Name: Paul Copeland
Firm: Copeland Duncan
City: Toronto
Age: Too old
Current gig: Copeland is the 2006 recipient of the Sidney B. Linden
Award, an award given by Legal Aid Ontario for exceptional individuals
who have demonstrated a commitment to helping low-income people in
Ontario and who have given their time, expertise, and/or service to
ensuring access to justice.
Q: Whom do you admire most? In what way does that person inspire you?
A: This is a tough question but I guess my answer would be Aung San
Suu Kyi. She has sacrificed watching her children grow up, spending
time with her grandchild, being separated from her husband Michael
Aris, being unable to attend her husband's funeral, and spent most of
the last 16 years under house arrest all in support of the struggle of
the people of Burma for democracy and freedom.
Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Salvador Allende, and Alexander Dubcek would be some of my other choices.
Q: What is the last book you read?
A: The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly.
Q: How do you spend a typical Saturday night?
A: Not typical but recently the Law Union Annual Conference party
was at my place with a live band named the Axes of Evil playing.
Q: What area of law do you practise?
A: Criminal law, some civil litigation, some immigration law, and national (in)security law
Q: Is it everything you thought it would be?
A: Some parts are fun, some parts are rewarding, some parts are
extremely frustrating. If I had to do it again I would probably do it
all the same.
Q: If you were prime minister, what problem or concern would you work on first?
A: No one in Canada would ever allow me to be prime minister.
Q: What quality do you admire most in others?
A: Honesty and courage.
Q: What was your first job?
A: Working as a maintenance man at a summer camp.
Q: How do you deal with stress?
A: The most consistent way I deal with stress is through exercise
and sports. The marijuana and beer I used in the past did not seem to
help all that much.
Q: If you could be instantly fluent in any language what language would you choose?
A: Espa?ol, gracias. But since I speak some Spanish maybe I should choose Burmese for instant fluency.
Q: What three words best describe your personality?
A: This question should probably be directed at someone else. But if
I have to answer I would choose irreverent, distrustful of authority,
and a mite paranoid. I guess that's more than three words.
Q: Bob Hope had "Thanks for Memories" as his theme song. What would your theme song be?
A: Mahalia Jackson: "I am going to live the life I sing about in my song"
Q: What do you believe makes a successful life?
A: I think you need a balance between rewarding work with an
adequate in-come, a loving domestic partner, good and interesting
children, interesting non-law-related activities, sufficient physical
activities to keep you fit and, for me, time for travel.
