"Diving Deep into Legal Excellence: Derek's Impactful Journey at Key Murray Law"
A BizVoice interview with Derek Key
Meet Derek
“Lots of laughter throughout the day has made this a great place to work for all these years…and hopefully for many more.” – Derek Key
1. What is your name and how long have you been living and working in Summerside?
Derek Drake Key, a proud Summerside resident since I was born, but for the time spent getting an education. I started working as a lawyer in Summerside in 1981.
2. What was your journey to landing as a lawyer at Key Murray Law?
I was working as a labourer on construction sites starting when I was 13. I eventually became a carpenter and was quite happy to continue in that field as I enjoyed seeing the results at the end of the day. My parents [neither of whom had more than Grade XII] wanted/ insisted that I become a lawyer. In those days we did as our parents directed. Hence, I became a lawyer.
3. Tell us one of your most memorable experiences while working in Summerside?
The closure of CFB Summerside announced on April 27, 1989, and the resulting efforts to negotiate and secure provincial and federal offsets to replace the loss of employment and economic activity was the most memorable. At 33 years of age it was a wild ride working with everyone from the Prime Minister down to the lowliest of public servants in trying to piece together what was necessary for the community to prosper. Senior staff were getting laid off, people were panicking, construction ground to a halt, and literally hundreds of people moved away in fear of the future. Lots of lessons learned that have lasted a lifetime. Some based on successes; some based on failures.
4. What would be a fun fact that most people wouldn’t know about working for Key Murray Law?
Because I had worked in construction, I had an understanding of how hard it is to get anything “personal” done during working hours. Hard to get a haircut outside of the 7:30 – 5:30 workday, hard to get your eyes checked, hard to see a lawyer. So, in 1982, we made it a point to have our office open at 7:00, and we have a lawyer available until 6:00 p.m. It was at least a small way we could improve service to the community.
5. What is the work culture like at Key Murray Law?
We have offices in Summerside, Mill River, Souris and Charlottetown. Each is perhaps a little different, however, the common theme is that everyone has a sense of humor. Lots of laughter throughout the day has made this a great place to work for all these years…and hopefully for many more.
6. Why did you choose Summerside to live and work?
Nancy and I met the first day of law school. When we graduated, she was practicing law in Charlottetown and I was practicing law in Summerside. Within a very short time we decided to open our own practice and we set up an office with one secretary on the second floor of Smallman’s Store on Water Street. We saw Summerside as the place where we wanted to raise our children, and where we wanted to establish a client base of folks we wanted to work with. We have grown to having 27 lawyers and law students and another 25 – 30 staff, so, overall I think we made a great choice.
7. What unique opportunities or challenges have you encountered while living and working in Summerside?
The Prince County area is still a collection of small towns and villages. The people of the area have a commitment to their neighbors, and to their communities. That sense of community provides tremendous support; but when someone in the community is struggling, or there is a tragedy, a lot of emotion creeps in when trying to address any problem. That adds a degree of complexity.
8. If someone was thinking about moving to live and work in Summerside, what advice would you give them?
Recognize that being friendly will attract friends. Get engaged in your community. Support your local businesses and service providers. Be passionate about what you do. Laugh a lot.
Get in touch with Key Murray Law today!
(902) 436-4851
