Average is not a word that describes Tiana Knight or her legal career. An avid mystery book reader from a young age, Tiana was hooked on the legal world early. At seven, she knew she wanted to be a lawyer. She also didn’t like school, but knew she would have to get through a lot of it. Even through law school, her feelings about the classroom did not change.
Tiana was often set up for failure, but succeeded in spite of barriers within the education system.
Tiana has always had the spirit of an advocate. Growing up, she would get her textbooks months after the other kids. Why? Tiana is visually impaired, and needed her books in braille. This disparity made it impossible for her to keep up with the class. Tiana recognized the injustice and wanted to fix it. She wrote letters to the Education Minister and met with them about accessibility issues. Mystery books may have sparked Tiana’s interest in law, but her desire to be the person who stands up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves solidified her career choice.
Throughout law school, Tiana was certain that she would never work in family law. She liked criminal law because it would give her the opportunity to represent people at difficult times in their lives. Tiana is now practicing in criminal and family law. Working in family law gives her the ability to give a voice to those who can’t or don’t know how to speak for themselves, and she (surprisingly) loves it.
Tiana’s firm, Knight Molloy Patrick LLP, is very client focused. To Tiana and her partners Sarah Patrick and James Molloy, it is important to explain each process to their clients and to ensure each client understands every step of the court process and the alternative resolution options. The firm takes on legal aid cases, and is passionate about ensuring that individuals don’t slip through the cracks of the justice system.
When one of her firm partners, James, first asked her and Sarah if she wanted to start the firm right after articling, she thought the idea was outrageous. But hearing that a priority of James’ was to stay away from billable targets and promote work-life balance piqued her interest. Yes, Tiana works some nights and weekends, but that isn’t the norm. An early riser, she is generally in the office from 7 AM to 3:30 PM. The firm has created a positive and respectful environment for their clients, and this culture extends to their staff. They have an open-door policy and encourage everyone to get in touch whenever there is an issue.
For Tiana, there is nothing better than knowing that she has made a difference in someone’s life, that they would not have been able to accomplish by themselves. Whatever the difference, big or small, it makes her schooling worth it.
Outside of the office, Tiana volunteers with Calgary Legal Guidance, providing pro bono legal advice. She is also very physically active and spends a lot of time in the gym and spending time outside with her dog, Loulou. Pre and during her upper education, Tiana travelled the world playing professional Goalball. She has been to places like Turkey and China for training and tournaments, and during 2L in 2015, she played at the Parapan Am games in Toronto.
Being visually impaired does not impact Tiana’s ability to be a good lawyer. That said, many employers worry that the accommodations people with physical impairments need will be a burden. When she was applying for jobs, Tiana struggled with whether to disclose her visual impairment or not. When she did and did not get the interview, she wondered if it was because of her impairment, or because she was not the appropriate candidate.
Tiana is still not sure of the right answer, but she has learnt that issues arise out of people’s lack of understanding.
What Tiana needs to be able to do her job well is actually quite simple. She has an adaptive computer software that reads documents to her and she has a braille printer for printing off her court submissions. That’s about it. If you have a physical impairment, Tiana suggests getting to know what tools you will need to have an accessible work environment and explaining them to employers. There is also funding available to make offices more accessible. If you tell employers what you need, how to get it and that there is funding available, they will have less guessing to do. Tiana’s general experience is that most people want to help and appreciate being told how to best do so.
If you are thinking of starting a practice early in your career, Tiana suggests getting prepared before making the leap. Ask yourself questions like – “Do I know where my files will come from?” and “How will I support myself the first year?”. When you work for yourself, you are a lawyer, accountant, marketer, and an administrator. Your non-billable hours will probably be high at first, but the flexibility can be worth it.
Tiana has always had to advocate for what she needs. It has not always been easy, but it has fueled her passion for advocating for others.
It has also taught her to focus on what her clients truly need and cater her services to fit their unique experiences.