MEET THE AUTHOR
biography
Charlene Scheffelmair is a lifelong learner with a passion for writing, volunteerism, and the law. She is a partner with Davidson & Williams LLP where she maintains a primarily solicitor focused practice, despite this, she often finds herself in the courtroom. She has experienced success at all levels of court in Alberta, including the Alberta Court of Appeal.
Charlene is a gentle yet commanding leader who strives to lead with integrity, empathy, and professionalism. She leads by example and enjoys sharing her legal knowledge and life experiences through speaking engagements including conferences, webinars, seminars, and podcasts. Personal development is a cornerstone of Charlene’s daily life and as such, she loves any opportunity to learn or share her knowledge with others.
Charlene has spent the past four years actively involved in the Lethbridge community and has dedicated her time to numerous volunteer boards and committees including:
- Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce;
- Economic Development Lethbridge;
- Lethbridge Bar Association; and
- Lethbridge & District YWCA.
She has also spent time volunteering provincially with the Law Society of Alberta on the Lawyer Competency Subcommittee as well as nationally with the Canadian Bar Association as the Law Students Section chair, and most recently, as a member of the national sections subcommittee.
Prior to living in Lethbridge, Charlene spent three years in Kamloops, BC where she obtained her law degree and spent many hours snowboarding at Sun Peaks Resort. She was raised in Southern Alberta two hours northeast of Lethbridge and spent most of her childhood summers at 40 Mile Reservoir camping and slalom skiing. When she’s not practicing law or volunteering, she enjoys playing piano, knitting, snowboarding, and spending time with her husband, Mark, and her fur babies, Phoebe, Frankie, and Ellie.
See the light in others and treat them as if that’s all you see.
– Dr. Wayne Dyer
THE FOUR-LEGGED TEAM
Phoebe
Vice President of “Personal Space”
Phoebe is a 5-year-old Ragdoll who knows the definition of “personal space”. She enjoys hanging out in Charlene’s proximity and selectively determines when to let anyone near her. She is a one-human cat who takes a while to warm up to others and therefore, it is extremely special when she engages in post-tuna cuddles in your lap. Phoebe especially enjoys curling up on her cat post in the stairwell next to her window and chasing her “Da-Bird” toy.
Frankie
Vice President of “Friendliness”
Frankie is a 3-year-old Manx / Bengal Cross who wants to say “hello” to everyone she meets and then go back to having a really great nap. There is never a dull moment when Frankie is around and you never quite know when she will awaken the wildness that’s within her. She loves cuddling; playing with her sister, Phoebe; and hanging out in the stairwell making noises that make you question her (and your own) sanity.
Ellie
Vice President of “No Chill”
Ellie is a 3-year-old Cockapoo who is as sweet as they come; but patience and personal boundaries are not strengths of hers. She cannot wait to meet you nor contain her excitement until considerable time has passed since you’ve arrived. Her favourite activity is to be as close to you as she can while giving you as much love as she can. She loves long walks around our neighbourhood; playing fetch; and being the home security system.
Life’s uncertain, eat dessert first.
– Ernestine Ulmer
experience
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
- Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
- Director (2022 – Present)
- Young Business Professionals Committee, Chair (2021 – Present)
- Convenor Committee, Member (2019 – Present)
- Economic Development Lethbridge
- Director – Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Representative (2023 – Present)
- Director-at-Large, Executive Committee (2023 – Present)
- Director – Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Representative (2023 – Present)
- Lethbridge Bar Association
- Director (2022 – Present)
- Canadian Bar Association (National)
- Sections Subcommittee
- Member (2022 – Present)
- Mental Health and Awareness Sub-Committee
- Member (2019 – Present)
- Sections Subcommittee
- Slaw.ca
- Blogger – Tips Tuesday (2023 – Present)
HONOURS AND AWARDS
- 2023 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year
Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce - 2022 Clawbie (Best Social Media Accounts)
Lawblogs.ca & Stem Legal Web Enterprises - 2018 Dean’s Course Prize in Ethical Lawyering
Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & PUBLICATIONS
- The Trifecta of Joy Podcast · Feb 19, 2023: Understanding Self in Friendship with Charlene Scheffelmair
- Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce ·
- Feb 8, 2023: Personal Branding Workshop hosted by the Young Business Professionals Committee
- Nov 18, 2021: Back to Business: Helping Women Explore Their Local Economy
- Feb 23, 2021: Mental Health in the Workplace, Panelist
- Nov 13, 2020: COVID-19 Best Practices, Panelist
- Law Society of Alberta · Oct 4, 2022: Breaking Down Barriers: Risks and Rewards of Talking About Well-Being in the Workplace
- Alberta Lawyers Assistance Society · Nov 26, 2019: Hand to Hand Event, Speaker
- Canadian Bar Association
- The Every Lawyer Podcast · Oct 17, 2019: Let’s Talk Articling
- Member Article · Jun 11, 2019: “Reflections; A student no more, but not yet a lawyer”
past opportunities
- Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
- Catalyst Committee, Member (2019 – 2021)
- Canadian Bar Association (National)
- Young Lawyers Section
- Member-At-Large (2020-2021)
- Law Students Section
- Past Chair (2020-2021)
- Chair (2019-2020)
- Vice-Chair (2018-2019)
- Member (2016 – 2021)
- Young Lawyers Section
- Law Society of Alberta
- Lawyer Competence Advisory Committee (2019 – 2023)
- YWCA of Lethbridge and District
- Registrar (2022)
- Director (2020 – 2022)
- Fund Development and Awareness Committee, Chair (2022)
- Vice President of Governance and Legislation (2021 – 2022)
- Policy Committee, Chair (2021 – 2022)
- Finance Committee, Member (2020 – 2022)
CREDENTIALS
- J.D. – Thompson Rivers University, 2019
- B.Ed. – Mount Royal University, 2016
- Call to the Bar: Alberta, 2020
MEMBERSHIPS
- Law Society of Alberta: 2019-Present
- Canadian Bar Association: 2016-Present
- Lethbridge Bar Association: 2019-Present