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New lawyers introduced to Battlefords Bar Association

A light breeze swept through the open windows of the Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench Friday afternoon, as the Battleford’s Bar Association welcomed 14 new lawyers.
cooper
Mitchell Cooper is one of the 14 lawyers who were formally inducted to the Battlefords Bar Association last week. Photo by Alison Cooper

A light breeze swept through the open windows of the Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench Friday afternoon, as the Battleford’s Bar Association welcomed 14 new lawyers.

The inductees specialize in a number of different areas of the law, and many of them had moved to the Battlefords area from different provinces.

About 30 spectators were in attendance, including the inductees’ family, friends and coworkers.

The ceremony began with comments from Jeff Baldwin, Bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan. He emphasized the importance of behaving as ethical lawyers.

“What goes around comes around,” Baldwin said.

The mood was lighthearted and photos were allowed during the ceremony, presided over by Justice R.D. Maher. Each inductee was introduced by a lawyer who had helped the inductees’ careers. George H. Thurlow Q.C., who spoke about playing up the “old country lawyer” trope to his advantage, said how he and inductee Alexandra Dalton from Prince Edward Island would try to “out-rural” each other. Inductee and former Saskatchewan Party Youth President Mitchell Cooper, early on in his job with Demmans Baldwin Friedman Frank in North Battleford, decorated his office “wall-to-wall Brad Wall.”

Ten years ago, Cooper thought about pursuing a hockey career, and played junior for El Paso, Texas in the USHL.

“If you have to go to Texas to play junior hockey it’s probably not doing much for you,” said Aaron Friedman, who introduced Cooper.

Cooper gave up the dream after getting injured and his team had acquired a new goalie. He then attended Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton and eventually earned a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan. His wife Alison teaches with the Living Sky School Division.

Cooper would like to make a “shout-out” to the Edam Three Stars senior hockey team, who won the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League title this past season.

Rob Feist, bother of inductee of Ben Feist, was in attendance. Rob Feist is also a lawyer and currently works in North Battleford with his brother.

“It’s an exciting time,” Feist said. “You certainly look forward to this day and the fact that you become a lawyer on this day. It’s especially exciting for me to see my brother go through something like this.”

The oath concluded with “I will uphold the rule of law in the interests of the citizens of Canada and of the province of Saskatchewan, so help me God” and the inductees signed a register.

Snacks and beer were available after the presentation, in which was likely one of the few events during the year in which the public could drink in a local courthouse.