Trent Howard
Trent Howard
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Education: Western University, B.A. (Hons.), 2015; Western University, J.D., 2019
Called to the Bar: 2020
Memberships: Hamilton Law Association
Areas of Practice
A born storyteller.
To Trent Howard, finding the right words is everything.
“Litigation is taking complex facts and recounting them in a compelling way,” he says. “As advocates, we’re telling a story, with a beginning, middle and end. A litigator is like a funnel, taking in a huge amount of information and distilling it down to the salient facts and aligning them with the law.”
Trent’s path to becoming a lawyer wasn’t a straight one. His unfulfilled childhood dream to play in the NHL taught him the value of self-discipline and accountability. Later, when his trades apprenticeship fell through, he took the time to re-evaluate his life and decided to pursue a career in law. “I bet you haven’t heard many lawyers say, ‘I wanted to be a plumber’,” he jokes. “Because of my experiences, I understand we all come from different backgrounds and that there are many ways to achieve a goal.”
Hard work comes easily to Trent. He also believes in the value of open and frank conversation. “We need to let clients know the risks and rewards involved in their case and help them set realistic goals,” he says. “The protracted nature of litigation is hard for a lot of people. A speedy resolution is often the best one.”
Featured Work
A: Golf has taught me the value of composure. You can take as many practice swings as you want and something can still go wrong with the execution of the shot. Then it’s all about how you recover. It’s the same with law.
A: Never shy away from a challenge. As lawyers we are often faced with challenging situations that require creative solutions. It’s my job to be prepared, not comfortable. When we leave our comfort zones, we usually surprise ourselves.
A: My parents, who taught me to work hard and be humble. They made sure I had everything they didn’t, so I would have the best opportunity to achieve whatever goals I set.
A: Consistency. I like to be calm and composed, no matter the situation or the stakes. It’s reassuring for clients to know that whatever happens, they can depend on me to be prepared and level-headed.
Q: Lessons learned from golf?
A: Golf has taught me the value of composure. You can take as many practice swings as you want and something can still go wrong with the execution of the shot. Then it’s all about how you recover. It’s the same with law.