Building Confidence and Community: CBA Young Lawyers at Rumble Boxing

Sep 28

Why is community important for young lawyers?

Building a successful legal career is about much more than developing strong legal skills. For young lawyers, having a supportive professional community can make an important difference in navigating the challenges, opportunities, and pressures that come with practising law.

The legal profession can sometimes feel competitive and demanding. Early-career lawyers are balancing learning, client relationships, deadlines, advocacy, professional development, and the expectations that come with building a practice. Having opportunities to connect with other lawyers in a relaxed and supportive environment can help create a stronger sense of belonging. That is why events that bring young lawyers together are so valuable.

Illuma Family Law was honoured to sponsor a recent Canadian Bar Association Young Lawyers event at Rumble Boxing, bringing members of the legal community together for an evening focused on connection, wellness, confidence, and fun.

What did the CBA Young Lawyers event offer?

The event at Rumble Boxing provided an opportunity for young lawyers to step away from the traditional office environment and connect with colleagues in a completely different setting. Rather than gathering around a conference table or attending another continuing professional development session, participants had the chance to move, challenge themselves, laugh together, and build relationships.

Events like this are a reminder that professional networking does not always have to be formal. Some of the most meaningful professional relationships can develop through shared experiences. A boxing class may seem very different from practising law, but both require focus, preparation, resilience, and confidence. Most importantly, the event created space for young lawyers to simply spend time together.

How can physical activity build confidence in the legal profession?

Confidence is an important part of practising law. Lawyers are regularly required to communicate clearly, make decisions, advocate for their clients, manage difficult conversations, and remain composed under pressure. These skills develop over time, but confidence can also be strengthened through experiences outside the courtroom and office.

Participating in a physical activity such as boxing can be a powerful reminder that confidence is built by doing something challenging, trying something new, and being willing to make mistakes along the way.

You do not need to be an experienced boxer to participate. You simply need to show up and try. That mindset translates well into the legal profession. Young lawyers will inevitably encounter situations where they do not immediately know the answer, where a case takes an unexpected turn, or where they are asked to step outside their comfort zone.

Learning to approach those moments with curiosity rather than fear can help build resilience. We were honoured to support this group through overcoming these challenges.

Why does self-confidence matter for young lawyers?

Developing professional confidence does not mean believing that you know everything. In fact, some of the strongest lawyers understand the importance of asking questions, seeking guidance, and recognizing when they need support. Self-confidence allows lawyers to trust the skills they have developed while remaining open to learning.

For young lawyers, this balance can be particularly important. The early years of practice often involve navigating unfamiliar legal issues, managing client expectations, appearing before the court, working with senior lawyers, and developing an individual professional identity. Confidence grows through experience.

It also grows when lawyers have colleagues who encourage them, share their experiences, and remind them that they are not navigating the profession alone.

How does community support benefit lawyers?

A strong legal community can provide support in many different ways. Sometimes support means sharing practical knowledge about a difficult legal issue. Sometimes it means recommending a resource or introducing someone to a colleague. Sometimes it simply means having someone who understands the pressures of the profession.

Young lawyers can benefit enormously from relationships with lawyers at different stages of their careers. Mentorship can provide guidance. Peer relationships can provide connection. Professional organizations can provide opportunities. Community events can provide all three.

Creating these connections is particularly important in a profession where lawyers can spend much of their time working independently or dealing with demanding client matters.

Why should law firms support young lawyers?

Supporting young lawyers is an investment in the future of the legal profession. Law firms and established lawyers have an opportunity to create environments where emerging lawyers feel encouraged to develop their skills, pursue leadership opportunities, and build meaningful professional relationships. Sponsoring events is one way to contribute to that community.

At Illuma Family Law, we believe that the legal profession is stronger when lawyers support one another. Our decision to sponsor the CBA Young Lawyers event at Rumble Boxing was about more than supporting a single evening. It was about supporting the people who are building the future of the profession.

What can lawyers learn from stepping outside the traditional legal environment?

There is value in doing something completely different from our everyday professional routine. Lawyers spend so much time reading, writing, analyzing, negotiating, and advocating that it can be easy to forget the importance of simply connecting with other people. An event like Rumble Boxing offers a different kind of learning. It encourages participants to be present, try something unfamiliar, encourage one another, and enjoy the experience. There is also something valuable about seeing colleagues outside of their usual professional roles.

How can young lawyers continue building a supportive professional community?

Community building does not have to end when an event does. Young lawyers can continue developing their professional networks by attending CBA events, participating in mentorship opportunities, connecting with colleagues, volunteering, and making time for relationships outside their immediate workplace. Small gestures can also make a difference.

Checking in with another young lawyer, celebrating a colleague's accomplishment, sharing a helpful resource, or offering encouragement can contribute to a healthier professional culture. Supporting one another does not diminish individual success. It strengthens the profession as a whole.

Why was Illuma Family Law proud to sponsor the event?

Illuma Family Law was so honoured to support the CBA Young Lawyers event at Rumble Boxing. We believe that being part of the legal community means more than practising law. It means contributing to a profession where lawyers can learn from one another, develop confidence, build meaningful connections, and feel supported throughout their careers.

The evening was a wonderful reminder that professional development can take many forms. Sometimes it happens in a courtroom. Sometimes it happens at a conference. And sometimes, it happens while putting on boxing gloves and cheering on your colleagues.

We are grateful to the CBA Young Lawyers for creating an opportunity for connection and community, and we were proud to be part of it.

What is the bigger lesson for the legal profession?

A successful legal career is not built on legal knowledge alone. It is built through relationships, resilience, confidence, mentorship, community, and a willingness to continue learning. For young lawyers especially, having a professional community that celebrates their growth and encourages them to step outside their comfort zone can be incredibly meaningful.

Events like the CBA Young Lawyers gathering at Rumble Boxing show that there is room in the legal profession for connection, wellness, and fun alongside hard work and professional excellence.

At Illuma Family Law, we are proud to support initiatives that bring lawyers together and strengthen our legal community. We look forward to continuing to support the next generation of lawyers and celebrating the people who make our profession stronger.

If you are looking for experienced family law guidance, our Vancouver family lawyers are here to help. Contact Illuma Family Law to book a consultation here: Contact — Book Consultation — Illuma Family Law

Abby Pang

Abby is a family lawyer and loving mother of two children. She is an advocate for healthy families and children. She has turned her energy towards supporting families, by providing guidance and helping families navigate through the legal system, while empowering them to have a voice throughout the process.

Abby Pang’s journey began in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Subsequently, her family moved to the east side of Vancouver, before moving to Richmond, where she spent most of her childhood. Her father was a refugee who came to Canada in 1970, and from him she learned the meaning of grit.

In her youth, Abby experienced a breakdown in her family unit which resulted in divorce. She understands that marital breakdowns and divorces can be complicated, but also devastating. She also understands there are alternative options and ways to mitigate the damaging effects of the process.

Abby earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia, studying psychology and family studies. She earned a law degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, exchange program through the Hong Kong University. In 2008, she returned to British Columbia to work in a large law office while completing her National Certificate of Accreditation. She then completed her articles in a boutique law firm in Vancouver. She was called to the British Columbia bar in 2012.

Abby has appeared in Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. She deals with personal injury claims, sexual assault (civil) claims, and family law matters. In addition to her court experience, Abby takes a “family first” approach and is resolution-focused. She is registered through the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

As a lawyer, Abby Pang’s community involvement included volunteer work with the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and the Canadian Bar Association Women Lawyers’ Forum. As well, she had the opportunity to assist at Rise Women’s Legal Center and Battered Women’s Support Services through volunteering with Amici Curiae Friends of Court.

Abby is the recipient of A Woman of Worth Leader of the Year Award 2023 for her outstanding achievements in strengthening her community/organization through innovative approaches to resolving challenges and inspiring meaningful change. She has been recognized nationally as a nominee of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2023, which honours extraordinary women leaders and businesses. She is a nominee of the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneurs Awards 2025, which recognizes the strides of Canada’s most accomplished, influential and impactful women. Abby has also been named in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada™ for being one of the top lawyers in Family Law.

In her personal time, Abby enjoys snowboarding, bike riding, coaching her daughter’s baseball team and spending time with her family.

https://www.illumalaw.com