For Raquel Quenneville, the journey from student to instructor has taken her full circle.
Back in 2018, Raquel, a mother of two, was just a few years into her job as a physical therapy assistant when she began to hear first-hand experiences of people injured at work – and of their battles to get those jobs back.
She heard tales of people trying to navigate a complicated legal system, stressful court processes, and various tribunals, contract negotiations and legislation.
“I thought to myself, ‘these people need help.’” Raquel said.
For a mom, and someone already holding down a full-time job, changes aren’t easy. Especially when it involves in-class learning, hands-on learning, and professional accreditation that come with choosing a new career.
But as Quenneville likes to say – “there are no redos in life.”
As she tells it, with the support of her family, Raquel quit her job on a Wednesday and enrolled in CTS’s Paralegal Program on a Monday.
There, she met an incredibly supportive staff who helped guide her through the on-campus lessons, and practical input from professionals in the field.
That was followed by a five-week practical component that introduced her to the day-to-day business of being a paralegal.
“It was definitely tough,” Raquel said. “As a mature student, you’ve got to learn your work-life balance. At the time,I also worked two jobs, and was a full-time mom, of course.”
But Raquel put those busy days behind her and gave “110 per cent,” she said, not missing a single day of school, knowing that the end achievement would allow her to realize her goals.
Those goals, of course, culminated in becoming licensed by the LSO and opening up her own paralegal firm in Sudbury – Confident Direction Paralegal – where she was able to dive head-first into helping those who needed her.
“You definitely have to have passion,” Raquel said. “You have to enjoy what you're doing. Because it’s not always going to be a fun day in court.”
The firm has won recognition in Sudbury’s CommunityVotes, taking home honours for Paralegal and Notary services several years in a row.
Still, even after the CTS diploma and success in her startup, Raquel felt there was just a tiny bit missing from her life.
“I felt that I needed to give back to the community that shaped me,” Raquel said.
That’s when she made another life-changing decision – Raquel signed up with CTS to be an instructor in the Paralegal program.
She had a very specific vision: ensure that community members – legal professionals, property management personnel – are frequently visiting the class to provide their own realistic perspectives on the field.
“I get as many guest speakers as we can. We have people that are giving up their time to come and educate my students with question-and-answer periods,” Raquel said.
“We've had an employee from the Office of the Worker Adviser come in. We've had property management companies come in. All to give students their own perspective of this job, and not to limit the Paralegal profession to a court or tribunal.” There are many job opportunities for the Paralegal profession.
From student to registered paralegal to instructor in just a few years.
And the classroom is just as diverse and eclectic as the clients she sees, Raquel says. That includes people already in the legal industry, international lawyers, grandparents, single dads, single moms, and people that have moved far from their families to enrol in the program.
Now, Raquel says, she finds inspiration in their achievements.
“I've seen students struggle with loss, whether they've lost a family member, whether they are struggling with self-growth,” she said. “We've also seen enormous success. We've seen students come through addictions, and watching them change over the course of the program is just admirable, it’s so rewarding to me.”
So rewarding are her students’ accomplishments, Raquel says, that she takes a special pride in each and every milestone they hit.
“I tell my students - “I cry more at your graduation than you will.’”
And that is the main reason why Raquel gives back to her community.
“It came full circle for me,” she said. “Once the student, now the instructor. And 'm seeing students going on to do what they want to.”
“For me to be part of that is incredible and inspiring.”
CTS’s paralegal program enables graduates to become licensed independent paralegals, who provide the public with access to justice at a reasonable cost.
The 52-week course helps students develop advocacy, mediation and analytical skills, and provides valuable experience during a work placement.
Raquel would also like to give a thank you to all the community support for hosting our students on their field placement practicum.
To end the year, the students will get the absolute first hand experience when they conduct a mock trial at the Sudbury courthouse at the end of their program, with the court’s full support and the court staff participation.
For more information, please visit the website for CTS’ Paralegal program.