We are approaching on the season where giving back is a big focus. Whether providing financial donations or volunteering your time, it’s a time when low-income families rely on their community. Our firm for many years donated our time to a toy drive helping to fill toy orders for organizations, and more recently we have donated food to a food drive, which we are doing again this holiday season (thanks Murray for organizing that!).
That is not the kind of giving back that I’m talking about in this post, this one is about professionally giving back. In college I remember guest speakers attending our classes and providing feedback on what to expect in the real world. In my last year, the college hosted a job fair and luncheon for the lawyers and clerks who would attend which gave students an opportunity for one-on-one time to ask questions.
I remember these events to this day even though that was many years ago. This is why when I’m asked if I want to speak to a class or attend a high school job fair, I will do my best to be able to find the time.
I especially enjoy attending these events with Robin Mann, who I have worked with for many years in the corporate side of the practice, we are a great team and together we have fun with the students, even though everyone really just wants to hear from the lawyer. We will be attending Humber College for the Law Clerk program, maybe then I will be the star of the show.
Do you give back in your professional life? If not, give it a try, it really is a great feeling helping those who were just like you.
Christine Allan, Firm Operations Manager and Sr. Law Clerk