Changing Life’s Trajectory

People often ask me why I became a lawyer.

As a teen, I was driving alone one night along Chesley Drive right here in Saint John, not really paying too much attention to my speed as I coasted down the hill at Strescon. That caught the attention of a police officer also on Chesley Drive.

He was in no mood to be lenient, and issued me a ticket. I don’t remember exactly my speed or what the fine was at the time. But I do remember it was the biggest one he could possibly give me. I also recall the burning feeling that the officer was being unfairly harsh.

Beyond the feeling of injustice was the stark reality: the fine was far and above what I could possibly afford at the time as a high schooler whose only income was from a newspaper route.

I mentioned this to a friend, whose father was a lawyer. He went to see the prosecutor.

What happened next changed the trajectory of my life.

The lawyer came back with an agreement from the prosecutor to cut the fine in half.

I felt immense relief, and no small measure of gratitude.

From that moment, the idea of becoming a lawyer intrigued me. As I moved my way through Saint John High toward graduation, I was increasingly convinced that I wanted to help others in the same way.

As the son of a pastor, service to the community was ingrained in me. Nothing was more appealing to me than the idea of serving the people of our community by becoming a lawyer.

Luckily, I was accepted into the University of New Brunswick law school, and that only served to confirm my interest in the law and becoming an advocate for others.

Looking back, getting that speeding ticket was the best thing that could have happened to me in my youth.

Mel K. Norton is a Partner with Lawson Creamer. He can be reached at mnorton@lawsoncreamer.com.