Meaghan Thomas, Law'09, Shaunna Kelly, Law'08, Anthony Marchetti, Law'09, and Malcolm Savage, Law'09, participate in the Queen's Criminal Law Career Panel.
Meaghan Thomas, Law'09, Shaunna Kelly, Law'08, Anthony Marchetti, Law'09, and Malcolm Savage, Law'09, participate in the Queen's Criminal Law Career Panel.

For almost six decades, thousands of Queen’s Law alumni have used their legal education as a springboard to successful careers. This academic year, 37 of them generously volunteered their time by coming back to Macdonald Hall to share their experiences and tips with students eager to carve out their own career paths.

Four grads gave individual presentations or information sessions:

  • Sheena MacAskill, Law’86, Consultant with Coaching Lawyers for Success – “How to Make Yourself Memorable at Receptions and Dinners During the Summer Interview Processes” (Oct. 14) and “How to Prepare for Careers Day” (March 9).
  • Steve Shamie, Law’86, Managing Partner of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP – informal discussion on working in a management-side labour and employment law firm (Oct. 24).
  • Gerard Kennedy, Law’10, Litigation Associate with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP –informal discussion on working in a national, full-service firm (Feb. 3).
  • Warren WhiteKnight, Law’13, Associate with Bergeron Clifford LLP – “Preparing to Write the LSUC Licensing Examinations” (March 2).
  • Brahm Siegel, Law’93, Partner with Nathens, Siegel LLP – informal discussion on careers in family law and alternative dispute resolution (March 19).

Nine panel discussions featured alumni:

Workplace Law Careers (Oct. 17)

  • Fiona Campbell, Law’87, Lawyer with Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP
  • Colin Youngman, Law’05, Associate with Hicks Morley Stewart Storie LLP
  • Anne Clark-McMunagle, Law’85, Senior Counsel for Public Service Labour Relations Board

Law’09: Five Years out of Law School (Jan. 15)

  • Colleen Feehan, Legal Counsel and Senior Compliance Officer with TD Bank
  • Julie Lowe, PhD in Law candidate
  • Emilie Nicholas, Legal Counsel with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment
  • Captain Alexander Parker, Legal Officer with the Office of the Judge Advocate General
  • Melissa Reiter, Counsel with AUM Law
  • Jason Schmidt, Lawyer with Mann McCracken Bebee and Schmidt
  • Jason Sonshine, Counsel with Rothmans, Benson and Hedges
  • Scott Southward, CEO of Benana

Law and Politics (March 9)

  • Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Law’10, Associate with Kramer Simaan Dhillon LLP and Federal Liberal Party Candidate for Beaches-East York.
  • Stevie O'Brien, Law’10, Chief of Staff to Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Careers in Government (March 15)

  • Yashoda Ranganathan, Law’08, Counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General
  • Jonathan Shanks, Law’07, Counsel, Department of Justice Canada

Working in a Full-Service Firm (March 15)

  • Lisa Blair, Law’99, Director of Professional Recruitment at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
  • Robert Iaccino, Law’12, Associate  with Fasken Martineau
  • Kalen Ingram, Law’12, Associate with Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP
  • Tanya Rocca, Law’09, Associate with Gowlings LLP

Succeeding as a Summer Student (March 15)

  • Kyle Lambert, Law’12, Associate with McMillan LLP
  • Amrita Singh, Law’12, Associate with Bereskin & Parr LLP

Careers in Litigation and Advocacy (March 15)

  • Joanne Stuart, Law’03, Crown Counsel with Ministry of the Attorney General, Crown Law Office – Criminal
  • Patrick Welsh, Law’10, Associate with Osler, Hoskin, & Harcourt LLP

Practising in Small Firms/Small Cities (March 20)

  • Peter Festeryga, Law’84, Partner with Festeryga Partners
  • Carol Mackillop, Law’94, Barrister and Solicitor, Mackillop Law Professional Corporation
  • Theresa Van Luven, Law’04, Partner, Viner, Kennedy, Frederick, Allen and Tobias LLP
  • Warren WhiteKnight, Law’13, Associate with Bergeron Clifford LLP

Criminal Law Careers (March 20)

  • Sarah DeFilippis, Law’09, Assistant Crown Attorney with Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General (Toronto)
  • Shaunna Kelly, Law’08, Associate with Hicks Adams LLP
  • Anthony Marchetti, Law’09, Barrister and Solicitor
  • Malcolm Savage, Law’09, Assistant Crown Attorney with Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General (Scarborough)
  • Meaghan Thomas, Law’09, Lawyer with Bayne Sellar Boxall
  • Eric Ulhmann, Law’11, Criminal Defence Lawyer

“It’s wonderful to be able to interact with alumni who have been through the job process we’re going through and who can now offer insights into a variety of career options,” says Erika Hodge, Law’16. “Their participation in career events is beneficial for many reasons: they provide honest and unique perspectives, share experiences and personal stories, and teach us about professionalism and networking.

“Alumni are our role models,” she adds, “and they are key to our success as graduates from Queen's Law.”

The presentations, information sessions and panel discussions were part of an extensive roster events organized and/or sponsored by the Career Development Office or Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace (CLCW) in 2014-15.

Alumni interested in participating in labour and employment law career-related events next year should contact Trish Appleyard, MIR’06 /Law’09, CLCW Associate Director.

Alumni interested in participating in all other career-related events next year should contact Gillian Ready, Law’87, Career Development Director.