What's It Like to be a Lawyer- with Wade Poziomka

Join us as we go behind the scenes of everyday professions and roles — from the well-known to the rarely explored — to uncover the personal, human side of work, please enjoy our chat with lawyer  Wade Poziomka of Ross and McBride

Thank-you Wade for engaging with Hamiltonians in The Hamiltonian!

1. At what point did you realize that a career in law was the right path for you? Could you describe some of the formative experiences that shaped your decision?

From a young age, I’ve always felt a deep sense of injustice when I saw people, particular those from equity-seeking groups who were vulnerable, being treated unfairly. I always anticipated I would pursue a career in policing or law – both helping professions. In law school, I interned with the Interantioanl Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland and worked with Guido Raimondi. Mr. Raimondi was the Legal Advisor of the ILO at the time and later went on to become the President of the European Court of Human Rights. My time at the ILO was a formative moment, as I realized how the law could be a powerful tool for social change.

In my view, the law isn’t just about arguing legal points or applying the law but identifying failings in the law and advocating for legal reform so that the law changes to meet the needs of equity-seeking groups. The law, ultimately, is about fairness and justice.

2. For individuals considering a legal career, what are some key questions they should reflect on to determine if this profession aligns with their goals and values?

There are many different areas of law and kinds of lawyer. While those aspiring to be lawyers will often hear that there are too many lawyers in the profession, with respect to human rights law, in my view, there aren’t enough.

Law school is a significant undertaking – 3 years of study at a significant expense. I would encourage anyone interested in law to reach out to lawyers and ask to shadow for a day or two in an area they think they may be interested. Seeing the day-to-day aspects of the job can help inform a significant decision.

For those interested in applicant-side human rights law, I would encourage you to think about why you want to practice in this area. Some questions to think about when considering human rights law as a career choice are:

“Do I feel compelled to fight for justice, particularly for those who don’t have a platform to speak for themselves?”
“Am I prepared for the emotional and mental toll that can come with advocating for individuals who face systemic barriers?”
“Am I committed to continuous learning, as the law is always evolving, especially in human rights and constitutional matters?”
“Am I ready to use the law as a tool not just for personal gain, but as a means to create meaningful change for vulnerable or equity-seeking groups?”

3. Without disclosing any confidential information, could you describe the most challenging case you’ve worked on? What made it particularly difficult, and how did you approach or resolve those challenges?

The litigation against the City of Hamilton on behalf of individuals who are houseless and were erecting shelter in public spaces was one of the most difficult cases I’ve worked on. The case was very polarizing – with individuals in the community feeling very strongly about the issue.

I certainly understood the plight of those in the City who were angered at the loss of some public spaces. But I also saw the deep humanity of those in encampments and the struggle they experienced every day. It’s easy to demonize an individual – call them a drug addict or accuse them of ‘gaming the system’. It’s much harder to see the humanity in an individual in need. At the end of the day, all different types of people were erecting shelters, but one thing was certain – the need was certainly greater than the the availability and for some, there were no other options.

This litigation involved dealing with the political element – those who are dependent on votes to maintain their jobs and their livelihood. Issues involving human rights are not always popular or seen favourably by the public. I was surprised to see the polarization and level of anger in the community on an issue that I genuinely believed, and still believe, we should be working together to tackle. This is an example where in my view the law shouldn’t be utilized but it was the only option in the face of the pushback from some in the community.

4. In your experience, how well does the legal system serve marginalized or vulnerable populations?

The legal system has its flaws, particularly when it comes to serving equity-seeking groups. While there are mechanisms in place for protection, these individuals often face significant barriers—whether it's access to legal representation or economic factors that prevent them from fully engaging with the system. I’ve seen firsthand the challenges these groups face, which is why I’ve dedicated much of my practice to human rights and labour law, where I advocate for those who have historically been silenced.

5. What are some of the most common misconceptions the public holds about the legal profession or the role of lawyers?

One misconception is that all lawyers are primarily focused on making money. Take the encampment litigation in the City of Hamilton for example. Many comments on social media involved lawyers pushing the litigation to “get rich”. For me, I have never expected to be compensated for this work – and it has been a significant amount of work. I’m certainly not “pushing” litigation and there are many others matters requiring my time. Human rights law is often thankless work. Having said this, I also got many messages of support – especially from people who know who I am and the principles I live by. While I cannot respond to each and every one, it is meaningful to receive messages of this nature from time to time.

6. The legal field can be emotionally and mentally demanding. How do you manage the stress and emotional toll that can accompany your work?

It’s certainly not easy. The emotional toll can be particularly high when you’re advocating for individuals facing systemic oppression or serious injustices. Personally, I manage this stress through a combination of maintaining a strong support system—both professionally and personally—and ensuring I take time to recharge. My family is very supportive of the work I do and I also have picked up some hobbies to take my mind off of work – for the past year, I’ve been taking lessons to obtain a private pilots license. I’ve also decided to move away from board of director volunteer work and am completing my training to work as a firefighter in the small community I live in. While I certainly don’t have an abundance of free time, focusing on activities outside of the law is important to keep perspective.

I also remind myself that while the law is not a cure-all, it is one of the most powerful tools we have to create change. Knowing that I’m contributing to something greater than myself helps me push through the tougher moments.

7. What are some aspects of legal practice that you believe law school doesn’t fully prepare students for?

Law school provides a strong foundation in legal theory, but it doesn’t always prepare students for the emotional complexity of working with real clients who have personal, often difficult, stories. It doesn’t teach you how to navigate the emotional weight of human rights or labour law cases, where there’s a very real human cost to the outcomes. Law students are also not always prepared for the practical realities of running a law practice—things like client relationships, managing workloads, or navigating the financial aspects of a legal career.

8. What impact has technology—and more recently, artificial intelligence—had on your work as a lawyer? How do you foresee these tools shaping the legal profession over the next 5 to 10 years?

To be honest, I have not fully embraced artificial intelligence in my practice. I think it has potential and can certainly increase access to justice by addressing certain aspects of a legal practice that can keep costs down for clients, but I also have seen it used improperly by legal professions with disastrous results.

Over the next 5 to 10 years, I anticipate AI will continue to play a larger role in supporting lawyers, but it will be essential for us to remain mindful of its limitations and ensure that it is used to enhance, rather than replace, human judgment.

9. If you had the opportunity to reform one aspect of the legal system, what would it be and why?

Ever since law school, the biggest area of reform in my view is steps to increase access to justice. The legal system, in my view, is more easily navigating by those with resources – the rich and powerful. Too many individuals, particularly from equity-seeking groups, cannot afford legal representation, and this creates a significant gap in their ability to access the protections the law is supposed to offer. I’d like to see a system where access to basic legal services is more equitable, whether through expanded legal aid services and increased pro bono work from the private bar.

10. Throughout your legal career, what has been the most unexpected or eye-opening thing you’ve learned about people?

The most unexpected thing I’ve learned about people is how deeply resilient and resourceful they can be in the face of adversity. Whether it’s an individual fighting against workplace discrimination or a community seeking justice for systemic injustice, people often find ways to persist, even when the odds are stacked against them. That resilience continues to inspire me and fuels my passion for fighting for social change through the law. It also motivates me to stand with equity-seeking groups, provide pro bono representation where I can, and help those groups strive toward justice.

Thanks again Wade for this very insightful and helpful interview. 

 

 

Professionally, Wade can be reached at Ross and McBride- click here to go there.