Meet our Faculty
Lynda Wendland
Lynda has many years of experience in the law firm environment and initially started her career as a legal assistant, supporting lawyers in a variety of practice areas. In addition to having her legal assistant certification she holds a Human Resources Certification from BCIT, is a current member of the BC Legal Management Association (BCLMA), the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) and was a previous Chair member of the Fraser Valley Legal Administrators Assocation. Over the last decade she has held senior management roles in both the Fraser Valley and in downtown Vancouver. Lynda is passionate about setting our students up for success and teaching them the practical and soft skills they will require to thrive in their chosen career as a legal assistant and beyond.
Colleen Formisano
Colleen joined Kwantlen Polytechnic University from Northumbria University in England. At Northumbria, Colleen was Programme Leader of the Legal Practice Course (Commercial Route) and accrued a total of five years teaching experience. Prior to teaching, Colleen was a lawyer at “Magic Circle” firm Slaughter and May, and Mishcon De Reya (Law Firm of the Year 2012) specializing in Corporate Law. Colleen received a Highly Commended Award for her pro bono contributions at the Law Society Young Lawyers Pro Bono Awards 2008.
Colleen obtained a B.A. in Jurisprudence from Oxford University, a Diploma in Legal Practice from The College of Law, London, a Master of Laws from Oxford University and a teaching qualification from Northumbria University (PCAPL). Colleen has given papers at conferences in England and Hawaii, and has been published in the Contemporary Issues in Law journal. Colleen sat the exams specified by the National Committee on Accreditation for foreign trained lawyers and obtained her Certificate of Qualification in 2010. Colleen is excited to be in Canada and at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Alia Somji
Alia joined the Melville School of Business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2015. Along with teaching, Alia is a lawyer in private practice and specializes in Family Law and Wills & Estates Law.
Alia has had a passion for teaching from the time she was a student at the University of British Columbia, where she obtained a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Commerce. Alia had the opportunity to travel overseas as part of a Social Entrepreneurship Program where she, along with her team, developed and delivered workshops to local youth living in the slums of Kenya.
Alia believes in contributing to the community and currently volunteers with Access Pro Bono and sits on the Ismaili Council for British Columbia.