Alumna Lori Butler and daughter Megan Delaronde, celebrating graduation day together. [Photo courtesy of Lori Butler].
By Sara Elliott
Mother-daughter relationship hit a milestone bar none when University of Windsor law graduate Lori Butler and her daughter officially became lawyers on the same day.
“It is surreal that after so many hoops I get to call myself a lawyer,” says Butler. “I’m thrilled.”
They made provincial history this June when Butler successfully passed the bar right alongside her daughter, Megan Delaronde, a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.
As a mother, Butler cannot hide her maternal pride.
“She argues really well, and she has an uncanny ability to think quick on her feet – she’s a brilliant lawyer,” she says.
“Megan and I helped each other at law school but at different times and in different ways.”
The proud graduate says she was drawn to UWindsor Law because of its strong reputation for social justice initiatives. She says she thrived here because of the diverse course offerings.
Lori Butler on graduation day [Photo courtesy of Lori Butler]
“My legal interests are eclectic, I could have gone in many directions, and that is a direct reflection on the courses offered at UWindsor,” she says.
“I especially loved their exceptional Indigenous program – I’m very happy with my law school experience.”
Butler says her experience was not complete without her professors.
Calling the school and the instructors solid, Butler adds that she still stays in touch with many of the professors who got her interested in everything from immigration law to disability law and criminology to real estate law.
As a mature student in her 60s, Butler says she spent a lot of time mentoring the younger generation of students.
“With age brings maturity, wisdom, patience and perspective and I’m hoping those things will help me come up to speed really quickly on the issues for whatever it is I’m defending people against.”
Her campus involvement did extend beyond the classroom.
“I was vice president of the public speaking club, and I joined the mature students’ association called OWLS.”
“I also went to the Toldo Lancer Centre every day.”
While mother and daughter may team up in the future, for now Delaronde is a criminal defense lawyer with Cooper Lord Law in Kitchener, and Butler is taking a well-deserved break after a long five-year journey.
“I will explore my many options and consider my diverse law interests and could easily go into municipal law or disability law or charities law.”
Butler does not rule out the idea of running for office.