Commitment to exercise noted by recruiters seeking a firm fit

By Jane Mundy
Vancouver

Pat Blocksom
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On a recent episode of the CBC series “Survivor”, San Francisco lawyer Stacey Stillman was kicked off the island for her lack of “athleticism.” She was voted the weakest member by her fellow survivors because she was “all talk and no action.”

For Stillman, it must have been shocking and embarrassing not to win, and most likely something she isn’t used to. Successful lawyers are very competitive and obviously, so are athletes. That explains why athleticism adds to a lawyer’s professional life and many lawyers find it enhances their careers.

Of the 120 lawyers profiled on the website of Calgary’s Burnet Duckworth & Palmer, 48 mention sports-related activities. Most of their photos include props such as bike helmets and baseball bats. One sports-related profile comes from Jason Blinsky:

“Jason’s eye-hand coordination skills are applied to a variety of team sports from hockey to baseball. His ability to take the skills learned on the field or arena and apply them to the practice of law helps to set him apart as a keen practitioner with an eye on the future.”

When Blinsky was recruited in 2000, it was the weekend of the hockey season and, he says, “My interview took place on the ice. If I crapped out I may not have been hired,” he says. I knew I was going to talk to [the recruiters] but the day before, they said ‘Bring your hockey equipment’.” Two lawyers in the firm had recommended Blinsky because they knew that he played hockey. And his sports interests aren’t limited to that game.

“As a younger lawyer it might benefit you to run with senior partners but having said that, some people succeed without running,” says Blinsky. For instance, he goes to the gym every day to relieve stress and says he’d rather do that than take a lunch.

One of Anna Fung’s former vice-presidents at Terasen Inc. (formerly BC Gas) in Vancouver was once a lifeguard (now a judge). She says he was especially interested in applicants if they had a similar background. As senior counsel, Fung is now part of the hiring process, along with four other lawyers. She observes that many people hire “in their own image.” “They feel comfy and it gives them something in common.”

No doubt about it, image is important when hiring. Terasen Inc. wants people at the peak of their performance.

However, an employee must also have the required skills — athleticism alone is far from enough.

As in many other professions, there is a certain pressure in law firms to keep in shape. “You have to be healthy to litigate due to long hours, often having to work nights and weekends,” says Glenn Urquhart of Singleton Urquhart in Vancouver.

It’s axiomatic; if you are healthy and work out, you have more energy and won’t get tired. “You will be in a position to work harder and bill more,” says Urquhart He advises people in his firm to get into exercise programs, but it doesn’t work for everyone.

McCarthy & Tétrault LLP Regional Managing Partner Lisa Vogt recruited for the firm for several years. “We would look at the resume and if anything suggested a sport we would talk about it — it would come up,” she says.

Sport culture may be more relevant in a larger firm — the Vancouver office has 100 lawyers and 250 support staff and due to the size of the firm, there are more sports teams and more activities in which to get involved. Increasingly, Vogt sees more emphasis on sports may owe to “demographics with people getting older, needing to look after themselves more.,” she says.

In the selection process characteristics that athleticism represents, i.e. being focused and the best you can possibly be, are bound to be noticed. “We look at how well-rounded a person is and athleticism is one extra character,” says Pat Blocksom, of Dunphy Best Blocksom in Calgary. “In the rigours of this job, you may have days when you come in at 6 a.m. and leave at 8pm so you have to be disciplined, have a fitness regime and pursue your career.”

Blocksom speaks from personal reflection. “I was fit when I started in my early years when I was trying to get ahead. Am I going to work out or see my kids? It came to a point where I recognized that if I didn’t start integrating exercise into my daily life this job was going to get the better of me. I’ve hired a personal trainer and I’m more productive now than I ever have been in my career,” Blocksom says.

According to Gregory Gehlen of Gehlen Dabbs in Vancouver, there are several reasons that an interest is taken in a candidate’s outside activities.

“A person with lots of interests is going to bring more perspectives and strengths to the job and will be more flexible and more likely to successfully manage new challenges, and will be more flexible and more likely to successfully manage new challenges, “ he says.

Gehlen adds that “excellence tends to be a recurring theme in people’s lives.”

“Being a good golfer takes hard work, discipline, enthusiasm, and a continuing curiosity and willingness to learn ... These are also great qualities to have if you want to be a good lawyer.”