GRAEME WHO?

I like to say that I’m from Calgary, I just went everywhere else for school. Starting with my undergrad at University College, Toronto, to completing my masters at the London School of Economics, to coming back to Canada to study law at Dalhousie University. I then returned to Calgary to article and begin my career.

Law and Organization

I work at a boutique civil firm, focusing my time between family files, general civil litigation and employment law, and backbone-of-a-small-firm stuff (wills, real estate, corporate). Every day can be something new and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve been at the same firm I articled at and recently became a Partner.

Outside of my practice, I am an active volunteer with the CBA, both at the National and Alberta Branch levels. Through the CBA, I’ve been able to advocate for the rights of Articling Students and develop and deliver programing for Area of Interest Sections, like the Young Lawyers or the Small, Solo, and General Practice Sections. I have also spearheaded renewing cooperation with our international partners, namely the American Bar Association

I am also the Chair of the Kensington Business Improvement Area for over five years and have worked with staff and local leaders to manage over 1 million dollars a year in funding, grants, and sponsorship for events and improvements in our community.

FAQs

  • I am a Young Lawyer, and proud of it, but my youth is an asset to the CBA, not a liability. Advocacy is about being able to be dynamic and speaking to as many people as possible in a way that gets your message across. I understand how to communicate in a modern and professional way.

  • I’ve been with the CBA since my third day of law school. I have extensive experience behind the scenes from planning lunch and learn sessions, to budgeting at the section, branch and national levels, to preparing advocacy submissions. Outside of the CBA, I have worked with political parties to run candidates & campaigns across the country as well as with business boards to raise and spend money to improve engagement and the public realm.

  • I wouldn’t have put my name forward for this role if I didn’t know I could give this role 100% of the time it requires. I would never jeopardize my obligations to my clients or my practice; I am running because I have set up a balance between my work and my volunteering.