CMLA Member Spotlight - Aleem Bharmal

Meet Aleem Bharmal, KC

Human Rights Lawyer with the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) and was its former Executive Director for 12 years from late 2007 to the end of 2019. Aleem was called to the bar in 1995 and has practiced human rights law for over 20 years.

Interviewed by Aishah Ali, JD Candidate at the University of Victoria and CMLA Volunteer

Tell us a little about yourself and your career path - why law?

My original plan was to follow in my father’s footsteps and pursue a career in actuarial science, given I was good at math and my father had done very well in that profession. However, while I did fine at the required subjects related to the field, such as math, stats and economics, the actual actuarial science courses I found very tedious and difficult.

On the other hand, I had taken a couple of philosophy electives and really enjoyed those. Eventually, I switched my major to philosophy and told my dad this was “pre-law”, as I couldn’t tell my immigrant father who had sacrificed so much for us, that I was switching my major purely out of a love of the subject! It turned out to be true, in the end, thankfully. I can’t imagine what else I’d be doing if not for practicing law.

How has your family history and being a Canadian Muslim shaped your journey?

My parents were both born and raised in Tanzania before the upheaval of the late 1960s and early 70s when the colonial governments of that region were being overthrown alongside a rise in hostility toward South Asians who were seen, not entirely unjustifiably, as part of the previous power structure. My parents’ community, the Shia Ismaili Muslims, were part of the merchant class in those East African societies. When the disruption occurred, they were caught in the middle and lost everything. A large part of that displaced community eventually came to Canada as part of the first large wave of non-European / non-Christian refugee immigration to this country.

This rich history and growing up in a largely immigrant neighbourhood of Scarborough, a borough on the east side of Toronto, has informed my sense of who I am as a lawyer in Canada. One of the things I’ve learned is to never be complacent and to always be actively pushing forward and advocating to make our society more inclusive and welcoming.

What advice would you give to other Muslim lawyers?

Follow your heart but be practical at the same time.

I joke with mentees that you’ve found the perfect mentor because I’ve had such a varied legal career, none of it by design! It’s a funny way of saying that it took me a long time to find my place in the legal profession. I have worked at a boutique, mid-size, and large national law firm, as well as doing overseas legal work, but only found my home in the not-for-profit, public-interest legal sector a bit later in my legal journey.

In my experience, at least, you know deep down when a certain workplace is not right for you, and, I would say, don’t get trapped, but be strategic about it. Keep attuned to other opportunities, and if you are not satisfied with where you are, don’t be afraid to make the jump when the opportunity arises – I’ve never regretted leaving the Bay Street law firm I was at for the west coast human rights legal clinic I’ve now been a part of for almost a quarter century.

Who inspires you?

Great historical figures such as Nelson Mandela never fail to engender within me complete and utter awe and admiration for their unwavering commitment to justice in the face of tremendous tribulation, and by what they ultimately overcame and achieved in such an unbelievable fashion.

Closer to home, I have never stopped being impressed by my dad’s discipline, fortitude, and commitment to both his family and career and for what he accomplished on both fronts despite the significant challenges he faced in his life.

What skills or habits have been crucial to your success?

I wish I could say I had the discipline of my father, but, unfortunately, both my legal studies and career have been plagued by way too much procrastination – something that is not entirely uncommon in this line of work, but if you can avoid it, you will save yourself a whole lotta grief and stress!

That said, my passion for some of my cases and a strong sense of fairness and justice compelled me to put in the significant work that was needed on more than one occasion, at the end of the day, so a drive for your calling will serve you well despite other shortcomings!

What's a hobby or interest outside of law that brings you joy?

I am very absorbed by my two children and the wonderful things they are accomplishing in their own lives.

Aside from that, I love cooking – it brings me so much peace of mind, despite the other things that might be going on in my personal or work life, not to mention the world!