An Interview with Al Vigier: From Soldier to Tech Pioneer

VLAF: Al, your journey from military service to entrepreneurship is inspiring. Can you tell us about your time in the military and how it shaped your career?

Al Vigier: I joined the military reserves when I was 17 and finished high school before going full-time. My time in the military taught me discipline, resilience, and how to work under pressure—skills that have been invaluable in my technology career.

I was part of Operation Podium, an anti-terrorism operation for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. I was involved in an intense, live-firing scenario in the forests of northern British Columbia, in the Williams Lake area.

During the army exercise, I was shot in the leg in a friendly fire incident. A 5.56mm round hit me, and several others impacted near my head. Luckily, a range safety officer pulled me out of harm’s way. That quick action probably saved my life. While the physical injury wasn’t catastrophic, the impact of emotional and environmental change was significant.

The incident eventually led to my medical release. It was a long, stressful process that marked a significant turning point. Until then, I had planned to stay in the military for 20 years or more. I had just passed the JTF 2 fitness selection test. Suddenly, I had to rebuild my future from scratch.

Leaving the military

VLAF: That must have been a difficult transition. How did you adapt to civilian life and find your following career path?

Vigier: It wasn’t easy. The military was everything I knew, and losing that identity was tough. I started studying psychology and statistics at the University of Victoria, hoping to determine my next step. Around the same time, I got a part-time marketing job with the Commissionaires.

The Commissionaires' job was a good fit because many people there were retired military, so it felt familiar. But it also introduced me to marketing, which was entirely new. That experience planted the seeds for my entrepreneurial journey. I realized I could combine my problem-solving skills from the military with business strategies to make a real impact.

VLAF: How do you think your military experience helped you as an entrepreneur?

Vigier: The military teaches you to focus on the mission and block out distractions. That mindset has been crucial for me. When you’re running a business or multiple companies, as I have, there are constant challenges and competing priorities. My army training helps me zero in on the objective, plan strategically, and execute under pressure.

Another lesson from the military is adaptability. In combat training, things rarely go as planned, and you must adjust quickly. Entrepreneurship is the same way. You face unexpected problems, and your success depends on how well you respond to them. Instead of getting shot out of nowhere, you get an unexpected lawsuit.

Getting into legal technology

VLAF: Let’s shift gears to your work in legal technology. What motivated you to create Caseway?

Vigier: After working with lawyers and running a law firm’s business development, I saw how outdated the legal industry was. Lawyers spent hours digging through case law or manually reviewing contracts, things that could be improved with technology.

That’s where Caseway comes in. We built it to save lawyers time and give them the confidence to do their best legal work. Caseway processes millions of court decisions in seconds, flags risks in contracts, and highlights winning legal arguments.

VLAF: What advice would you give to veterans transitioning from the military and considering entrepreneurship?

Vigier: Don’t underestimate the skills you’ve learned in the military. They’re incredibly valuable in business. Discipline, teamwork, and problem-solving are things many people spend years trying to develop, but veterans already have them.

Also, don’t wait for the perfect moment to start. It’s never going to feel like the stars are aligned. Leap and learn as you go. Find a mission that matters to you. In the military, everything is mission-driven, and that same focus can guide you in entrepreneurship.

VLAF: Thank you for sharing your journey and insights, Al Vigier. Your story is a testament to resilience and determination.

Al Vigier: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure. To veterans out there, I’d say: If you’re considering starting a business, go for it. The skills you have are more than enough to succeed.