Jonathan Avis has spent many years studying late into the night, and even more hours working and volunteering in the legal field.
For Avis, all his hard work has finally paid off.
Salmon Arm’s newest addition to its legal community was honoured July 4, during a call to the bar ceremony held at the Salmon Arm Law Courts.
The event was an honour in itself.
The traditional ceremony is normally held in Vancouver and Victoria with a large group of people, and very rarely in smaller communities for a single person.
Not even retired judge Ted Brecknell can recall the last time a ceremony of this type was held in Salmon Arm, or if it ever was.
Thirty-three year-old Avis studied at Malaspina University College, where he achieved his bachelor of arts with distinction in political science and philosophy in 2007.
Avis continued his university career by attending the law program at the University of British Columbia.
He began working for Verdurmen & Company Law Corporation for the summer of 2010 as a second-year law student as part of the Rural Education and Access to Lawyers program.
This program helps to provide funding to companies, allowing students like Avis to gain needed experience, while offering legal services to rural areas that otherwise may have insufficient means.
Avis was later asked to return article with the firm – another step in becoming a lawyer.
Avis has since accepted an invitation to work with Verdurmen & Company as a full-time lawyer.
The large amount of time Avis has invested in Salmon Arm is largely what led to the request that his call to the bar ceremony be held here as well.
The ceremony itself was simple, but it’s significance and meaning were clear.
Dressed in formal garb, a group of lawyers and judges were presented, as well as many of Avis’ closest supporters.
Avis was required to take an oath, one which lawyer Ken Walker, the area’s elected “bencher,” advised spectators to pay close attention to.
The oath reminded Avis that becoming a lawyer brings with it a new kind of power and many challenges.
But if he makes the correct decisions he can impact the world positively, said Walker.
Above all, Avis must adhere to the highest level of integrity at all times.
As part of the ceremony’s tradition, Avis was presented to Justice Joel Groves, a Supreme Court judge.
He bestowed some of his own advice on Avis.
“You should be proud of our system and what it stands for,” said Groves. “You should do whatever you can to advance it.”
He reminded Avis that from now on, he will be subjected to “unrelenting scrutiny by public and media,” and that he should endlessly work towards obtaining the “ability to disagree without being disagreeable.”
Groves advised Avis that he will not always know the answers, but encouraged him to ask questions and seek advice from others in the profession.
The judge told Avis to do what he can to live a healthy life and, more importantly, “be proud of yourself. You deserve it.”
