Advocacy-Matters-Winter-2024

Q. What is one thing that surprised you about the practice of law?
A. In the summer after high school, I sold shoes at the Eaton Centre. I found that people will tell
you a lot about themselves when buying shoes. One day, I sold a pair to a young lawyer who told
me never to enter the profession. He said it was the biggest regret of his life and that there was
nothing redeeming about the profession. I believe he described it as “soul-sucking”. I have been
surprised by how rewarding it can be.
Q. What was your first job?
A. Washing dishes at the Red Lobster until the manager found out that I was only 10 years old and
promptly, but politely, fired me.
Q. Do you consider yourself an introvert
or an extrovert?
A. Both, I think.
Q. Tell us one thing on your bucket list?
A. Renovate a house - involving contractors
only for the really deadly parts.
INTERVIEW
Interview with Shawn Richard
(he/him), ASR Family and Estate
Law
Compiled by Mana Khami (she/her), Borden Ladner
Gervais LLP
A. Shawn Richard practices family and estates litigation at ASR Family and Estate Law. Shawn is a full
member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), a fellow of the International Academy of
Family Lawyers, and is Past President of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. He currently serves
on the Board of Directors for The Advocates’ Society.
Q. Tell us something about yourself
that is not on your resume?
A. I habitually take on physical projects that
I have no business doing, like building furniture
or renovating.
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. I have two of them: Spotty, a house cat,
and, Malcolm, a pandemic cockapoo
Q. What is something you have previously
done, which you will never do again?
A. That stays in the vault.
Q. What is something you
saw recently that made you
smile?
A. The look of horror when my
family realized that I had bought
us all matching cat sweaters. I
like them.
Q. What are your short-term goals for your career?
A. To continue to build my practice, serve my clients the best that I can, find ways to contribute to the
profession, and be a bit more curious and patient.
Q. Who is your favourite musical artist?
A. That’s a hard one. I don’t think that I have one, but “The Miseducation of Lauren Hill” (1998), Sade
whenever she’s in concert, “Body and Soul Billie Holiday” (1957), “Dummy Portishead,” David Bowie (most
iterations), “Hope She’ll Be Happier Live” at Carnegie Hall (October 1972) Bill Withers, Queen, Massive Attack,
Aretha Franklin, and “Kid A” by Radiohead are on the shortlist. Afrobeats is completely disrupting
the list, but it’s too early to say more at this point.
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