Off The Tracks
77 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsOur goal is to spark a larger conversation about the diversity of experiences in the legal profession. We’ll be keeping things light and breezy while tackling complex and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about student debt and finances, mental health, diversity and inclusion, charting your own path, a-typical legal careers, and more.
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Episodes
Episode 24: Black Femme Legal
January 11, 2022 13:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBIn this episode we are joined by Samantha Peters. Samantha is a lawyer, LLM candidate at Queen’s University Faculty of Law, and the current Director of Legal Initiatives and Public Interest at Black Femme Legal. Samantha is also a frequent commentator and writer on workers’ rights, sexual and gender-based violence, social policy and critical race theory in Canada. In this episode Samantha asks the important question: who does the law protect and serve? We also discuss how Samantha has found ...
Episode 23: Paralegal Perspective
December 14, 2021 12:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBIn 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 disc...
Episode 22: Building Bridges
December 07, 2021 12:00 - 51 minutes - 47.3 MBIn 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...
Episode 21
November 30, 2021 12:00 - 42 minutes - 39.8 MBIn 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...
Episode 21: Legal Recruiting
November 30, 2021 12:00 - 42 minutes - 39.8 MBIn 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...
Episode 20: Alternative Path to Practice
November 23, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBIn 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. Fo...
Episode 19: The Second Life Series Part 5
November 16, 2021 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBIn 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 busin...
Episode 18: The Second Life Series Part 4
November 09, 2021 12:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBIn 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 scho...
Episode 17: The Second Life Series Part 3
November 02, 2021 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBIn 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 an...
Episode 16: The Second Life Series Part 2
October 26, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBIn 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 care...
Episode 15: The Second Life Series Part 1
October 19, 2021 12:45 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBWe’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 d...
Episode 14: We Believe You
June 15, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 82.2 MBContent 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 Rog...
Episode 13: Disclosure
June 08, 2021 04:00 - 47 minutes - 44.4 MBContent warning: This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Service available 24/7/365 by calling 1-833-456-4566. In this episode, we sit down with Anisha Nag, a law student at Osgoode Hall and a summer student at Erin’s law firm, Erin O’Rourke Law. We discuss how Anisha came to attend law school on a part-time basis, the fear of disclosing mental health challenges, and how much sleep we all truly need. Follow Anish...
Every Child Matters
June 01, 2021 13:39 - 1 minute - 1.58 MBThis week, we are holding space to bear witness and mourn the 215 children whose remains were found at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. In lieu of the episode we planned to release this week we released this short episode with links to important educational resources, podcasts hosted by Indigenous creators, and organizations to donate to. If it is within your means, please join us in donating to the Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society and the F...
Episode 12: Law with a Pulse
May 25, 2021 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37.9 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Braden Lauer, a franchise and corporate commercial lawyer in Vancouver. In 2020, Braden joined the newly founded firm, macushlaw. The firm’s tag-line is “law with a pulse,” and we wanted to learn more about what this means to Braden. In addition to practicing law, Braden is the co-founder of a franchise consulting business, as well as the Chief Legal Officer of a blockchain investment group. In 2014, Braden was crowned the winner of CBC’s reality television ...
Episode 11: The Birthday Episode
May 18, 2021 04:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBIt’s our birthday! In this episode, we sit down and discuss all that we’ve learned in the past 12 months. Erin talks about doing things that scare her, Piper dives into feeling old and young at the same time, and we discuss our favourite parts of doing this podcast. For our birthday, we hosted a fundraiser workout class led by Alessia Scauzillo, the creator of one of our favourite workout platforms, A Sculpt Body. For a 7-day free trial to A Sculpt Body, click here: https://asculptbody.com/...
Episode 10: The Debt Series Part 6
May 11, 2021 12:55 - 40 minutes - 93.5 MBFor the final episode of our debt series (for now!) we sat down with the multitalented Sukhpreet Sangha. Sukhpreet is a lawyer, artist, and educator. After beginning her career as a criminal defence lawyer, she later transitioned to working at a community legal clinic where she practiced poverty law. Now, Sukhpreet works at a non-profit organization where she teaches law to newcomer public high school students and runs other related programs. We discuss how Sukhpreet paid off $100,000 in stu...
Episode 9: The Debt Series Part 5
May 04, 2021 04:00 - 39 minutes - 90 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Jeff Hernaez as part of a continuation of Off the Tracks’ series about law school debt. Jeff is an associate at Lawson Lundell LLP in Vancouver. We discuss rolling separate loans into one repayment plan, how law school debt impacts career decisions for years to come, taking a hybrid approach of paying off debt and simultaneously building savings, and grand prize money on reality television shows. Follow Jeff on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/JeffHernaez ...
Episode 8: The Debt Series Part 4
April 27, 2021 04:00 - 57 minutes - 131 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Elsa Ascencio as part of a continuation of Off the Tracks’ series about law school debt. Elsa is a workers’ rights lawyer based in Toronto. She is the proud daughter of Salvadoran refugees and being raised in a low income community. We discuss what drew Elsa to workers’ rights law, the intersections of mental health and student debt, the financial cost of seeking mental health support, and her creative business. Follow Elsa on Twitter here: https://twitter....
Episode 7: The Debt Series Part 3
April 20, 2021 04:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Glynnis Hawe as part of a continuation of Off the Tracks’ series about law school debt. Glynnis is a fourth-year associate at Paliare Roland LLP, a mid-size litigation boutique in Toronto. We discuss paying off approximately $150,000 in student debt, the price of law school tuition, the psychological effects of monstrous debt, feeling “behind” in life due to law school debt, and Glynnis’ unique pre-law line of work. Follow Glynnis on Twitter here: https://t...
Episode 6: The Debt Series Part 2
April 13, 2021 04:00 - 50 minutes - 115 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Sherifa Hadi as part of a continuation of Off the Tracks’ series about law school debt. Sherifa is a lawyer, legal researcher, a vocal advocate for accessible education, and works in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. We discuss the lack of education about the actual financial costs of law school and a legal career, having multiple applications for student professional lines of credit rejected, the social isolation that stems from financial stressor...
Episode 5: The Debt Series Part 1
April 06, 2021 04:00 - 51 minutes - 117 MBThis episode marks the beginning of our series about law school debt. Throughout this series, we will be speaking with lawyers who have had a variety of diverse experiences with law school debt. In this episode, we sit down with Karly Lyons. Karly is currently completing the lawyer licensing process in Ontario and is the co-founder and director of Legal Listening, a Canadian Law Blog Award (CLAWBIE) winning legal audio podcast. A peer of ours from Windsor Law, we have long admired Karly’s a...
Episode 4: Doing Law Differently
March 30, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 89.1 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Leah Klassen, Associate at Wolseley Law in Winnipeg. The tag-line at Wolseley Law is “doing law differently,” and Leah has been embodying this ethos since she graduated law school. From holding a role in Pro Bono Students Canada’s (PBSC) national office, to articling with the Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg, working in family and fertility law in the GTA, and now working for a progressive and innovative law firm back in Winnipeg, Leah’s legal career has consis...
Episode 3: Canadian Association of Lawyers with Disabilities (ACJSH)
March 23, 2021 04:00 - 44 minutes - 103 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Odelia Bay and Ilia Sumner, to discuss the Canadian Association of Lawyers with Disabilities (CALD). The goal of this new organization is to connect lawyers and other legal practitioners from across Canada, both persons with disabilities and those who are allies, to create a network for community building and advocacy. We discuss the stigma associated with disabilities in the legal profession, disclosing or not disclosing a disability to an employer, navigat...
Episode 2: From Canadian Idol to Shopify
March 09, 2021 05:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBIn this episode, we sit down with Litsa Dantzer, the founder of Canada’s largest legal career community, Law Job Exchange. A law grad herself, Litsa transitioned into a career as a legal recruiter; she currently works at Shopify in Talent Acquisition and runs a legal career coaching service outside of business hours. We discuss why it’s useful to see a financial advisor even when you have little to no money, the discrimination faced by job seekers who have been accredited through the Nationa...
Episode 1: Step off the Tracks
February 23, 2021 03:24 - 27 minutes - 25.7 MBWelcome to the inaugural episode of Off the Tracks! In this episode, we briefly introduce ourselves, the podcast, and the conversations we hope to share with you in the future. We talk about the role that brought us together, our shared birthday, and how we envision a career off the tracks. 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 tra...
Episode 0: Welcome to Off the Tracks!
February 15, 2021 18:24 - 59 seconds - 2.28 MBHi! We're Erin and Piper, we're friends navigating life and the legal profession together, in our own way. This passion project grew out of asking each other the question “what does it look like to do law differently, and what does that even mean?” Off the Tracks will host guests bi-weekly as we explore all of the diverse ways to practice law (or not!), be a lawyer, and stay true to your authentic self. Our goal is to spark a larger conversation about the diversity of experiences in the leg...