As one of the few refugee-turned-lawyers in Canada, I spent almost four years living in a women’s shelter with my children before entering Queen’s Law. That experience shaped my entire approach to practicing law. My view of the profession is different because I was once a service-user — someone who had to navigate fragmented systems, limited resources, and the unintended harms that even well-meaning professionals can inflict.
Now, as a lawyer, I work alongside social workers, settlement agencies, and community advocates to serve vulnerable clients. This work has taught me a central truth: our role as lawyers and service providers is not about us. It is about the people whose lives are on the line.