Arts & Culture

An Interview with Professor and Singer-Songwriter Lynda Collins

NANCY SITU
Arts & Culture Editor


Law Professor Lynda Collins strumming away.
Lynda Collins is an Osgoode alumna who is now an Associate Professor at University of Ottawa Faculty of Law as well as a singer-songwriter with over 17 years of experience. She has performed across North America as a musician and is also eligible to practice both in Canada and the United States.

We asked her a little about what it’s like to balance work and life.

Tell us a little about your background, both in law and music.

I graduated from Osgoode in 2000 and articled with the Sierra Legal Defense Fund (now Ecojustice Canada). I spent the next two years with the Toronto office doing public interest environmental law and then relocated to San Francisco to try my hand at toxic tort litigation. Although I loved practice, I developed a desire to shape environmental policy proactively and so decided to enter academia. Since becoming a prof in 2006 I've had the opportunity to advise governments in Canada, the EU and Asia regarding such issues as the reduction of toxic substances, environmental rights for future generations, and constitutional environmental rights. I have been very fortunate and very happy in my legal career.

Musically, I've been singing forever and began playing guitar and writing music in my early twenties. I've recorded 3 albums before this one (the first two on analog!) but this is the first professionally produced full-length album.

What made you decide to pursue environmental law?

My mentor, Stewart Elgie, showed me a book called Wild By Law which is a photography book full of pictures of wild places that have been saved by public interest environmental lawyers. I got half-way through that book and decided that I would spend my professional life as an environmental lawyer.

Who would you say your influences are? Musical or otherwise.

Musically - Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Ray Lamontagne, Jen Grant, Ani DiFranco...

Legally - Stewart Elgie (former prof at Osgoode, currently at uOttawa), Rachel Carson, Edith Brown Weiss, David Boyd, Natasha Affolder, Allen Linden...

What was your dream job as a child? Any role models that stand out?

I wanted to be a singer :) As a teenager I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer but I was concerned about the long hours and abandoned the idea for a couple of years. Then I read a course catalogue from Osgoode and found myself totally fascinated by the curriculum. I wanted to be a full time paid activist and I decided that lawyering was the best way to do that.

You play many roles - for instance, as a professor, a practicing lawyer, and a musician. Where do you feel most at home? Would you say you're a musician who happens to practice and teach law? Or perhaps a professor who also practices and composes/performs music?

Probably the latter. I think we are beyond the era of rigid categorizations. Identity is so fluid and I think people are realizing that more and more in the 21st century. People have a variety of interests and talents and in general I think we are happier when we allow time for a variety of passions...

What do your students think of your music? Are they aware of your musical background?

You'd have to ask them! My students are fantastic people, with many talented musicians among them. We occasionally have faculty music jams and they are always a ton of fun.

How do you find time to accommodate all of your interests and responsibilities? Was there ever a time or fork in the road that you felt like you had to choose between being a legal professional/academic and a musician?

I think I was clear in my early career that I wanted to prioritize law but of course I never stopped singing and writing, so that was going on all along as a parallel path. Eventually I just decided that it was worth taking the time to put together a decent recording of my recent musical work.

What advice do you have for law students who are also pursuing a career in music or other creative fields?

Find what you love - it's out there. The legal field is incredibly diverse and it is well worth searching until you find a job that lights you up, and leaves you time to have a full life outside of working hours.

Thanks a lot for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us, Lynda!

Professor Lynda Collins’ music can be streamed here: http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/artists/Lynda-Collins

As well, her album, Love, is available for purchase on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love/id474887656