YOUR LAWYERS

MICHAEL P. GILSON

Partner

I didn’t always want to be a lawyer.

It was March of 2008, and I was working in the public sector in human resources, putting together a training module on compliance with new workplace health and safety legislation. It was the first project in two years that I had truly enjoyed. It was somewhere around the same time that I started paying attention to a silly motivational poster on one of the walls in our break room. “Don’t wait for your ship to come in, swim out to meet it.” That day in March 2008, three years into a career as a human resources professional, that silly poster spoke to me about chasing something more challenging and more rewarding.

It was a scramble, but that fall I entered law school with another friend who also wanted a change for the better.

Perhaps obsessively staying away from big city law firms, when it came time to look for work, I sought out a general practice in a rural community. I summered in Dawson Creek at what was then Higson Apps Law Corporation and impressed Gary Higson and Robert Apps enough that they invited me back to work for them once I completed my degree.

In Gary I had a good mentor who trusted me to do the work and seek to guidance whenever I needed it. I learned from doing whatever came in the door: criminal defence, family law, estate law, civil litigation, real estate, and corporate and commercial law. In that first year, virtually everything I did was for the first time. I spent late nights preparing for court appearances or client appointments the following day. This was the only way to ensure that my lack of experience didn’t mean inferior representation for my clients.

Robert retired in 2015, and in May 2018 I purchased a 50% stake in the practice. Now a partner in the firm, Gary and I agreed that it was time that I specialize – he’d continue his focus on litigation, and I’d focus largely on solicitors’ work – legal work that, ideally, doesn’t involve the courts. While I would keep a toe dipped into litigation work, my practice became anchored in wills and estate law, real estate conveyancing, and corporate and commercial law.

Solicitors’ work is, essentially, problem-solving; applying rules and drawing on past experience to develop solutions that work. I work hard to avoid our clients getting entangled in the web of litigation – a cumbersome, and expensive way to resolve a dispute. When I can’t, I’m fortunate to be able to rely on the litigation team that Gary founded. They do top-notch work, and understand our clients’ values.

A key element in this firm's ongoing success, I think, has been a commitment to both quality work and community values. Higson Law Corporation has been blessed with many, many incredible clients. Many of them were attracted by our values, and many of them were clients before I came aboard, but it’s our work that has kept them with us and has kept new clients knocking on our door. I’m very proud of our reputation.

There’s a kind of magic that happens when values and work fall into place. It’s very satisfying to work with people when you know where they’re coming from. A passion for our clients’ work is what keeps me going day in and day out. That’s why I put in the long hours, and I know the same is true of the rest of the Higson Law Corporation team.

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Have a question or legal issue on estate law, corporate law, or land law? Michael is your expert, with years of proven experience and success. Get in touch with Michael for a consultation today.