UAlberta Law alumna, Cooper & Company partner and recently appointed Law Society of Alberta Bencher Corie Flett (Photo courtesy of Cooper & Company)
The Law Society of Alberta recently announced the results of its 2017 bencher election and among the appointees are two University of Alberta Faculty of Law alumni.
Corie Flett, a UAlberta Law alumna and partner at Cooper & Company in Fort McMurray, was elected representative of the north. She is also a member of the Northern Lights Health Foundation Board of Directors and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority Board of Directors.
As a bencher, you're expected to volunteer over 500 hours of your time to Law Society work. Some of those responsibilities may include participating in various adjudicative roles, serving on committees, and working to create budgets, policies and business planning.
Flett, a new mother of three, said she's fortunate her position allows her to give that amount of time as a bencher, but she emphasizes the importance of being active in the profession if you want to positively impact the community and make a difference.
"If you want to have say and hand in stewarding the direction of the legal profession, you need to step up," she said.
According to Flett, the law profession is at a turning point, and as a female member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation she's excited for the chance to offer a more junior, Indigenous and northern point of view to the Law Society.
"With the Calls to Action in the [Truth and Reconciliation Commission], it's important to have an indigenous perspective at all levels of the profession."
Another UAlberta Law alumnus who's hoping he can bring something new to the table is Honourable Judge Robert Philp, QC.
As a former Alberta Provincial Court Judge, Philp hopes his many years' experience in a variety of roles will be a positive contribution to the Law Society Benchers.
He served as the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals of the Alberta Human Rights Commission from 2014 to 2017. He was an Alberta Provincial Court Judge in the criminal court division for nine years, and before that, a Deputy Judge of the Northwest Territories, Territorial Court.
"The profession has always been important to me," said Philp.
Nominated and elected by his peers, Philp recognizes the importance of the bencher appointment.
"We have an obligation to give back to this profession, to the school and to the community."
The elected benchers are scheduled to serve a three year term that starts in February 2018.