When your personal injury lawyer has a background in nursing, kinesiology, and mental health, you know you are in good hands...literally.
With a strong interest in science and medicine from a young age, law school was not on Laura Comfort’s radar until later in life. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Calgary, Laura’s dreams of attending medical school had changed. Because of the heavy research experience Laura got at the beginning of her academic career, she decided to pursue a more practical degree in nursing. Her mother was also a nurse, and Laura looked forward to following in her footsteps. After graduating and becoming a Registered Nurse, Laura focused her practice on community and mental health.
During her journey through the health and medical fields, Laura supported her husband as he became a lawyer, specializing in commercial litigation, which included defence-side medical malpractice work. Because of their mutual interests in medicine and law, Laura and her husband often discussed the care she provided as a nurse. Laura loved learning about the legal perspective on the standard of care related to healthcare professionals. She became interested in how her husband processed and problem-solved complex issues. Fascinated by her husband’s work and how it related to her own, Laura contemplated changing career paths once again.
Laura committed to a career change following the birth of her son and got accepted into law school. Going to law school with a new-born was no easy feat, but the skills and ability to problem-solve she had gained through her nursing career gave her the confidence to succeed in her legal studies. Her academic achievements landed her a clerking position with the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and articles at Dentons.
Although she gained valuable experience with the Courts and in a large firm, Laura quickly shifted gears to the boutique malpractice and serious personal injury firm, Cuming & Gillespie, where she practices today. Ensuring she ended up at a firm that encouraged and allowed for a healthy lifestyle was crucial. Cuming & Gillespie assured her that she would have the work-life balance she desired, and they kept their promise. Laura works on a contingency basis which helps her to be more efficient and results- and client-focussed.
Laura’s practice focuses on serious personal injury and medical negligence claims. She acts exclusively for injured parties and their families. Because of her background in science and nursing, she can focus directly on the heart of the legal issues because she already understands what her clients and their doctors are talking about.
One of Laura’s favourite parts of her practice is the process of exploring whether medical professionals have met their obligations through conversations with medical experts and medicolegal research. She also enjoys utilizing her healthcare skills, including the social and communications skills she developed in the mental health field, which help her take cold calls from individuals seeking legal advice, often in their darkest hour. Because of her previous experience, Laura can help all potential plaintiffs feel heard and direct them to useful resources. Laura’s experience nursing taught her how to be compassionate while also using her time wisely.
Although Laura has many clients, she likes to take the time to involve each one of them in the legal process. While she cannot undo her clients’ injuries, Laura is fulfilled when she can relieve their legal-related stresses. Since her area of law deals with such personal issues, Laura uses her training in mental health to support her clients.
Seeing a sense of relief on her clients' faces when she tells them they can focus on healing while she takes care of the legal aspects of the claim, brings Laura immense joy.
Outside of the office in the winter, you can find her with her husband and son skiing on the slopes. Laura has dabbled in several other activities as part of her active lifestyle, including Olympic-style wrestling, fitness competitions, and a 100km Kidney March in memory of her mother.
To lawyers who are thinking of leaving law, Laura recommends they explore other options within the profession before writing off law completely. If someone is not happy at their job, it may not be healthy to stay and leaving could be the best option. But one bad job or bad fit does not necessarily mean a legal career is wrong for you. There are so many law-related careers out there, you likely have not even heard of them all yet.
Laura feels lucky to have landed at a firm where the lawyers are close and supportive of each other. When lawyers are surrounded by people who do not have balanced work practices, a new normal is created, a normal to which everyone is expected to adjust, whether it is healthy or not. Laura recommends finding good mentors that have set their own boundaries and have learned how to balance their work and life and emulating their practice. Many firms take as much as their lawyers are willing to give.
Laura encourages other lawyers to exercise their power to create practices that work for them to whatever extent they can. By being clear and setting boundaries, and establishing your needs and wants, you will be happier in your work.