The Town of Virden has bolstered their list of working professionals with an addition to the team at McNeill Harasymchuk McConnell: Attorneys at Law (MHM).
Anique Badiou, a small-town girl raised in Notre Dame, MB, grew up knowing she was going to be a lawyer.
“I just always said I wanted to be a lawyer and I’m stubborn, so I just did,” said Badiou.
She spent her years studding law at Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba. Badiou also had the opportunity to spend one of her terms abroad in Istanbul, Turkey.
Badiou has been in Virden since June of last year when she started at MHM as an articling student.
“During law school you have to do 52 weeks of articling… which is similar to practicums. We also do the CPLED [Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education Program] which is six months of oral examinations, assignments and exams. After waiting out the 52 weeks and passing the CPLED, you become a lawyer,” explained Badiou.
The team at MHM and Badiou were able to connect by virtue of a young woman who came from Virden who also received her call to the bar this year, Carley Mahoney.
“When we were looking to bring in an articling student, we wanted someone that was as committed to being in this community as possible,” stated McConnell, “It’s been entertaining, and I see Anique showing herself wanting to be part of the community in a large way.”
Badiou has actively volunteered in Virden since her arrival this time last year.
“I help with Habitat for Humanity, we’re looking to do a third build and I’ve been asked to help with some of the fundraising,” stated Badiou. “Sports wise, we started up an adult synchronized skating team. I like skating and the community was great in coming together to start that this year.”
Jeff McConnell, along with the rest of the team at MHM, has been helping Badiou throughout her articling year prepare for the transition from student to lawyer.
“It’s been 23 years since I was called to the bar,” McConnell reminisced, “taking that step…yesterday she was a student, today she’s a lawyer. We wanted to celebrate that, and she was offered full-time employment and she accepted.”
Badiou’s title and role at MHM is now Associate Lawyer.
“You can trace this firm back 100 years or more. The names of this firm have changed over the years,” said McConnell, “many great lawyers have come through here.”
There is something special regarding Badiou’s employment as an Associate at MHM, being only the second female lawyer the firm has hired.
