Page 9 - ILCO March 2016 Newsletter
P. 9
ILCO EDUCATION AWARDS
Valerie Lafleur – James Bristow Award for Excellence in Litigation
I am honored to be the recipient of the prestigious James After 12 years of working in a law firm environment,
Bristow award and greatly appreciate the recognition. I used my newly acquired academic achievement and
2015 and 2016 have been exciting years for change. knowledge to try my hand at an in-house position, which
has provided great opportunity for professional growth
I successfully completed the Associate Level program along with a different perspective from a clients point of
which is one of my greatest accomplishments and view which is very interesting.
something I honestly was not sure I was capable of
achieving while working full time. Great support and Most importantly, after years of trying, my husband
encouragement from my family coupled with excellent and I will welcome our first child into the world at the
guidance from all my teachers played a significant role end of March.
in my success and I am very grateful. I would like to
particularly thank my husband who was and always is my I cannot predict what the future holds, but I do know that
greatest source of support. the Associate Level program has opened many doors of
opportunity and I sincerely thank ILCO for offering such
I would also like to thank my teacher Rose Plue who was a wonderful course. ILCO is an invaluable, integral part
always more than happy to go above and beyond to help of the legal community which we are very lucky to have
her students. She also did an excellent job of preparing us and I genuinely wish the organization great continued
for our exam from day one. success. Thank you.
Claudia Tsui – David Boakes Award for Excellence in Estates
I am extremely grateful and honored to be receiving through all those late night studies, college exams and
this award. I would like to take this opportunity to offer the provincial exam. I’m so grateful.
my sincerest gratitude to the Institute of Law Clerks of
Ontario, Seneca College and in particularly, my teacher, I have been a legal administrative assistant for more than
Barbara O’Gorman. 15 years. I never had an opportunity to upgrade myself
when my children were younger and after struggling the
I was lucky to be one of Barbara’s students and had a lot of last several years, I finally managed to overcome my fears
fun learning and laughing in her class. She inspires me a and worries by going back to school.
lot. Thank you Barbara.
This award means a lot to me. It has not only recognized
I would also like to thank my three daughters, who took my achievement but it also encourages me to finish the
care of me while I was taking my course. Without their rest of my ILCO courses. It gives me the confidence and
support and encouragement, I would not be able to get inspiration to further pursue my career development.
Amanda Hope – ILCO Fellowship Award for Excellence – Estates
I would like to thank the Academy for this great honour.... The documents prepared for every estate file are
generally the same, but the clients’ life story and their
In all seriousness, I began my career in the field of law set of circumstances are uniquely different. I went from
almost 11 years ago. At the time I had just returned from digging up and examining archaeological artifacts to
working overseas as an archaeologist, and wasn’t sure that searching and examining bank records, documents
working as a legal assistant was something I wanted to do. (sometimes provided in shoeboxes) and people’s lives,
I was used to digging up artifacts in the field and couldn’t for the necessary information to prepare the file, during
really picture myself sitting in an office at a computer all one of the most challenging and emotionally draining
day, but I needed a job so figured I would give it a go. experiences in a person’s life. The Estates Fellowship
Eleven years ago I started with Rene Larson course has already provided me with invaluable material
Law Office as a legal assistant and now I am a law c that I can use to help prepare the documents necessary
lerk and have achieved the highest mark in the Estates for the loved ones left behind. I love what I do, and I am
Fellowship Course. honoured to have won this award.
LAW CLERKS’ REVIEW, MARCH 2016 9
Valerie Lafleur – James Bristow Award for Excellence in Litigation
I am honored to be the recipient of the prestigious James After 12 years of working in a law firm environment,
Bristow award and greatly appreciate the recognition. I used my newly acquired academic achievement and
2015 and 2016 have been exciting years for change. knowledge to try my hand at an in-house position, which
has provided great opportunity for professional growth
I successfully completed the Associate Level program along with a different perspective from a clients point of
which is one of my greatest accomplishments and view which is very interesting.
something I honestly was not sure I was capable of
achieving while working full time. Great support and Most importantly, after years of trying, my husband
encouragement from my family coupled with excellent and I will welcome our first child into the world at the
guidance from all my teachers played a significant role end of March.
in my success and I am very grateful. I would like to
particularly thank my husband who was and always is my I cannot predict what the future holds, but I do know that
greatest source of support. the Associate Level program has opened many doors of
opportunity and I sincerely thank ILCO for offering such
I would also like to thank my teacher Rose Plue who was a wonderful course. ILCO is an invaluable, integral part
always more than happy to go above and beyond to help of the legal community which we are very lucky to have
her students. She also did an excellent job of preparing us and I genuinely wish the organization great continued
for our exam from day one. success. Thank you.
Claudia Tsui – David Boakes Award for Excellence in Estates
I am extremely grateful and honored to be receiving through all those late night studies, college exams and
this award. I would like to take this opportunity to offer the provincial exam. I’m so grateful.
my sincerest gratitude to the Institute of Law Clerks of
Ontario, Seneca College and in particularly, my teacher, I have been a legal administrative assistant for more than
Barbara O’Gorman. 15 years. I never had an opportunity to upgrade myself
when my children were younger and after struggling the
I was lucky to be one of Barbara’s students and had a lot of last several years, I finally managed to overcome my fears
fun learning and laughing in her class. She inspires me a and worries by going back to school.
lot. Thank you Barbara.
This award means a lot to me. It has not only recognized
I would also like to thank my three daughters, who took my achievement but it also encourages me to finish the
care of me while I was taking my course. Without their rest of my ILCO courses. It gives me the confidence and
support and encouragement, I would not be able to get inspiration to further pursue my career development.
Amanda Hope – ILCO Fellowship Award for Excellence – Estates
I would like to thank the Academy for this great honour.... The documents prepared for every estate file are
generally the same, but the clients’ life story and their
In all seriousness, I began my career in the field of law set of circumstances are uniquely different. I went from
almost 11 years ago. At the time I had just returned from digging up and examining archaeological artifacts to
working overseas as an archaeologist, and wasn’t sure that searching and examining bank records, documents
working as a legal assistant was something I wanted to do. (sometimes provided in shoeboxes) and people’s lives,
I was used to digging up artifacts in the field and couldn’t for the necessary information to prepare the file, during
really picture myself sitting in an office at a computer all one of the most challenging and emotionally draining
day, but I needed a job so figured I would give it a go. experiences in a person’s life. The Estates Fellowship
Eleven years ago I started with Rene Larson course has already provided me with invaluable material
Law Office as a legal assistant and now I am a law c that I can use to help prepare the documents necessary
lerk and have achieved the highest mark in the Estates for the loved ones left behind. I love what I do, and I am
Fellowship Course. honoured to have won this award.
LAW CLERKS’ REVIEW, MARCH 2016 9
