Donna Purcell, Chief Innovation Officer at Donna Purcell QC Law in Red Deer. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

a maker of change

Red Deer lawyer named one of Canada’s 25 most influential

Sep 15, 2021 | 11:55 AM

A Red Deer lawyer has been named as one of the 25 most influential in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Mag.

Donna Purcell, a civil litigator, founded her practice, Donna Purcell QC Law, in July 2020. She was admitted to the bar in 1989, and has been in Red Deer since 1995.

She says receiving the award, while someone like retired Justice Rosalie Abella is simultaneously being recognized, is inspiring.

“Being recognized, particularly in the Changemakers category and from among many leaders in the profession, has been incredible. I believe increasing my profile as a ‘Changemaker’ in times where disruptive societal transformation is occurring in many industries, not to mention during a pandemic, will help me to achieve my goals of using my talents and experience in innovation to improve access to justice,” she tells rdnewsNOW.

“The award is not a recognition of lifetime achievement, but about recent contributions and influence on society and the justice community.”

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Purcell’s work in recent years includes a virtual litigation series, and assisting in the drafting of a remote questioning protocol to allow cases to proceed during the pandemic.

Purcell has also spread awareness about pro bono services, and participated in a fundraising campaign highlighting access to justice issues. Furthermore, Purcell founded her provincial hybrid virtual/bricks-and-mortar law firm in Gasoline Alley, which has created opportunities for international lawyers to earn their Canadian legal licenses.

“I believe that after ‘walking the walk’ for so many years as a working mother, lawyer and community volunteer, the biggest difference I can make is to be a role model for my daughters,” says Purcell. “Second to that, I think I can aid in supporting Alberta as a leader in legal technology innovation and spreading that innovation throughout the globe to allow for the rule of law to prevail.”

Purcell is excited, she adds, to work out of Red Deer’s new state-of-the-art courthouse, currently under construction downtown.

“I believe it will set an example for Canada,” she says. “I also look forward to working with the Courts in determining which innovations during the pandemic, which have resulted in remote court access, can continue to help us improve access to the justice system.”

Canadian Lawyer puts a call out for nominations from legal groups and associations, with a final list of 177 nominees this year, all of whom made a significant mark on the profession over the last 18 months. Readers then vote, and the magazine’s editorial board, along with others from Law Times and Canadian Lawyer InHouse provided input for the top 25.

A full list of those recognized for 2021 is at canadianlawyermag.com.