15 Questions in 5 Minutes: Cathi Mietkiewicz of Mietkiewicz Law, interviewed by Esther Nwator

On May 31, 2019, at Emma's Back Porch in Burlington, Esther Nwator, newsletter editor for the OBA Health Law Section, interviewed Cathi Mietkiewicz of Mietkiewicz Law.

Tell us a little bit about you.

1. Let's start with the basics: What’s your name and where did you grow up?

I am Cathi Mietkiewicz and I grew up right here in Burlington.

2. Ok. Where did you go to law school and what was your selection process?

I went to Osgoode Hall Law School.

I was married and had a young son when I went to law school.           

I had to choose a law school that I could commute to. That meant, Osgoode, University of Toronto or Western. After looking at their programs I really wanted to go to Osgoode. They were my first pick and I was thrilled when they accepted me.

3. Tell me about a memorable or ‘a-ha’ moment from law school, when you learned a practical point about the law that helped you in your career, or, you first realized you were really on track to becoming a lawyer.

I don’t know if it was a “moment”, but I found Osgoode very receptive to mature students. I was surrounded by a large number of mature students (who were amazing, but that is another story) and the other students didn’t see mature students as unusual. This was a strong message to me that I could, as a woman in my late thirties, become a lawyer, just like anyone else. Age, at least at that time, was not a barrier. I don’t know what it is like now.

That’s wonderful to hear. I suspect (or hope) it is much the same, or even improved for women in their thirties.