Will Selnes of Kapoor Selnes and Klimm in Melfort given Queen’s Counsel designation. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Lawyers Honoured

Melfort and Humboldt lawyers given Queen’s Counsel designation

Dec 14, 2019 | 1:44 PM

A pair of area lawyers have received Queen’s Counsel (QC) designation.

William Selnes of Kapoor Selnes and Klimm in Melfort and Amber Biemans of Behiel Will and Biemans in Humboldt are two of 14 Saskatchewan lawyers selected this year.

Selnes, although admitted to the bar in 1976 was still surprised to be given the QC designation.

“I was excited, it is a special honour for members of the legal profession,” Selnes said. “It was a very special moment to find out and an exciting moment.”

He added he knew he had be nominated but it wasn’t until the official list came out Selnes knew he had been selected.

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“This is chosen by the Ministry of Justice and some senior members of the bar and judiciary so to receive a recognition from those who are the leaders of your profession is very special,” Selnes said.

The designation is given to lawyers who have demonstrated superior work, and dedication to the legal profession but also to their communities.

Biemans said the designation came as a big surprise to her as well.

“It was not expected, it really is not common I think for someone my age to have a designation like that,” Biemans said. “It is kind of more reserved for lawyers that have been practicing for a significant amount of time.”

Biemans was admitted to the bar in 2006, being the lawyer with the least amount of experience to be honoured this year.

In her 13th year of practicing, Biemans said to be in the same class as someone like Selnes is quite the accomplishment.

“When I started practicing, already he had a very good reputation and everyone knew who he was so it really takes you aback and it is such an honour,” Biemans said.

Biemans began law school in 2002, and immediately got into family law. After ten years of practicing, she decided to move into estate planning.

A big mandate for Behiel Will and Biemans is to provide service to rural Saskatchewan by having remote offices in Wadena, Kelvington, and Quill Lake.

“We are never told why we are given the QC designation but I can assume that providing this access to rural justice, would be my guess,” Biemans said.

Biemans added she strongly believes being able to have access to justice is a fundamental right.

“There’s a lot of elderly people for mobility reasons that can’t leave assisted care homes or even to drive to a law office but are in need of getting power of attorneys and wills done,” Biemans said.

Queen’s Counsel appointments are based on recommendations from a selection committee which includes Saskatchewan’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan or the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench and past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Saskatchewan.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser