Environmental lawyer jobs are in high demand, with a practice such asShiersincreasingly attractive to law students and new lawyers. It's a mainstream discipline now. There are all sorts of programsand, yes, we have a number of applicants always. . . .There's no dearth of people applying, she says.

The firms growth has shifteditsrelationship with the competition. In 2007, JohnWillmstoldCanadian Lawyerthat it was a challenge for a relatively small firm like his12 lawyers at the timeto keep up with larger firmsthathad economies of scale. More than a decade later, Shier says the firms growth has given it an edge on the competition.

Things have changed a lot for us because our firm size is as large or larger than any big firms environmental group, she says. I'd be hard pressed to think of even a large Canadian law firm with 20 environmental lawyers.

The firm practises in environment, Indigenous and energy law and Shier says Indigenous law has expanded as well. The firmsIndigenous practice consists of consultation, negotiation and accommodation for natural resource development and energy projects and is led by JulieAbouchar.

Shier was called to the bar in 1978, began working withWillmsin 1977, part-time, doing research and writing. The firms environmental practice grew out of the work the firm did in rural municipalities, primarily landfill site work, Shier says. Shier was fascinated by every aspect of industrial processes, which drew her to the type of work the firm was doing.

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Environmental escalation: Willms & Shier has grown with the times - Canadian Lawyer Magazine