It may have been a more subdued ceremony because of the pandemic, but on Thursday, August 20, Michael James was admitted to the Alberta Bar.
James is an associate at Kloot, Wilkins & Associates, and as a student at law, completed his articles with Colin Kloot as his principal.
“I’m really excited to work for Kloot, Wilkins & Associates in Drumheller. The lawyers, Colin Kloot, Bill Herman, and Andre Wilkins have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to learn so much from them over the past year,” said James. “Ever since I went to law school four years ago, I knew I wanted to work in Drumheller and at this firm. It’s important to me that people in rural communities have access to lawyers nearby, rather than having to go to one of Alberta’s cities.”
It wasn’t your typical ceremony for James, as it had to be done remotely, rather than in a typical in a courtroom. Justice J.T. McCarthy appeared via a WebEx videoconference from his office while James and Kloot appeared from the local office. Other staff and James’ family were able to watch the ceremony via the videoconference, and other local members of the bar also attended remotely.
James has been in the Valley since 2010 after completing his Bachelor of Science Degree in Palaeontology in 2006 and his Masters of Science from the University of Alberta in 2010. After working at the Royal Tyrrell Museum and The Drumheller Mail, he returned to the University of Alberta and in 2019, graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 2019.
Entering the Alberta bar means that Mr. James is a member of the Law Society of Alberta. This body regulates the legal profession in Alberta.
