Colleen A. Christie

Hiring the “right” lawyer to assist you during a breakdown of your relationship is one of the most important things you can do. In order to hire the “right” lawyer, you may want to know who your lawyer is, how they came to practice family law, and whether you can trust this person to guide you through your matter.

I am a family lawyer. I have been married, divorced, remarried and I have children. I have seen both sides to family law, the hope and optimism surrounding the start of a family and the difficulty surrounding the untangling of family affairs on the breakdown of a relationship. I do my best to understand that everyone deals with situations differently, and I try to approach everyone based on where they are in the process.

I graduated from the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law in 2004 and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 2005. I articled and practiced in Winnipeg, with the Legal Aid Family Law office, doing the majority of our family violence work. I moved to Calgary in the summer of 2006 and was called to the Alberta Bar

shortly thereafter. Before I obtained my law degree, I graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science, focused in the area of genetics.

Originally, I wanted to practice medicine. I found my way into law school on the assumption that I would use my genetics degree and practice health law. Once I entered law school I found that I was drawn to Family Law. I began volunteering with Pro Bono Students Canada and the University Law Clinic. I was also lucky enough to work as a summer student with the Manitoba Maintenance Enforcement Program. I was able to see the inner workings of a family focused government agency and how their involvement affected the families.

Once I moved to Calgary, I moved into private practice, specializing in divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, division of property and adoptions. I enjoy both litigation and collaborative work, but I like to ensure my clients are directed to strategies for resolving their family law issues best suited to their needs, emotionally and financially. I work closely with every client to guide them through these challenging phases of their life and onto a new beginning.