The facets of choice and fate: alumnus shares how he got his start in law

It’s astonishing how a moment of error can alter a path believed to be so clearly laid out.

This is, at least, applicable to Lakeland College alumnus Jeremy Wakefield, Class of 1993 university transfer.

With aspirations of entering the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Wakefield enrolled in Lakeland’s university transfer program to take courses in English, psychology, sociology and math, which would help him achieve a degree in criminology. He transferred his credits to the University of the Fraser Valley’s criminal justice program, where he could complete a practicum placement with the RCMP.

According to Wakefield, he stumbled into law after a poor decision resulted in missing the opportunity to work with the RCMP. Instead, he selected a position with the Surrey Crown Counsel Office and took a chance on learning a different facet of law enforcement.

“I did my practicum, and I hit it off famously with the lawyers there that I was asked to come back for a second practicum because of a big case we were working on at the time. I thought becoming a lawyer wasn’t such a bad idea, so I wrote my Law School Admission Test, then applied to some universities, and the rest is history.

“Some bad decisions worked out well,” he says.

Wakefield completed his bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Alberta and then returned to his hometown, Lloydminster, Alta., in 2000 to start his legal practice. Currently, his practice areas include residential and commercial real estate, corporate and commercial transactions and wills and estate matters at Fox-Wakefield, where he is also a partner. He’s also a member of the Law Society of Alberta, Law Society of Saskatchewan and Canadian Bar Association.

“Lloydminster is the land of opportunity. Many of my peers who went to work in major centers have done well, but I don’t feel like I’m missing out. I get to work on the same stuff, but I’m not just a cog in a wheel to keep the machine running; I get to take more of a lead on cases. Building my practice has been an awesome experience.”

It’s the people, he adds, that keeps him moving forward in this line of work, whether working with a client or collaborating with his peers. He not only credits the local bar association but the city of Lloydminster entirely.

“We have a great staff who honestly do all the work and we get all the glory. I'm very grateful that I have strong, competent staff to lead the way here. Even with the pandemic, we’ve continued to grow and thrive.

“Lloydminster is home to me. I grew up here, met my wife here and am now raising my family here. I also knew I wanted to support the organizations that have helped me, Lakeland being at the top of the list.”

Wakefield has been involved with several organizations, such as Lloydminster Big Brothers and Sisters Lloydminster, the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation, and Lakeland’s university transfer advisory committee.

“Some faces may change, but Lakeland’s spirit stays the same. Lakeland is near and dear to my heart because I know it wouldn't have been possible without the college’s contribution to my ability to pursue my career goals. I find a recurring theme at Lakeland College between the staff and administration; they're always looking to see what they can do better. It's a conducive, supportive atmosphere to learning and excelling. It's collaborative, and the students’ welfare is foremost at the front of the decision-making. Not that I'm coming up with great ideas, but I feel heard when I’m asked to offer input, and I’m happy to provide it.”

Wakefield has also participated in numerous college events, such as the university transfer alumni social in 2020 where he shared his Lakeland experience with alumni and current students.

Photos: Top - Jeremy Wakefield. Middle-Bottom- Jeremy Wakefield speaks at the 2020 university transfer alumni social.