Inspiring legal writers through creativity and connection

When Anna Priemaza took on her first teaching assignment, it was intended to be a temporary detour from her legal career while she addressed health concerns and figured out her next steps.  

But that detour changed everything. “I immediately fell in love with teaching,” she says. 

When her initial teaching contract in the U of A’s Department of Economics ended, she made what she calls one of the most important decisions of her life:  “I decided to prioritize my happiness over my ambition and stay in teaching instead of returning to private practice.” 

Two years after joining the Faculty of Law full time, Priemaza has built a fulfilling new career. As an associate teaching professor, she teaches a first-year property law course and Practical Persuasive Writing, an upper-year course she created to help students improve their writing skills. She recently received a 2026 Course (Re)Design Award for the course's integration of Gemini to teach ethical AI use.

She is also in charge of creating the faculty’s popular online undergraduate courses for non-law students. 

With this diverse portfolio, Priemaza says she’s never been happier in her career – and that enthusiasm clearly translates to the classroom. This year, she is being honoured with the Hon. Tevie H. Miller Teaching Excellence Award from the Faculty of Law in recognition of her exceptional teaching talent. 

“This award is deeply meaningful to me, especially because it is student nominated,” she says. “I really care about my students, and I'm so grateful for the confirmation that they feel that care.” 

Priemaza’s approach to teaching is rooted in treating students not as an audience, but as “a room full of humans who are dealing with an incredibly diverse range of struggles.” In an effort to make law school as accessible as possible, she takes extra steps such as making lecture recordings available to students who have to miss class.

“I know from experience that life can throw some pretty tough curveballs at you,” she says. “I don’t want students to get behind on the challenging law school curriculum just because life has knocked them down.”

With a background as a lawyer and a young adult author, Priemaza brings a unique combination to the classroom: a love of writing and practical insights from seven years in private practice. In particular, her Practical Persuasive Writing course draws on both to prepare students for day-to-day legal tasks, such as drafting emails, letters and settlement offers.  

Priemaza has also discovered that the same creativity she brings to her writing is now an asset as an educator.

“I find myself writing less than I did in private practice because my creative itch is often satisfied through lesson planning,” she says. “I love the creative challenge of trying to come up with the best way to help students truly understand a topic.”

That dedication to supporting students extends well beyond her lectures. Priemaza’s approachable nature can turn even office hours into opportunities for connection – sometimes in unexpected ways.

“I remember one time last year when six different students showed up to my office hour, and instead of waiting in line and taking turns, they decided to all pack into my small office,” she says. “We basically had a mini review class on a tricky subject. It was a fun atmosphere!”

Priemaza will be formally recognized at the faculty’s 2026 Teaching Excellence Awards Reception next month, along with the Pringle/Royal Sessional Teaching Excellence Award recipient, Andrea Bailer.