Faculty of Law announces 2024 Alumni Award recipients
Celebrating two accomplished UM Law graduates
To celebrate the achievements of graduates, the Faculty of Law created the Faculty of Law Alumni Awards which are presented annually. This year, winners were selected in the categories of: Outstanding Alumni Award and Emerging Leader Award. Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 UM Law Alumni Awards:
- The Honourable Catherine Carlson, Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba [BA/83; LLB/86], Outstanding Alumni Award
- Kevin Sharma [JD/19; LLM/22], Emerging Leader Award
The Outstanding Alumni Award honours a UM Law alum recognized for outstanding professional achievement in their legal career and who has shown dedication and commitment to the betterment of the legal profession while exhibiting the qualities of integrity and professionalism.
The Emerging Leader Award honours a UM Law alum who has graduated within the last 10 years. This alum has shown dedication and commitment to the legal profession, and has the qualities of integrity, professionalism, and leadership in their time practicing law.
The awards will be presented at the annual UM Law Spring reception on May 14.
OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD – The Honourable Catherine Carlson, Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba [BA/83; LLB/86]
The Honourable Judge Catherine Carlson was an outstanding student even before commencing her legal career when she graduated as her class Gold Medalist with a Bachelor of Arts (History) from the University of Manitoba in 1983.
She graduated from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law with an LLB and on the Dean’s List in 1986. She was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1987.
Carlson practiced mainly Family Law at Aikins MacAulay Thorvaldson (now MLT Aikins) until 2005 when she joined the Federal Department of Justice. There, she represented the Government of Canada in litigation and settlements by Indigenous Residential School survivors, becoming the litigation team lead for Aboriginal Services (as it was then called).
Carlson was appointed to the Provincial Court of Manitoba in November, 2006 where she has since presided over criminal and child protection matters. She sits on Winnipeg’s Drug Treatment Court and the new Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Court.
On a legal community level, Carlson has chaired the Provincial Court’s education committee, social committee, practice directives committee, and was the president of the Provincial Judges’ Association of Manitoba. She is also a Director of the Canadian Association of Provincial Court Judges. She has been a member of the American Judges Association (AJA) since 2013, serving on its Executive education committee and its Executive Board of Governors. On the AJA Executive, she has served as a Member at Large, Secretary, Vice-President and in 2023 was installed as President of the American Judges Association. She is currently the Immediate Past President of the organization. The AJA is the largest association of judges in North America with over 1,000 members.
In addition to legal community involvement, Carlson has been an active member of the broader Manitoba community and participated on numerous boards including Child Find Manitoba.
Judge Carlson’s Words of Advice for current and future law students:
“I am humbled and honoured to receive this award. Robson Hall is so meaningful to me as it is where I started the path to my legal career. The education and opportunities offered at Robson Hall were second to none. It is also where I met so many friends who I encountered regularly during my legal practice, some of whom are now judicial colleagues.
Every law student will chart their own path. Some suggestions to consider in charting that path are:
- Pursue all the education you can throughout your entire career. Continuous learning is key.
- Be open to opportunities. If you are not fulfilled in the job you choose, be bold and move on.
- Be ambitious, but never think you are the smartest person in the room.
- Look for ways to give back to your community, in the legal profession and beyond.
- Ask for help if you need it, professionally or personally.
- Surround yourself with good supports, including at least a few non-legal friends. They provide perspective!
- Above all, be guided by a strict ethical compass. Your professional reputation in the legal world is everything.”
EMERGING LEADER AWARD – Kevin Sharma [JD/19; LLM/22]
Arriving at law school with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Winnipeg, Sharma was already emerging as a leader having served as president of the U of W’s Indo-Canadian Students Association.
During his time at Robson Hall, he competed in the Harold Fox Intellectual Property moot (2018); the Robson Hall – Fillmore Riley Negotiations Competition; the NHL Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada (2018) where Team Manitoba made it to the quarter finals; and the Davies Corporate/Securities Law National Moot (2019).
He completed his JD at Robson Hall in 2019, tailored around corporate/commercial law courses, and articled at TDS LLP where he stayed on as an Associate after his call to the Manitoba bar.
Returning to Robson Hall to complete a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in 2022, Sharma focused on Immigration Law to better understand the immigration system in Canada and be able to answer questions from members in his community in relation to their immigration applications. While he doesn’t practice in immigration law, he offers general help to anyone seeking assistance with their immigration related questions and paperwork.
While completing his LLM, Sharma took advantage of the opportunity to compete in Moot competitions by once again taking on the NHL Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada, this time advancing to the Semi-Finals.
He was also one of few graduate students in law to compete in the Three Minute Thesis competition which he did in 2020 with the encouragement of his thesis advisor, Dr. Amar Khoday.
In February of 2023, he joined the Manitoba Securities Commission – as Legal Counsel – effectively switching practice areas from strictly corporate/commercial transactional work to add litigation. The transition into litigation has been effortless, a testament to his legal aptitude and professionalism.
As a further testament to his commitment to legal education and the profession, Sharma is currently completing the course requirements to obtain a Licentiate in Law (LLL), the equivalent of a degree in Civil Law, through the University of Ottawa.
Unable to completely leave Robson Hall behind, he has continued to return as a practicing professional instructor, teaching a variety of courses including Advocacy, Legal Negotiations, and has been co-developing a course in Current Issues in Securities Regulation.
Sharma actively volunteers his time in the legal community, mentoring young lawyers and law students in a number of ways including sitting as a panel member for a number of Manitoba Bar Association moderator sessions related to securing articling, navigating through law school and networking within the legal profession and community.
He has been a guest speaker at many lunch hour events held by the Manitoba Law Students’ Association and the Robson Hall Professional Development Committee, advocating the importance and benefits of continued higher legal education. During these events, Sharma has provided his contact information and then mentors the students who later reach out to him for guidance or advice. He has also volunteered his time sitting as an invited judge for a number of prestigious high school debate tournaments within Winnipeg and speaking to his high school’s grade 11 and 12 law class students on the profession, the steps after high school to become a lawyer and any questions the students may ask.
He has further advocated to law students the benefits of being involved with the law school community, encouraging students to try out for moot teams and to maximize their potential. He attended the Robson Hall public sector career fair in February of 2023 on behalf of the Securities Commission, and has volunteered as a guest judge for numerous moot team practice sessions.
Sharma also gives back to the community around him, having served as Director of the India Association of Manitoba and as a Board Member. He has been Head coach for the U12 Boys Basketball team for the Inner City Boys Spence Neighborhood Basketball team with the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association league, and has served as a guest judge for junior and high school speech and debate tournaments with Manitoba Speech and Debate Association.
Kevin Sharma’s Words of Advice for current and future law students:
“I am very honoured to receive this recognition. As my alma mater, this award means that much more. My advice to current Robson Hall students today would be to show initiative for every opportunity presented to you during your time in law school. The opportunities and resources Robson Hall provides are instrumental to your success, not only as a law student, but as a future legal professional. Ensure you seek out and capitalize on these opportunities and you will set yourself up for a rewarding legal career.”