My Day in the Life experience at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) provided me an opportunity to connect with many lawyers and learn about the varying types of work done by those working at BLG’s Montreal office. Overall, my experience drew attention to the importance of being open-minded as I begin to reflect upon the areas of practice I hope to work in.
I started my day having coffee with Me. Renaud Gravel, the manager of professional recruitment and student programs at BLG. Me. Gravel shared valuable insights not only into the structure of the student program at BLG, but also concerning his experience in various legal roles post-law school. Me. Gravel generously planned a full day for me at the firm, scheduling meetings with lawyers and students in different practice areas.
After meeting with Me. Gravel, I had the chance to meet with Me. Andréanne Moses, a litigation associate, as well as Me. Jordan Bouchard, an associate with expertise in banking and financial services, lending and financing, and project financing. Both Me. Moses and Me. Bouchard provided an overview of the work they do in the disputes as well as corporate sides of BLG’s practice. Their insights inspired me to begin reflecting upon whether I would prefer a career centred upon litigation or corporate law at a firm.
A highlight of my day was having lunch with McGill alumni Me. Claudine Millette, a partner and national business leader in financial services at BLG. My lunch with Me. Millette brought to my attention two key insights. Firstly, I was struck by the evolution of Me. Millette’s legal career following her studies at McGill’s Faculty of Law. Me. Millette did not start her legal career at BLG or at a different big law firm. The beginning of Me. Millette’s career ran contrary to the expectations I had of lawyers, particularly those in leadership roles, at big law firms. Me. Millette’s journey instead drew attention to the importance of establishing networks and positive working relations with others and using these relationships as a way of guiding one’s career journey in the legal profession. Certainly, this advice highlighted the need for remaining open-minded to the different paths that may present themselves throughout one’s journey as a lawyer. The second insight gleaned through my lunch with Me. Millette relates to the growing practice of working with Indigenous nations, communities, and clients in the financial services sector. As someone with an interest in this area of law, asking and hearing from Me. Millette that BLG practices in this area, further sparked my interest in the work done by the firm.
After lunch, I observed proceedings at the Palais de Justice with Élie Désilets, an articling student, as well as had (another) coffee with current students at BLG. I enjoyed ending my day connecting with students and learning about their experience at the firm. My Day in the Life at BLG certainly exceeded my expectations, exciting me for the next steps I will take in my own legal career.
