In the company of family, friends and coworkers, Brant De Rudder underwent the process that changed his status from law student to lawyer.
Martin Driessen of Driessen Law Office in Barrhead appeared as principal, and presented De Rudder’s officially application.
De Rudder attended the University of Alberta for a bachelor of arts degree, majoring in political science with a minor in history. After graduating in 2009 he then attended University of Alberta law school, which he graduated from in 2012.
Driessen said he and De Rudder were introduced in Sept. 2009 when the student came to the law office for a summer job interview. After De Rudder was hired, Driessen corresponded with him regularly.
De Rudder began writing articles at Driessen Law Office in Aug. 2012. Since that time, he assisted Driessen with a broad range of legal matters from mortgages, to wills and estates, to family matters.
If one word could be used to describe De Rudder, said Driessen, it would be energetic. Always prepared to jump into a project, the soon-to-be lawyer always gives his best effort.
This however, added Driessen, is not the only defining characteristic.
“He is also eager, prompt, responsible, committed, honest and loyal,” said Driessen. “He is one of the most polite and thoughtful persons I know.”
That being said, Driessen spoke of the necessity for the judge to be made aware of De Rudder’s failings in order to make a decision about the application.
“What follows is a complete list of his failures. Number one, he owns and drives a Dodge Ram pickup truck,” said Driessen, earning laughs from the courtroom.
“That I noted today is in badly need of washing,” added Assistant Chief Judge Charles Gardner, smiling.
Other than De Rudder’s choice of transportation, Driessen said he has found no faults with the ambitious young man.
“Without hesitation your application is granted,” said Gardner. “Mr. De Rudder I am pleased to congratulate you as Alberta’s newest lawyer.”
With that, De Rudder was invited to come forward and recite his oath of honours.
In the final step, the clerk helped De Rudder with his barrister’s gown. The transition from student to lawyer was complete.
Before Gardner began his closing speech, he quoted from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
The courtroom is an austere place. A large dark chamber clearly designed for justice rather than, for instance, pleasure. You wouldn’t hold a dinner party there, at least not a successful one. The decor would get your guests down.
“Well perhaps on most days it is an austere place, but not this courtroom on this day,” said Gardner. “It is a place of happiness and celebration of accomplishment.”
Gardner went on to say how pleased he was personally to have been asked to take part in the ceremony. And for a number of reasons, at that.
Firstly, due to a recent change in his schedule, Gardner said he doesn’t often have the chance to come to Barrhead. This gave him an opportunity to visit his favourite bakery.
Secondly, on a more serious note, Gardner said as a judge of provincial court he is very gratified that it is no longer necessary for rural Alberta lawyers to travel into Edmonton for these ceremonies.
“Rural practitioners are vital to broadening access to justice,” said Gardner. “It is only right and just that these important admission ceremonies should be easily accessible to lawyers, their family, their friends and their community.”
And again, on the light side, this celebration allowed him to play a small part in ensuring his old friend and colleague Driessen has someone young and vital to help with his busy practice.
Gardner said connections in law, like the one he and Driessen made many years ago when the two worked at an Edmonton law firm together, are important and often long-lasting.
“Regular, but not necessarily frequent reconnection with those colleagues is an important part of keeping in touch with and in step with what is happening elsewhere in our profession,” said Gardner. “Your ability to make those connections is perhaps limited to some extent in your decision to practice in a small firm in a small rural setting, but just as Mr. Driessen has done, there are other opportunities for connection.”
After a long journey, De Rudder said it feels great to finally reach what he has been working towards. Between high school, university and articles, the 21 years of school can be overwhelming.
In addition to accomplishing lawyer status, he is also happy to have been able to do this in his hometown.
“Not everybody would have been able to show up if I did it in Edmonton,” said De Rudder. “It gives me another connection to the place where I was raised.”
De Rudder said has no plans of leaving Driessen Law Office, or Barrhead in general.
“I plan on staying here until I die,” said De Rudder. “This is my community, this is my home.”
