 preview banner.png)
Some people enter law on a pre-determined timeline. They move from high school to university to law school without interruption, following a path many before them have taken. Her journey into the profession does not resemble that same timeline. It began after years of trial and error, working at Legal Aid Manitoba as a paralegal for 8 years before deciding to pursue a University degree. It was shaped by responsibility and real-life experience. Her experience at Legal Aid presented her with real life issues, witnessing the cycles of colonial oppression on Indigenous folks in her hometown of Winnipeg was heartbreaking. She made a plan to learn about these challenges and how she could advocate for real change.
As a Michif woman and mature student returning to academics, she began University with questions that many new students never have to consider. How long will I be in debt? Will the investment be worth it? Can I balance financial reality with the demands of this profession? These questions were not theoretical. They were lived. She made the choice to sell the first home she bought in Winnipeg to return to school, and yet, even when the risks felt heavy, she knew the calling had never disappeared.
Before law school, she spent years working in legal environments that exposed her to the justice system in ways that left a lasting impact. She worked in law firms, handled administrative responsibilities, and supported legal professionals who were serving some clients in difficult circumstances and others in positions of privilege. Her time at Legal Aid brought her into direct contact with people, navigating some of the hardest moments of their lives. These roles did not just build skills. They showed her the human side of law and the gaps that Indigenous and marginalized people often face when seeking help.
“I was already inside the system, watching how it affected people,” she said. “It made me realize how important it is to do this work with intention in a good way.”
Her journey led her to the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria, where she obtained a dual law degree, Juris Doctor and Juris Indigenarum Doctor (JD/JID). UVic became a true turning point. The university’s commitment to Indigenous governance, community driven learning, and legal education grounded in lived realities opened a perspective she had not experienced anywhere else.
“UVic changed everything for me,” she said. “Being in a space where Indigenous governance is not an add on but the foundation of all of our classes made the work feel real.”
Courses that explored a variety of Indigenous legal orders that helped her understand law not only as a system of rules, but as a relationship with people, community, and the land. It was the first time her own values and the academic environment felt truly aligned.
“The JID shifted how I think about law and our relationships with each other,” she said. “ The field school components taught us how to engage with different communities, how to engage with their legal orders in a way that felt meaningful. It made me see the kind of work I want to do in the long-term.”
Lindsay LeBlanc with her mother and sister at her JID Graduation.
Her lived experience has become one of her greatest strengths. She understands the complexity of Indigenous communities because she has seen it first hand working directly with individuals throughout her career and through the stories of those who have moved through systemic challenges, and legislated harm. These experiences guide her approach today. She listens closely. She shows respect for the people and the land. And she does not separate the legal issue from the lived experiences behind it.
“The stories you hear in this work stay with you,” she said. “They shape how you show up for people.”
Finding the right place to grow
Joining Cochrane Sinclair as an articling student felt aligned in a way that cannot be described. The firm had a reputation for work rooted in community and for building relationships that extend beyond the walls of the office; she knew she wanted to work for Sonny Cochrane for years before she was finally given the opportunity. When she arrived, she found exactly that. She found mentorship grounded in trust. She found colleagues who support each other. She found leadership that is committed to meaningful impact.
“At this firm, people see you. They support you. They push you to grow. It feels like a place where I can become the lawyer I want to be.”
She approaches articling as more than a requirement for licensing. She approaches it as the foundation for the lawyer she intends to become. She speaks openly about the type of advocate she is and where she sees her career taking her. Someone grounded. Someone accountable. Someone who brings integrity and empathy to every file. Someone who honours each community through important work.
Her goals are clear. She wants to work directly with Indigenous nations and advance their legal frameworks. She wants to support families navigating systems not originally designed for them. She wants to work with communities that are building their futures with strength and determination. And she wants her work to leave a positive and lasting impact.
“Success for me is not about where I end up,” she said. “It is about doing work that strengthens communities.”
At Cochrane Sinclair, she feels she has found the environment where she can learn, contribute, and build a career with purpose.
A path defined by intention
Her story is not about following a traditional timeline. It is about choosing the right one. It is about having the courage to make a change when you feel stuck and have a goal in sight. It is about carrying forward the strength she built long before stepping into this profession.
She is not the typical articling student. She brings lived experience, clarity, and a deep sense of purpose. Her journey continues to shape the advocate she is becoming. And it is clear she is building a career built with intention.