What made you choose to specialise in family law? Early in my career, I wanted to be in court as much as possible. I found litigation and persuasion to be extremely interesting and enjoyed the challenge of creating the legal framework to advance my client’s position. I also quickly found family law to be rewarding as I was helping people who were in a very difficult spot in their life. I am a thoughtful and compassionate listener and found the balance of empathy and tenacity to assist people when they needed the most assistance. I also enjoyed the wide range of issues family law brought on a daily basis. How do you foresee the practice of family law changing as Manitoba emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic? I see the day-to-day practice of lawyers changing. The profession has adapted to video conferencing, video signatures, teleconference court appearances and working remotely. I see the profession adjusting and becoming more streamlined and better able to respond to and assist the needs of clients in non-traditional ways. I see clients expecting services to be delivered with alternate methods and becoming more flexible. What advice would you offer to female legal professionals looking to emulate your success? I believe my success has been a lifelong journey to understanding the delicate balance between work and personal life. Over the years, I have learned the art of being flexible in a rigid career. I have learned, especially during the pandemic, that work schedules and personal schedules are adaptable and that working flexible hours can lead to a more balanced life. I believe the key to success is to work hard but to work smart. Each hour of the day is not equal, so I prioritise my more effective hours to work on my files and prioritise my family time with my less productive work hours. During the summer of 2020 and now the summer of 2021, I am balancing my work life with my personal life and spending afternoons with my family, enjoying my son’s childhood with him. Which of your achievements over the past 12 months are you most proud of having accomplished? I am the most proud of being able to balance my professional life and my personal life during a global pandemic. Specifically, being able to adjust to working from home, balancing my hectic work schedule while spending copious amounts of time I never would have had with my now five-year-old son. I was able to be flexible to juggle a heavy litigation practice while blocking off afternoons to swim, ride my bike and play with my young son. I am also most proud of becoming the second female Managing Partner of our firm. I feel that law can be a demanding career at times, especially with a young family, and I am proud that I have been able to advance in my career without sacrificing my family time. I also feel that a gender balance in management of a firm is very important, not only for the day-to-day operations of the firm, but also to provide a role model for female students entering the practice to observe that it is possible. Do you have something specific that you would like to achieve in the remainder of 2021? I would like to use the lessons we have learned during the pandemic and implement them going forward, including the increased use of technology to improve efficiency at work, increased use of video conferencing, and enhancing the flex workday. I also feel that the law in general needs to be more diverse in recognising all people. ABOUT CORRINE L. KULYK Corrine L Kulyk is a Winnipeg born and raised lawyer. She has recently been appointed as one of the four Managing Partners of Taylor McCaffrey LLP and is only the second woman at the firm to be named as such. She is also Chair of the firm’s Marketing Committee and has assisted in the firm’s transition to its current digital presence over the last year. Corrine has a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Windsor. In addition, she has over 15 years of experience in family law and practices in the largest family law department in the province of Manitoba. She specialises in high conflict domestic litigation and family dispute resolution. She has appeared in all levels of court in Manitoba. Corrine’s practice helps families across Manitoba through the complicated process of divorce and separation. She is a seasoned negotiator and family litigator with years of experience counselling on all matters of family law including financial and property evaluation, division of assets, spousal and child support and custody. With settlement as the goal, whether via mediation or litigation, Corrine works tirelessly to provide closure and help her clients transition to the next chapter of their lives. Because separation is an emotionally tense time for many families, and the nature of litigation can add pressure to an already difficult situation, Corrine approaches her work with the utmost respect for her clients and their families. Corrine has appeared in the Court of Queen’s Bench Family Division in Winnipeg and surrounding areas and the Manitoba Court of Appeal. - 57 - FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION CANADA Women in Law Awards 2021
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