Bencher Profile: Deanna Steblyk, QC
Deanna Steblyk, QC began her volunteer commitments to the Law Society in 2003, only four years into her legal career, and she shows no sign of slowing down.
Starting as a committee volunteer, Deanna managed to gain years of experience in the inner workings of the Law Society before she ran for Bencher. Her work included time on the 100th Anniversary, Audit and Finance, Conduct, and Credentials and Education Committees – a volunteer commitment of nearly 15 years prior to joining the Bencher table.
“When I look back to that first opportunity to volunteer with the 100th Anniversary Committee, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into,” laughs Deanna. “I certainly didn’t think I was going to end up working with the Law Society for as long as I have.”
After being called to the Alberta Bar in 1999, Deanna has lived and practised law in Calgary ever since. Following 10 years in private practice as a civil litigator, Deanna accepted a position as litigation counsel for the Alberta Securities Commission, where she prosecuted breaches of the Alberta Securities Act before the Commission and the Provincial Court of Alberta.
In 2017, she moved into the position of Senior Special Counsel to the Vice-Chairs of the Commission, where she assists Commission adjudicators with legal research, preparation of oral and written decisions, and policy matters.
Deanna’s commitment to public and community service has been interwoven into her life for as long as she can remember. She has worked in a wide variety of volunteer capacities. She is a member and immediate past Chair of the Legal Aid Alberta Board of Directors, a former director and past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Calgary Humane Society, a past President of the Association of Women Lawyers, a past Chair of the CBA Alberta’s Civil Litigation subsection (south), and a regular guest instructor at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law.
“In a way, serving as a Bencher is a culmination of all of that work,” says Deanna. “The Law Society has the ability to make a number of changes that have been a part of the work I’ve focused on in my volunteer time, and being a Bencher gives me a voice in fostering the change we need to serve the public.”
“I’ve spent a great deal of time working with the Law Society – from Benchers to staff and other volunteers. My overall impression is that the Law Society is here to help lawyers while protecting the public interest. We have so many things available to help with practice management, issues around lawyer mental health and wellness.”
Now into her second term as Bencher, Deanna is looking forward to seeing the work of the Benchers continue as she serves on the Executive, Lawyer Competence and Policy and Regulatory Reform committees.
“There are plenty of different topics and issues to be discussed at the Bencher table in the coming months, from issues around equity, diversity and inclusion, to addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, to addressing issues around the articling model. The Bencher table is here to ensure that we can continue to focus on the issues that matter to the profession and the public that it serves.”