Off The Tracks

In this episode we are joined by Rebecca Tripp. Rebecca is a licensed paralegal, regulated Canadian immigration consultant, Notary Public, and she recently opened her own law office. She provides legal outsourcing services along with immigration representation, immigration coaching, and unbundled paralegal services. Rebecca also happens to be our very first guest who did not attend law school and we learned a great deal about the path to becoming a licensed paralegal. In this episode we discuss how the paralegal profession is largely misunderstood by the legal profession and the general public, the role of an immigration consultant, how Rebecca works within two complementary professions, and when not to swim in the ocean at night.

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

In this episode we are joined by Karen Dyck. Karen’s exciting career has involved working in the public, private, non profit, and academic sectors in a mixture of practicing and non-practicing legal and law adjacent roles. In this conversation Karen shares all she has learned from her non-linear career path, and we discuss the human and private experiences professional resumes are not structured to show, how to build bridges when transitioning between roles, and learning to be content in the present moment.

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

In this episode, we are joined by Lindsay Traves and Charlotte McGee. Lindsay and Charlotte are both Senior Legal Recruiters at Shopify. Lindsay previously worked in sales and sports marketing, and later practiced as a lawyer in insurance defence. Charlotte previously worked at a record label, and later practiced law at a boutique wills, estates, and capacity litigation firm. In our conversation, Lindsay and Charlotte fill us in on what recruiters are looking at when helping place candidates in new positions, how to apply for a job when you are lacking the exact level of experience the role is looking for, the OCI setbacks they experienced in law school, and how to unburden yourself of anxiety with facing problems that are not your responsibility.

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

In our first non-series based episode of season 2, we are so excited to be joined by Rachael Kwan. Rachael works as a Senior Manager in the Competition Law Compliance Program at Scotiabank. Prior to the role, she was a litigation lawyer and worked in the non-profit sector. In this episode we soak up Rachel’s “big sister Virgo energy” as she dishes insightful advice about her alternative path to practice, the benefits of mentorship, classism in law school, and her financial secret weapon.

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Clarke as part of a continuation of Off the Tracks’ series, Second Life. Samantha is an award winning International wedding and portrait photographer, business coach, educator and mentor. Prior to founding her photography business, Samantha worked in the clinic system in the areas of employment and disability law. In this episode we discuss how Samantha juggled being a full time lawyer and part time photographer, the power of niching down your business, the importance of charging your worth, and what Samantha has learned since becoming a mom.

Find Samantha’s website here: https://www.samantha-clarke.com/

Follow Samantha on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/samanthaclarke/

Subscribe to Samantha’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/samanthaclarkea

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

In this episode, we sit down with Kier Munn as part of a continuation of Off the Tracks’ series, Second Life. From bartending, to working as a refrigeration and airconditioning mechanic, to being a lawyer; Kier’s career has taken many twists and turns. He currently works in the provincial public service at the Office of the Worker Advisor and as a part time instructor in occupational health and safety/disability management. In this episode we discuss Kier’s experience failing out of law school and subsequently re-doing his 1L year, coming to understand his late in life ADHD diagnosis, and his love for his horse Denni.

Follow Kier on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/kiermunn

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

In this episode, we sit down with Olympian Tugba Karademir as part of a continuation of Off the Tracks’ series, Second Life. Originally from Turkey, Tugba moved to Canada when she was twelve to pursue her athletic craft as a figure skater. She went on to compete at the highest levels, at 8 Worlds competitions and 2 Olympics, and coach athletes to success at national and international levels. In 2015, Tugba did a 180 turn and went to law school. She now practices in the areas of litigation and family law. In this episode we discuss how knowing the rules of figure skating inspired Tugba to become a lawyer, how she hopes the legal profession continues to evolve, and her experience being a flag bearer at the Olympics.

Follow Tugba on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/tugbak85

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

In this episode, we sit down with Peter Tonge as part of a continuation of Off the Tracks’ series, Second Life. Peter is a former public servant and retired criminal defence lawyer. Currently, Peter runs a consulting business that specializes in disability and inclusion issues, is a podcast host, and is the Executive Director of the Manitoba Wheelchair Sport Association. In this episode we discuss the long lasting physical and attitudinal barriers lawyers with disabilities face in their careers, how Peter found his way in a variety of career paths, and how Peter found his niche in podcasting.

Follow Peter on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/peteratonge

Subscribe and listen to Peter’s podcast, “Talking Rotary,” by clicking here: https://talkingrotary.org/

Follow Peter’s podcast here: https://www.mswa.ca/

Check out Manitoba Wheelchair Sports here: https://www.mswa.ca/

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

We’re back! We are so excited to be launching season two of Off the Tracks with a brand new series. Michelle Thompson joins us as the first guest of our Second Life series. This series explores the stories and insights of people who began legal careers and later transitioned away from law, and also those who had full careers prior to becoming lawyers. Michelle transitioned away from practicing law immediately after articling and is now a public legal educator in Toronto. In this episode we discuss the process of figuring out the difference between what type of lawyer and what type of “not-lawyer” you want to be, how to take action when you don’t enjoy where you are at in your career, getting off the law conveyer belt (going “off the tracks” if you will!) and the importance of celebrating a-typical life milestones.

Follow Michelle on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/jmthompsonlaw

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs

Content warning: This episode discusses sexual assault, rape, and experiences interacting with police. If any of these topics are triggering for you, we encourage you to forgo listening to this episode. To find crisis support in your region (within Canada) please visit: https://endingviolencecanada.org/sexual-assault-centres-crisis-lines-and-support-services/.

In the season finale of Off the Tracks, we sit down with Ava Williams. A Western Law alumna and now a civil litigator at Thomson Rogers, Ava is a strong advocate both in and out of the courtroom. In 2017, the Globe & Mail published Unfounded, a 20-month-long investigation into how police handle sexual assault allegations. Ava’s experience was featured as one of the central storylines throughout the investigation.

In this episode we discuss how and why Ava chose to become involved in the Unfounded investigation, the trauma that accompanies reporting a sexual assault, the profound impact Ava’s story has had on Erin and Piper, and the power of hearing someone say “I believe you.”

Thank you for supporting our first season. Off the Tracks is taking a summer hiatus and we look forward to bringing you new episodes in Fall 2021.

Follow Ava on Twitter: https://twitter.com/avanwlaw

Read Part 1 of Unfounded and navigate to all subsequent articles here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/investigations/unfounded-sexual-assault-canada-main/article33891309/

Read about Ava’s experience reporting and the text of Sadie’s note here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/investigations/what-its-like-to-report-a-sexual-assault-36-people-share-their-stories/article34338353/#5

Read a profile of Ava within this article: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/investigations/unfounded-these-canadians-are-working-on-the-front-lines-of-a-changing-system/article37305356/

Follow us on Instagram @offthetrackspodcast, check out our website offthetrackspodcast.com, or connect with us by emailing [email protected].

Thanks for taking some time to step off the tracks with us!

- Erin & Piper

Did you know there are free and confidential mental health supports available to law students, paralegals, and lawyers in every province and territory? Click here to learn more and access services: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Wellness-Subcommittee/Wellness-Programs