A JD degree can open the door to many different careers. Students learned about various paths to careers in law, business, and the public interest from a panel of alumni who are seasoned professionals at the top of their game. 

Sharing their career trajectories and advice with students via Zoom for “Law as a Launchpad” on November 16 were: 

• Ruth Chun, Law’06, CEO, Chun Law Professional Corporation; 
• Jim Kofman, Law’82 (Com’78), Vice Chairman, Cormark Securities Inc.; 
• Paul Rivett, Law’96 (MIR’93), co-owner, Nordstar Capital, and Chair, Torstar; and 
• Jayne Stoyles, Law’96, Executive Director, Amnesty International Canada. 

“Don’t forget who you were before law school, the types of hobbies that you had, and the types of relationships that you valued,” advised Chun, who realized early on that she wanted to be problem-solver as a business lawyer. A former General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Newstrike Brands Ltd. / Up Cannabis Inc. and senior legal counsel at HEXO Corp., she is now a virtual GC for both cannabis and non-cannabis firms.

“One of COVID’s blessings is people return to some of the hobbies that they didn’t have time for when commuting,” she added. “Your value comes from who you are, not from having a law degree or being a lawyer. Nothing is fatal – not that C you got in a course or not getting that dream job. The way you react to those things and take them as opportunities to learn and be positive can yield so many returns.”

Stoyles, who was the first Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for International Justice and was the founder and CEO of the Philippe Kirsch Institute (a social enterprise that supports the defence of the human rights of people in vulnerable situations), encouraged students to think beyond the career they want to how they want to do it. “Show up with your heart as much as your head,” she said. “Having integrity and being compassionate and kind are so essential. It often means being the one to stand up to really make tough decisions and call out things that are happening. You can do all those things while you’re looking for the humanity in other people and remembering that we don’t know peoples’ pasts and struggles. Our best way forward is always with kindness.”

Jim Kofman, whose career includes starting the mergers and acquisition group for UBS Securities and then serving as the organization’s Vice Chair, agrees with Stoyles about the value of integrity. “There are lots of times in your career when the easy path isn’t always the one you feel is right,” he said. “Over the years, I’ve always said you can never get in trouble in the long-term by doing the right thing.”

He added three other pieces of advice: “Always treat people the way you would like to be treated. Have fun in your career. Bring passion to what you do, and people will sense that you’re not just doing it to earn the dollars but that you actually care.” 

“Don’t give up on yourself,” advised Rivett, who previously served as President of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. and as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. “If you have a dream follow it. If you think there’s something that’s going to make you happy, pursue it. 

“Meet as many people as possible,” he added. “Everybody has something you can learn from them. When you find somebody who really resonates with you as a mentor, imitate what they do to learn and build on.” 

“Law as a Launchpad” was co-organized by the Queen’s Law Career Development Office and Alumni Relations team. 

By Lisa Graham