From Bay Street to Boulders: My Legal Plot Twist

Hi, I’m Mahta — former lawyer turned career coach, and your new internet friend (hopefully).

I work at Whistler Partners, a recruiting and career advising shop for legal professionals. Before I jump into the serious blogging, I figured I’d share how I got here—and why I care so much about helping people map out their careers.

We all have those moments that shift the course of our lives. I’ve had a few of them, and I think the best way to tell my story is through those pivots.

Let’s rewind a little

One of the biggest turning points in my life was moving to Canada from Iran at age 10. Years later, I graduated from the University of Toronto with a double major in Ethics, Society & Law and Women & Gender Studies (yes, that’s one degree, not a TED Talk title). I was passionate about change and justice, and law school felt like the next step.

I thought I was on the Amal Clooney track—human rights law, saving the world, maybe also ending up married to George Clooney. Spoiler: I became neither a human rights icon nor George’s wife. Big miss on his part, tbh.

Taking the road less Bay Street (it’s like Canadian Wall Street)

I went to Osgoode Hall Law School (a top Canadian law school, humble brag) where Bay Street Big Law was the gold standard. So when 2L rolled around, OCIs and Big Law jobs were everything. Through OCIs, I was fortunate enough to get a Big Law offer. My first pivotal Decision—I turned down Big Law for a boutique firm with a strong employment law group. I thought it was a better fit.

It wasn’t. I trained with some wonderful lawyers and learned a lot but I was miserable and in full-blown impostor syndrome mode. I pushed through, passed the bar, and got licensed.

Lesson #1: You can succeed at something and still know deep down it’s not for you.

Here I am getting called to the Ontario bar.

The big “now what?” moment

Then came Decision #2—I didn’t get hired back after articling. Most of the employment group had left the firm, so it wasn’t shocking, but it still hit hard. According to the traditional law career script, I had failed.

So I did what any confused, stressed-out early-career lawyer does—I networked like my life depended on it. I chased the idea of Big Law again, not because I truly wanted it, but because I wanted the redemption arc. “Look! I made it after all!”

It didn’t happen. And honestly? Thank goodness.

When things finally felt right

Instead, I got hired at a fully remote firm where the people were kind, the work was meaningful, and I could travel while building my career. It was the ultimate dream job for me. Some warned it would hurt my legal skill development. Maybe. But I was happy. I started working that summer, broke my ankle climbing (another story for another time), and planned a road trip for the fall.

During my trip I visited Colorado again and something clicked. I fell in love with the place (and yes, with climbing—I'm that person now). I wanted to live there. But to practice law in Colorado, I’d need 3–4 more years in Canada before I could even take the bar.

Here I am touching some pure Colorado rocks.

Time for the big question

Cue Decision #3—Do I even want to keep practicing law?

The more I thought about it, the clearer it became: I didn’t. What I did love was helping people navigate career decisions. I’d spent years talking to friends and colleagues about what made them tick, what paths were out there, and how to move forward when things didn’t go according to plan.

That’s what led me to Whistler Partners. Now, I get to help lawyers figure out what success looks like for them—whether that’s climbing the ladder, changing practice areas, going in-house, or stepping off the track entirely.

If you’re stuck, questioning things, or itching for change—you're not alone

Just because I took the scenic (and slightly dramatic) route doesn’t mean your path has to look like mine. Sometimes a small shift—a new mentor, a different firm, a pivot in practice—can make all the difference.

So whether you’re craving a total reset or just want to feel more aligned in your work, I’d love to help you get there.

P.S. Still no updates on George Clooney. Amal’s probably not taking appointments—but I am. 😉

You can find me on Linkedin or email me at mahta@whistlerpartners.com.