ABOUT LAKELAND LAW GROUP

Lakeland Law Group > About Lakeland Law Group

Lakeland Law Group opened its doors in the City of Cold Lake in September of 2014, allowing lawyer Jay Conlin to bring his unique expertise to the local community. Since its founding, Lakeland Law Group has helped hundreds of people with legal services in Cold Lake, Bonnyville, St. Paul, and across the Lakeland.

Jay’s experience has taught him to be systematic in his approach to law. Lakeland Law Group has well-tested processes to maximize efficiency while keeping legal costs down. This doesn’t mean that the team at Lakeland Law is impersonal or robotic: they realize that every client’s situation is unique, and requires a personalised approach to solving the problems that may arise.

We understand that clients want to live their lives and build their businesses; not spend time in convoluted legal situations. Our philosophy is to provide you with competent advice and reasonable alternatives to resolve your legal matters efficiently, thereby saving you time and money on legal costs.

Jennifer Smith

Born and raised in Laval, Quebec, Jennifer moved to Ottawa to complete an Honors Bachelor of Social Sciences with a specialization in Sociology (French Immersion) at the University of Ottawa. Once achieved, she relocated to Quebec City to obtain her Bachelor of Law (LLB) from Université Laval. Jennifer also holds a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. After completing her schooling, Jennifer articled in Drummondville, Quebec, where she focused on Family Law and Civil Litigation, and began practicing as a lawyer before moving to Cold Lake.

In June 2018, Jennifer arrived in Cold Lake as a military spouse, keen on continuing the practice of law in Alberta. Over the course of 18 months, she re-established her credentials for the practice of law in both Alberta and Saskatchewan with the Court of Queen’s Bench and Provincial Court of Alberta and is now an active member in good standing with the Law Societies of Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as the Quebec Bar Association.

Prior to moving to Cold Lake, Jennifer had the reputation of being a fierce advocate for her clients who sought real legal solutions. Her practice is a combination of collaborative and litigation-based family law, offering such services in both English and French. Jennifer has maintained this reputation in Cold Lake, focusing on achieving effective solutions that are tailored to the individual needs of her clients.

In addition to her work in the legal community, Jennifer is actively involved in our local community. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the 4 Wing Military Family Resource Centre Society and volunteers with the MFRC.

Education:

Certificate of Qualification - Federation of Law Societies of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Formation Professionnelle - École du Barreau, Sherbrooke, Quebec
Bachelor of Law (LL.B) - Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec
Honors Bachelors of Social Sciences, Specialization in Sociology (Fench Immersion) - University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario.

Associations:

Member of the Barreau du Québec since April 2018
Member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan since September 2019
Member of the Law Society of Alberta since December 2019
Director with the 4 Wing Cold Lake Military Family Resource Center Society

OUR COLD LAKE LAW FIRM TEAM

At Lakeland Law Group, we are a full-service legal team here to help you navigate the legal system when you need us.

Sarah Godfrey

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sarah grew up in Lower Sackville and has always surrounded herself with family and close friends. In July 2013, Sarah made the difficult choice to move to Cold Lake with her now-fiance, Zach. Sarah attended Portage College in 2014, focusing on the Accounting Technician Program. She successfully graduated from the program in June of 2016, with the Student of the Year award.

Sarah began her career as Lakeland Law Group’s Bookkeeper and Receptionist in October of 2017. She is the first smile you will see as you walk in the front door, and ensures that you are well cared for during your relationship with Lakeland Law Group.

Sarah enjoys a broad variety of activities, from refreshing her ever-changing nail style to playing softball with the local league in the summer months. As she remains close to her East Coast family, she returns home to visit regularly. Sarah doesn’t mind the long flight home, or a long flight anywhere for that matter, as she enjoys being somewhere with a warm, sandy beach whenever she has the opportunity. She hopes, one day, she and Zach will run a small hobby farm with a variety of animals she can cuddle and care for.

OUR FOUNDER

Jay Conlin

Mr. Conlin, a dedicated and hardworking self-made business owner for 25 years, started his entrepreneurial journey at 15, funding his education through High School, University, and Law School. He holds two social sciences degrees from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Manitoba. Admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2007, he founded Conlin Law Office, later expanding to Alberta and rebranding as Lakeland Law Group in 2012.

Jay is committed to honesty and integrity, aiming for Lakeland Law Group to be a pillar of Cold Lake's community. He also holds a private pilot's license and enjoys flying across Canada.

Education:

Bachelor of Law, University of Manitoba
Law Society of Upper Canada Bar Admission Course
Bachelor of Social Sciences, Honours Criminology (Cum Laude), University of Ottawa
Bachelor of Social Sciences, Concentration Sociology (Cum Laude), University of Ottawa