BEFORE WE BEGIN, Max please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Sure, so, following the completion of this Bar admission course, I embarked on the journey of articling, a significant phase in the legal profession. For me, this meant joining an immigration law firm, where I had the privilege of working under a sole practitioner. My professional exposure was therefore largely confined to the realm of immigration law from the outset, shaping my perceptions and aspirations.
Working closely with an immigration practitioner served as a de facto mentorship, instilling in me the belief that one could carve out their own path in the legal profession. After a brief period of about five to six months as an employee, circumstances led to me assuming a more significant role within the firm. The senior lawyer, now semi-retired, entrusted me with several cases, predominantly involving federal court matters.
During this time, the landscape of the Federal Court docket was predominantly occupied by refugee cases. However, amidst this caseload, I had the opportunity to handle a variety of matters, including applications under the Federal Skilled Worker program, which targeted overseas candidates seeking economic immigration opportunities. This aspect of my work was somewhat of a niche at the time, as litigation within immigration law was not as common due to the perceived simplicity of processing applications.
Indeed, many practitioners focused on the administrative side of immigration law, particularly on facilitating straightforward permanent residency applications. However, I found myself drawn to the complexity and challenge of litigation, especially within the Federal Court domain. With a stroke of good fortune, inheriting a portfolio of cases allowed me to establish and sustain my own practice within a relatively short period, merely six months after being admitted to the bar.
Can you describe the organizational structure of your firm?
So, here's the setup: I have a part-time receptionist who typically works remotely. Her responsibilities include handling phone calls, basic emails, and essentially managing intake processes. We have two other lawyers besides myself, and there's a full-time caseworker, who specializes in dealing with forms and related paperwork. Given our firm's size, we aim to handle a significant portion of our administrative tasks internally, including portal inputs. As the lead lawyer, I oversee and provide guidance on any new tasks the team takes on, such as handling refugee cases or matters involving federal courts. We also have a bookkeeper.
Please log in to read the full article.