Jim Simmons, QC, Law’68 (Arts’65), a senior partner with Sudbury, Ontario’s Weaver, Simmons LLP, connected with his soon-to-be articling student, Jennifer Clay, Law’19, during a March career event in Kingston. They both agree that “the learning opportunities offered at Weaver, Simmons rival those of larger centres, while maintaining the sense of community and lifestyle of a smaller market.”
Jim Simmons, QC, Law’68 (Arts’65), a senior partner with Sudbury, Ontario’s Weaver, Simmons LLP, connected with his soon-to-be articling student, Jennifer Clay, Law’19, during a March career event in Kingston. They both agree that “the learning opportunities offered at Weaver, Simmons rival those of larger centres, while maintaining the sense of community and lifestyle of a smaller market.”

Practising in Northern Ontario offers Queen’s Law grads a special opportunity to bring Queen’s community values to the clients they serve in diverse areas of law. For Jim Simmons, QC, Law’68 (Arts’65), and his soon-to-be articling student, Jennifer Clay, Law’19, the region provides talented lawyers the same opportunities as a larger market in an exceptional community setting.

Simmons is a senior partner with Weaver, Simmons LLP, a firm of 30 lawyers based in Sudbury. There, he continues to enjoy a remarkable career in personal injury, civil litigation and commercial law. Clay, who is interested in labour and employment law, looks forward to completing her articles at the firm, which boasts the largest team of management-side labour lawyers in the region. 

There is a strong connection between Weaver, Simmons and Queen’s Law. The line drawn from Simmons’ law school experience to Clay’s imminent convocation is one that centres on community, connectivity and integrity. “The sense of community within Queen’s Law is what I consider the most gratifying aspect of my time here,” says Clay. “This environment validated for me that I want to work in an environment with the same feel.”

Fostering the distinct sense of community at Queen’s Law and finding professional opportunities for students in small markets are two outstanding features the Career Development Office (CDO) offers. In Clay’s experience, she commends the CDO for fostering positive relationships with alumni that translate to job opportunities for students. Knowing that she wanted to return home to Northern Ontario after graduation, she found a valuable support and career counselling system through the CDO that connected her with Weaver, Simmons at an annual career event held in Kingston.

Sudbury is a regional hub for a variety of industries, and Weaver, Simmons has a strong presence across all of them. “We’re extremely busy and practise at a high level in all substantive areas of the law,” says Simmons. In particular, mining law, Indigenous law, and labour and employment law are growing areas of the practice in which he sees opportunities for further involvement in the Northern community. 

While offering a full-service, fast-paced experience, he emphasizes that maintaining one-on-one relationships with clients is of the utmost value. This sentiment is reflected in Clay’s experiences working there as a summer student after her first and second years of law school. “The learning opportunities offered at Weaver, Simmons rival those of larger centres, while maintaining the sense of community and lifestyle of a smaller market.” 

Flying his floatplane – painted with Queen’s tricolour stripes – to meet clients in North Bay and elsewhere in the eastern quadrant of Northern Ontario, Simmons sees that the growing practice allows young lawyers like Clay to take on issues alone and pursue a great deal of travel across the terrain.

Reflecting on the shared values in her student and work experiences, she says, “My time at Queen’s Law has taught me how to uphold a reputation of trust and integrity, which I will take with me to my future practice.” She encourages all students to consider practising in a small market as it provides a career equally as fulfilling as one in a larger market, along with a more fulfilling life outside of work. As for Simmons, he enjoys fishing and cross-country skiing in addition to his successful and growing practice at Weaver, Simmons. 

By Quinn Brown