Law, business grad achieves perfect balance

Leah Plumridge has learned a thing or two about balance during her time at UVic. Balance between two Canadian coastlines, between competitive ski racing and her studies–even between two degrees in two faculties.

“As a ski racer, I needed to be closer to the mountains and, as a person looking for a career that would satisfy my soul, I needed to be in the law program here,” explains Plumridge, who moved to Victoria from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, in 2006.

One program quickly turned into two when Plumridge opted to complete her master’s in business administration while working on her LLB in the Faculty of Law. She graduates in November with two degrees, hours of volunteer work with two student groups and the promise of a fulfilling career ahead

“After a philosophy professor encouraged me to go into law, I began thinking about what a powerful degree this was to help people with,” says Plumridge, who completed her undergraduate degree in finance at Saint Mary’s University before receiving two entrance scholarships and a fellowship to continue her studies at UVic.

Growing up near the coal-contaminated Sydney Tar Ponds, Plumridge was originally interested in environmental law but switched her focus to human rights when she saw the latter as a strong program with less attention than the environmental option.

Pairing this interest with an aptitude for tax law, Plumridge soon realised how little legal aid and information is available to low income earners in Canada.

“I see a lot of issues with tax policy in this country, and I think I can help people in lower income brackets,” explains Plumridge.

As president of the International and Human Rights Law Association and former coordinator of the UVic Chapter of Best Buddies–an outreach and activity program that pairs students with people in the community who have disabilities–Plumridge has been helping people all along.

But Plumridge isn’t a stranger to receiving help, either – referring to the support from MBA director Deborah Wickins as “amazing” as she completed her thesis this year.

“I had some difficulties in getting my research started but Deborah stepped in and made sure I had everything I needed,” says Plumridge. “I can’t say enough good things about her and I think she really overextends herself in a good way for her faculty.”

Plumridge’s thesis recommends a carbon emissions cap at the individual level–a conclusion she reached after research into and analysis of the industry-level system in place now in Canada.

And somehow on top of this workload, she still finds time to ski.

“Growing up, I would hide my schoolbooks under my bed, put my ski boots in my backpack and head out the door for the hill looking like I was headed for the school bus,” laughs Plumridge.

Playing hooky paid off for Plumridge: she raced in the Canadian Masters this year and placed fifth overall in the giant slalom, even scoring a pat on the back from Olympian and world-class skier Nancy Greene on her way out the gate.

Off the mountain, Plumridge is clerking with the British Columbia Supreme Court before she finishes articling with Vancouver-based law firm Fasken Martineau next year.

Add to that a wedding this past August and plans to run the Honolulu marathon in December with her husband, and you see that Plumridge is still managing a balancing act, staying focused and finding success at every turn.