Sally Colvin, 1973
Who are you the most looking forward to seeing at Reunion this year?
I'm looking forward to seeing Michael Leshner.
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
My husband (laugh)…No, not until later…I worked so hard in the daytime; I wasn't awake at night.
What keeps you up at night now?
The responsibility to my clients.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
I thought I'd practise tax in Toronto. I'm practising wills and estates, family matters.
Interjects Michael Leshner (1973): She was supposed to be on the Court of Appeals by now…and absolutely rich…rich like Marie Antoinette…
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Michael Leshner, 1973
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
Nothing, I'm a sleepaholic.
What keeps you up at night now?
Nothing, I'm still a sleepaholic.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
I wanted to go to Hollywood and obviously I didn't go to Hollywood. Now, I'm a criminal law lawyer. But I'm the first gay man to marry in Canada…And way back in 1998, I had the distinction of suing a now deceased but then gay attorney general, who wouldn't bring in pension and benefits legislation for gay and lesbians, and won in 2002…I didn't make it to Hollywood but I'm famous.
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Julie Lee, 1978
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
I guess it was the next day's classes. It was always challenging going into those classes and being put on the spot by particular professors.
What keeps you up at night now?
I'm an income tax lawyer, so any changes to the income tax law keep me up at night.
Who was your most intimidating professor?
Professor Mendes De Costa. He was one of those people who could single you out to ask a question when you didn't know the answer. But he was a great professor.
Who are you the most looking forward to seeing at Reunion this year?
I'm looking forward to seeing my classmates. Some of whom I haven't seen in so many years.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
I wasn't planning on becoming an income tax lawyer…I was thinking general corporate law. I knew I didn't want to go into litigation or corporate law... But I thought corporate and wound up in income tax.
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Gary Neimstein, 1968
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
My mother…I don't remember.
What keeps you up at night now?
Nothing, I sleep like a baby.
What was your secret spot at the law faculty when you were in school?
When I went here it was so small that I went home to study. I stole the books, took them home and brought them back the next day.
Who was your most intimidating professor?
Professor (Albert) Abel. He expected you to be ready.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
I wanted to be a great lawyer. And today? I'm a good lawyer.
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Marni Tolbensky, 2003
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
Studying.
What keeps you up at night now?
Probably work, although in a few weeks a baby…I guess a lot is about to change.
Who was your most intimidating professor?
Professor Trebilcock, because he would always put people on the spot. You always had to be one step ahead of him.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
I thought I was going to be a criminal lawyer. And when I left the school, I worked at a Bay Street firm, and now I'm a labour and employment lawyer with the Toronto Transit Commission. So I guess it doesn't compare at all.
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Tim Dickson, 2003
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
Pubs…I mean, well nothing kept me up at night. I slept really well.
What keeps you up at night now?
Worrying about how to win (my cases).
Who are you the most looking forward to seeing at Reunion this year?
My classmates who I haven't seen since I graduated.
Who was your most intimidating professor?
Professor Michael Trebilcock. He seemed so smart.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
I wanted to go into litigation and I have done that…And I'm pretty happy with where my career has taken me so far.
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Harold Feder and Lynn Rockman, 1988
(Married after the second year at law school.)
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
Feder: Well…If it was a bit lighter in this room, you'd see she'd be blushing… Waking up February/March and realizing the fun was over, and we had 100 per cent finals to study for. It was a marathon from that point right through the end.
What keeps you up at night now?
Feder: Very little. I sleep like a charm.
Rockman: Files, family, kids, life.
Who was your most intimidating professor?
Feder: Bernie Dickens. His classes were small, and he wanted things done just so. But he taught us how to do a proper citation, how to present your arguments properly...We learned a lot.
What was your secret spot at the law faculty when you were in school?
Rockman: It's hot in here...
Feder: We actually spent a fair bit of time at the athletics complex.
Rockman: That's because my apartment was right across the street.
Feder: The first year for us was a romance. We met each other, dated and then became engaged.
Rockman: We were engaged before writing our first exam in the first year.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
Feder: I thought I was going to be in Toronto and a tax lawyer. Life changed after we met and got married and we moved. But aside from being in a different city (Ottawa), I'm practising the type of law I've wanted to practise since I was 16.
Rockman: I thought I was going to practise municipal law. I went to Ottawa and have been practising family law ever since.
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Robert Osborne, 1998
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
The Bar.
What keeps you up at night now?
The Bar.
Who was your most intimidating professor?
Ernest Weinrib, because he spends all of his time only thinking about books.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
Today I'm working at Price Waterhouse Cooper managing litigation. But I wanted to work in the foreign service.
What was your secret spot at the law faculty when you were in school?
I spent so little time at the Faculty that I didn't have a secret spot…I lived across the street and I went on an exchange program (in Barbados) so I wasn't here for part of the time.
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Noah Aiken-Klar, 2003
(With wife Emma and daughter Delilah, 18 months)
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
Trying to keep up with my reading.
What keeps you up at night now?
My daughter Delilah, but she's really not that bad.
Who are you the most looking forward to seeing at Reunion this year?
Everyone. There's so many people from my class from other classes. People I know well, as well as those I know of and am looking forward to meeting.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
I wanted to love what I do. I'm exactly where I wanted to be. (Noah is currently the National Director of Pro Bono Students Canada.)
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Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow, 1998
(Together since first year and married for the past three years.)
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
Ruth: I don't remember being kept up at night.
Shawn: Ruth on the phone.
What keeps you up at night now?
Ruth and Shawn: Our daughter Georgia (who is six weeks old).
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
Ruth: I always pictured myself practising law, and I am still practising law. But Shawn and I have a clothing business. I think I also pictured doing something beyond the law but was never sure of what it would be. Now it's obvious what it was. I always wanted to be creative and that was something we shared - we each had this creative aspect to us and the law didn't completely fulfill that.
Shawn: I didn't know what I wanted to be. I think that's the way it has been my whole life. I let things fall into place as they happen - it's an interesting strategy, and look where it's gotten me. I'm in the fashion business. Ruth and I own Bustle Clothing, a primarily menswear label. (Shawn is also a judge on Project Runway Canada.) I run the business full time. It's funny, if you talk to a lot of lawyers -- and law is definitely a highly analytical profession -- often a lot of lawyers have a creative sideline to them. They're in a band or paint or sculpt. For us it was fashion and it started growing and growing and soon it became a full-time profession. And now that's our job.
Who was your most intimidating professor?
Ruth: Professor (Hamish) Stewart. He was also one of the friendliest, but he was one of the most intimidating because you knew you wouldn't be getting anything past him.
Shawn: Not that you would be getting anything past any of the other professors.
What was your secret spot at the law faculty when you were in school?
Ruth: I don't think I can disclose that. But yes...We started dating in first year.
Shawn: Yeah, I'll give you a hint…No, never mind.
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Tamara Kronis, 1998
What kept you up at night when you attended law school?
I can't answer that question.
What keeps you up at night now?
My three-month-old.
Who was your most intimidating professor?
I was scared of Ernie (Weinrib) because he was so smart.
Who are you the most looking forward to seeing at Reunion this year?
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in my class, but I'm disappointed that my dad isn't here tonight because he's from the class of 1968.
What kind of lawyer did you want to be while attending school, and how do those ambitions compare to today?
What I wanted to be in law school was a lawyer, and I enjoyed practising law but I wanted to follow my more creative side. So now I design fine jewellery.
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