldviews, protocols, etc. We also have volunteers review materials about the history of Indigenous peoples, residential schools, etc. You should never walk into a new cultural setting without taking the time to learn about that culture and ensure you’re entering with a respectful attitude and open mind.

What abilities and qualities does it take to be able to succeed in international law?

Whenever I’m speaking to law students about their career goals, the two things I emphasize are strategy and perseverance. You have to be very willing to play the long game right from the outset. I encourage them to keep their focus on the end goal, and to expect that they will not get their dream job right out of law school.

The other important thing for young people to do is to learn how to take control of their narrative very early on in their career. One could look at my experience and think ‘she bounced around, she went from Sociology to doing human rights work in Tanzania, then law school, then family law – how and why does that transition into being the ED of a charity?’ If someone just looked at my CV, they wouldn’t see the whole story and understand my longer-term vision for my career. This is why cover letters are so important! Own your story, and get comfortable telling it.

Also, sometimes students simply have to take the job that is available to pay down student debt for example. That is ok. Take the job, but figure out how that job is going to lead you to the next opportunity, and how that opportunity will take you one step closer to your final goal. Or, volunteer on the side.

On a more practical note, taking the relevant courses, learning how to speak more than one language, getting published, and building a strong network, would be a great place to start.

Do you think having a specific degree or type education is important or relevant to getting work in your field?

Undergraduate students often ask me: should I pursue law school? I respond by digging for information about why they are interested in law. Law school provides you with a specific set of skills and tools, and the real the question is – do you need those tools to achieve your career goals? I encourage students to think about what they envision themselves doing, day in and out, when school is finished. It helps to identify your final goal and work backwards, and to be mindful that there isn’t one specific path.

If you want to work in international law, explore what that means to you – start researching the different jobs available in this field. Who is doing the kind of work that appeals to you? Who do you view as a role model? Go online and research their career trajectories. Be willing to think outside of the box. Be strategic and purposeful with your decisions instead of just following the herd.

For people who are either just starting out in their careers or looking to move into this kind of work, what’s your best advice in terms of tangible steps a person could take to move in that direction?

My general advice is to get involved. First year of undergrad is not too early to begin building your career, reputation, and network. Play the long game and be realistic.

Another more practical tip is to be mindful of your presence on social media. The reality is that this is going to be a part of your ‘brand’ and new employers will look at these things when they’re hiring. Particularly for young people who view university as just the next step after high school: even if you’re not sure what your end-goal is, remember that this is the beginning of your career and reputation as a young adult. That’s not to say there isn’t room for individuality and personality. I personally love to hire people who are unique and confident in who they are, but professionalism is a skill that you should master as soon as possible.

Is there anything else that you’d like to add?

You can add that I’m always open to chatting with young people. My life is very hectic, but I’ll make the time. Mentors are so important, and sometimes they can be hard to find. My only expectation is that they prepare for the conversation and are willing to pay the favour forward one day to someone else.