Client Stories

A Lawyer’s Journey to be a Lawyer Again

Hasaka R.B. Uduweriye emigrated from Sri Lanka in 1996 where he was a practicing lawyer. After arriving in Canada, Hasaka found work as a computer technician because he did not possess the necessary credentials to practice Law in Canada.

Following a few lay-offs during the world economic crisis, Hasaka wanted to return to his original profession, but he was faced with many economic diffi culties during the process of attaining the necessary credentials.

In search of answers, he visited an Employment Manitoba office where he was referred to SEED Winnipeg’s Recognition Counts program. “At SEED Winnipeg I got a lot of information about their credential recognition program. After the detailed analysis of my professional background, experience and skills, SEED staff suggested I apply for financial support from Assiniboine Credit Union. It gave me great financial relief and enabled me to apply to the University of Manitoba to complete my assigned Canadian subjects of the Law Society of Manitoba’s Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED) Program, and to become an articling student prior to being called to the bar.”

At SEED Winnipeg I got a lot of information about their credential recognition program.

Hasaka has since been called to the bar and now operates his own legal fi rm Ratnamalala Law Office which handles criminal matters, real estate law and family law. “SEED Winnipeg is a ”must” place to visit for everyone who has a question (regarding attaining
credentials in Canada),” Hasaka confirms. “It’s never easy for immigrants to be recognized in Canada. However, SEED makes this process much easier.”