YYZ to YOW Hey! My name’s Nancy and I’m heading into my 3rd year of the French Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa. I’m not sure what sparked my initial interest in law, but I’ve got second grade journal entries stating, “when I grow up I want to be a ‘loyer’”. From an early age, I’ve found myself advocating for others and I’ve always eagerly participated in conflict resolution. I explored other options such as Medicine and Regulatory Affairs, but law school just seemed like the perfect fit. I chose to pursue a legal education at the University of Ottawa because of the unique opportunity to study law in both of Canada’s official languages. Like many of us, I started learning French in grade four, then in grade seven to eight I participated in a French Immersion Program. I enjoyed learning the language so much that I completed a minor in French during my undergrad. I met some exceptional Professors and role models through my French minor and developed a strong interest in the language. My Time in Law School Although Ottawa’s Faculty of Law is quite large due to the wide array of programs, the class size for the French Common Law Program is roughly 80 students. Law students are known to be competitive and closed-off, but I was pleasantly surprised to find colleagues that were kind and supportive. I think the smaller class sizes in the French program were definitely conducive to a friendly learning environment. The Profs have also been incredibly welcoming and humble despite being extremely accomplished in their field. Some of the classes that I have really enjoyed so far are Torts, Regulation of Cannabis in Canada and Commercial Arbitration. In my Tort Law class, I had an exceptional Professor that was on a first name basis with the entire class and was always giving his 110%. I think his dedication was contagious because seeing someone invest so much time and energy into their students made me eager and excited to come to class. The Cannabis Law course that I took was also very exciting but for different reasons. With its recent legalization, Cannabis was a hot topic and I was intrigued to learn more about how a once illegal substance would now be sold on the market. We dissected The Cannabis Act and it was fascinating to learn about the many components one must consider when legalizing a drug. Finally, Commercial Arbitration was another interesting course that I had the pleasure of taking. Arbitration is a common approach to resolving disputes and is often faster and cheaper than going to court. Arbitration is actually a mandatory course in some law schools in other countries, so I thought it would be great knowledge to have under my belt, and the course did not disappoint. My Life Outside of School Outside of the classroom I really kept myself busy by participating in many extracurricular activities. Books are important but being involved outside of school is just as crucial to a great law school experience. Over my last two years I was involved with Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC), the Common Law Student Society (AÉCLSS), the NORTH Clinic, intramural sports and I’ve just recently become a mentor with Laadliyan (a non-profit organization that aims to empower South Asian women). PBSC is a national organization where I was a part of the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board Project. I summarized and translated key decisions in order to provide Francophone minorities greater accessibility to important decisions. Moreover, I had the chance to be a part of the French Program Assembly and the Elections Appeal Committee of the AÉCLSS during my first year of law school. In my second year I was the CEO. Being a part of the AÉCLSS was a very engaging and sometimes challenging experience but has taught me many important lessons in a very short amount of time. Finally, one of my favourite and most rewarding experiences was being a part of the NORTH Clinic. NORTH is a relatively new interdisciplinary clinic that helps newcomers to Ottawa integrate into society and overcome social determinants of health. One of the most common barriers that I have noticed is language, and since I come from an immigrant family this point really hits home. You come across very intelligent and competent people, but a simple language barrier can put you at a great disadvantage and place you in a very vulnerable position. I usually take my grandparents to their appointments to ensure that there is no language barrier, but not everyone has access to a translator. Even in the face of adversity I’m still in a very privileged position as I continue to obtain a legal education. I think the whole experience just reinforced how important it is to give back to your community, and that’s a life lesson you can’t really learn between the confines of four walls. Contact Me If you have any questions, or if something that I said sparks an interest in you, feel free to slide into my LinkedIn. Perspective and Positivity. It’s easy to get pigeonholed when you’re surrounded by people who were top of their class as well, have work experience, and may seem to have their lives together. But you have to remember that you also have a lot of great and valuable experiences under your belt. You are here for a reason and rightfully belong here. Focus on your academic success and work at your own pace. Don’t feel compelled to do what others are doing. If you have a studying method that works for you, follow it. If you like taking notes in a certain way, follow it. Be confident in yourself and your abilities!
Dream Plan Do → You will realize that work in law school can pile up quickly. It is crucial that you establish some sort of plan and routine that works best for you. Whether it be studying for a final exam or writing up an essay, having a plan helps keep yourself accountable and organized. If you’re not much of a planner, that’s alright. A plan does not necessarily mean an hourly schedule. For some of you, it may mean that you note down key deadlines on your calendar. At the beginning of the semester, it helps to go through each class syllabus and add the deadlines on your calendar. For those of you who like to see a detailed plan, make an hourly schedule and break down each step of a project. It is important to be realistic with your plans. If you know that you will be in class all day, don’t plan on doing a big assignment that day. Do your own thing. Study sessions, firm tours, pub nights, club events - there are so many things going on all the time. You might feel like you aren’t doing everything that everyone is doing which is probably true. Choose what you actually want to do rather than forcing yourself to try to do the humanly impossible. Hi! I’m Ouvedi Rama Naiken and I am a recent graduate from McGill Law. I have just finished writing the Ontario bar exams, and I will be starting articling at McMillan LLP next month. I loved my experience at McGill’s Faculty of Law for three main reasons: the transsystemic approach, the students, and the city. McGill's unique transsystemic and bilingual model of legal education allows students to learn the common and civil law at the same time. For instance, I was learning about the rules of contract law through both the common law jurisprudence and the Civil Code of Quebec. Although it was challenging at times, it forced us to learn and be critical of the different legal systems around the world. The students at the faculty made my experience in law school enjoyable. We were able to get to know each other very well since our cohort was made up of only 180 students. At first, I thought law students would be competitive and cutthroat. But in reality, I found that my classmates were incredibly supportive, collaborative, and helpful. For instance, in the Property Law course, all of the students coordinated with each other on Facebook to put together summaries for the required readings. We were able to work together to decrease our personal work load, and ensure everyone’s success in this difficult class. Moreover, the students at McGill were encouraging and helpful throughout recruitment. The process did not feel competitive because there were many job avenues available when graduating from McGill’s transsystemic program. Many students from my cohort decided to work in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and for different international organizations. Having a supportive cohort has made all the difference. Montreal is an amazing city for students. Its housing market is incredibly affordable compared to other big cities. As a foodie, the restaurant scene is amazing and the options are endless. The different neighbourhoods throughout the city are distinct, with their own identity and culture. The only downside to the city is the winter. Every student dreads of walking up the hill to get to the faculty during the winter season. However, Montreal has a lot to offer year round, especially to students. During my time at McGill, my favourite law school related activity was being part of Student Advocacy. As a Senior Advocate, I had the opportunity to represent and provide advice to students who were accused of a disciplinary offence or were discriminated against by the University. I was able to help students resolve their disputes through informal negotiations and formal committees. I really enjoyed this experience because I learnt about client relationships, how to manage my own files, and how to advocate for my client’s best interests. One of my favourite classes at McGill Law was Foundations, which I took in my first year. Despite being a very challenging class, I found it rewarding because the professor pushed the students to be fiercely critical of the different legal traditions that we were learning. Towards the end of the course, we began to look at the law through various lenses such as critical legal theory and feminist legal theory. This course gave us the tools to be continuously analytical about the law, throughout our legal education. Right now, my personal goals are to get through articling, and hopefully have a better idea of the areas of law that interest me the most. I hope to consistently use my privilege and position as an articling student, to help vulnerable communities and fight against systems of oppression. If you have any questions about McGill Law or the recruitment process, please feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected] or on Linkedin! As Veena and Luci prepare for 2L, with Veena’s role as a Division Leader for CLASP, Luci’s upcoming placement in the winter semester and discussing strategies about recruitment, I took a slight “detour.” For those who know me, they know I genuinely enjoy being in school. Prior to beginning law school, I was contemplating a Master’s degree, the Master’s of Accounting (MAcc) at Schulich. However, with the way life worked out, I ended up going to law school instead. But in the back of my mind, I felt like I was missing something and that having a Master’s degree in another discipline would enhance my knowledge and experience. I really did enjoy 1L, the transition wasn’t as tough as I had anticipated it to be. But I felt like I needed to go back to business school to learn a bit more about the business world. My undergrad was in accounting and international business so I didn’t have the opportunity to take all the courses that truly interested me. Through the MBA, I hope to build on my pre-existing knowledge not only through academics but through extra-curricular activities such as case competitions and working with individuals who have experience in the field. COVID showed me that life doesn’t go as planned and to take the road less travelled to ensure that I have a fulfilling educational experience. By: Karen Randhawa Karen: If I could restart 1L, I would tell myself to volunteer more. At Osgoode, we have a graduation requirement called OPIR hours. It’s similar to the Ontario high school requirement of completing 40 hours of volunteering but within the legal realm. Finding a consistent placement with fixed hours such as Veena and Luci seems like great experience they have earned and early exposure. I began to improve this during summer to volunteer for legal projects, from OJEN, AODA, to UDocs, not just for OPIR but to make a contribution in society. Veena: If I could hop in a time machine and take it back to the beginning of 1L, I would tell myself to take advantage of all opportunities. Early in 1L, I started to buckle down and focus on doing well in my courses. While getting good grades is important, in hindsight, I realize that I missed out on some important parts of the law school experience. Now that 2L is likely going to be fully online, I especially regret not going to social events such as pub nights, club events, Mock Trial, etc. Lucinda: I would like to be corny and say that there’s nothing I would change about my 1L experience. But looking back, there are a few things I wish I didn’t do. As we’ve said multiple times throughout our blog posts, it is important not to compare yourself. Of course, that is something easier said than done. I remember the first few months of law school being very intimidated by my classmates. There were a couple of times when someone would show me their summary or their notes and mine would look completely different. I would stress and felt like I was doing everything wrong. But that isn’t true. Everyone has their own approach to studying and writing assignments. That is now something that I remind myself of all the time. I also regret not taking advantage of office hours. While all of our profs had set office hours and were always open to answering our questions, I never reached out. Instead, if I had a question or was confused, I would turn to my friends (which is also great) or waste hours trying to understand. By second semester, I will admit, I became a lot more comfortable with asking questions. When COVID hit, I realized how resourceful professors are and how important it was to reach out. As I go through 2L and 3L, I will continue to turn to profs for help. They really aren’t that scary! My story boils down to two main themes: don’t give up and turn down the background noise that’s filled with doubt. I immigrated to Canada at a young age, and English is not my first language. As a child living in Sri Lanka, I wanted to be a lawyer (thanks to the movies I watched). However, when my interest in law sparked (again) as an adult, I had many doubts about getting into law school. I told myself every excuse in the book. But, I decided to ignore the background noise, and go for it. Next thing I knew, I got an acceptance from Osgoode! Okay, it really wasn’t that simple. It took a lot of time, dedication, and research! At the time, I didn’t know a single lawyer who I can turn to if I had any questions. I looked for opportunities where I can connect with lawyers. One connection led to many others. All it takes is one step forward (and lots of hard work, meaning, dedicating hours to studying for the LSAT). After getting into law school, the journey hasn’t been easy. But, not giving up has worked in my favor. Here is a short story about some ups and downs I faced in law school. At the end of the in-firm interviews after the OCI process, I didn’t have a single job offer. I was devastated. I didn’t know what went wrong. But I couldn’t let myself dwell on this for too long as I had a negotiation competition that I was going to take a part of in the following week after interviews. I had to prepare a negotiation plan, and I had to “get over” the rejections and focus my attention on the negotiation. That’s exactly what I did (after 3 visits to Demetres for dessert) – I turned down the background noise that was lowering my confidence. I put the results of OCI’s to the side and focused on my negotiation plan with my partner. It was the very first competition that I was going to be a part of, so I was determined to do well. Participating in this competition has been nothing but eye opening. My partner and I ended up first place in the negotiation competition, which qualified us to compete in the Canadian National Negotiation Competition. A week before the Canadian National Negotiation Competition was set to take place, and a few months after the OCI process, I had an interview at a law firm. At this time, I had thoughts along the line of “what if this won’t work? You got so many rejections during the OCI process, so why would it work now?” I’m so glad that I was able to mute these thoughts because it made me feel more confident and optimistic. Most importantly, I was able to be myself. I was so happy to get the call from the Student Committee at Minden Gross that night letting me know that they would like to offer me a job for the summer. Even though I am working virtually over the summer, the firm has been very supportive. Perhaps if I gave up after the numerous rejections that I received during the OCI process, I would have never landed at a firm like Minden Gross where I feel so welcomed. The following week after interviews, my partner and I, along with another team from Osgoode, and a coach from Dentons, traveled to New Brunswick to compete with students from law schools across Canada. That’s when my immune system decided that it would be the best time for me to get a cold. I went through three rounds of the Canadian National Negotiation competition on Tylenol, with a pounding headache each evening. But, I didn’t want to let my partner down, and I didn’t want to let my coaches down. So I gave the competition my full energy (rather than just sleeping my headache away). So the moment I heard that we landed first place, and that we will be representing Canada in the International Negotiation Competition, I couldn’t believe it. I was, and still am, happy that I didn’t let being sick stop me from giving it my best shot. I learned so much from negotiating with extremely talented students across Canada. It was a very rewarding experience, and I encourage all students to take part in competitions during their time in law school. So that’s my short story. I can’t tell you a one sized fit all solution to getting into law school, or navigating law school, but I’m hoping that this story inspires you to not give up. When you think things aren’t going the way you planned, don’t give up – there could be better things in store for you. Even Colonel Sanders, the mastermind behind Kentucky Fried Chicken, heard 1009 "no"s before he heard his first "yes". If you’d like to get in touch, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. I remember how it felt to not know anyone in the legal profession, and not know who to turn to when I needed to ask questions, so I’m happy to be there to be that first connection! Karen's Tips: This past school year the word unprecedented was newfound in my vocabulary. By the end of the school year, it became the most overused term, from emails I didn’t know I was subscribed to, through announcements on television this word was everywhere. The sudden switch to remote classes, university campus becoming a ghost town seemed like I was part of an apocalyptic movie, without the pay grade of being casted of course. I was accustomed to studying from home, and lectures were recorded prior to COVID, so I was fortunate in that I didn’t find the shift to be too taxing. However a few pieces of advice for those who are beginning online school, whether it be law school or another program:
Lucinda's Tips As many of you begin your law school journey online, you may wonder how your classes and semester will pan out. I can’t claim that I know everything about online schooling because it truly is unchartered territory for all us. Having completed half of my Winter semester online, here is my take on succeeding your first semester of law school online:
Why did you choose the school you went to?
I just completed my first year in the JD-Common Law program at the University of Ottawa. I knew Ottawa was the right choice for me for so many reasons: its location, reputation, activism and centrality to legal and political reform seen across the country. Before getting that acceptance letter, I had already started picturing myself in the Supreme Court of Canada or Parliament Hill, advocating for social justice, protecting constitutional rights, and fighting that good fight (you know, obvious things lawyers do)! In all seriousness, The University of Ottawa Faculty of Law really gives students a chance to immerse themselves in legal discussions on opportunities and challenges within the Canadian and international socio-political systems. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of invigorating conversations both inside and outside of the classroom on systemic issues facing Canadians dealing with discrimination, criminal justice reform, aboriginal rights, and constitutional challenges such as Bill C-21. The campus is steps away from Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada, inevitable giving you greater opportunities to actively engage with key legal and political figures working at the forefront of upcoming changes. Like any graduate degree, it was challenging at times, as I navigated law school, moved to a new city, and started a significantly new and daunting chapter of my life. Despite those hurdles, I definitely feel more motivated coming out of first year at the University of Ottawa. What do you like about your school? If I were to choose one thing that stood out to me about the University, its that there’s a powerful sense of community there. Everyone is there for each other, everyone understands one another’s struggles, and people really do go out of their way to help one another. I surprisingly never felt the competitive pressures that law school is known for. I was able to find a great support system within my cohort, as well as upper year students. A lot of students are from the Greater Toronto Area, so I was able to connect and find common ground with many. I also met a diverse range of people who brought interesting perspectives to legal topics. What’s it like to live there? I found that people who move to Ottawa for law school either really love it, or have a difficult time adjusting. I’d say I’m somewhere in the middle. Growing up in the busy suburbs of the GTA, working in downtown Toronto, and going to school in a thriving student town like Waterloo for undergrad and grad school are all very different experiences from Ottawa. Ottawa is moderately calmer, while still having a hint of the downtown flare of Toronto. While I do miss home, Ottawa has a comforting appeal. The school is located in downtown Ottawa, so the streets are vibrant and busy during the day. The view of the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill never gets old, and the greenery around the city can be breathtakingly beautiful in the fall and summer. Having Montreal a mere 2 hours away is great when you need a little getaway. I plan on taking a lot more advantage of the province next door in the upcoming years. While I do sometimes miss home when I’m in Ottawa, it isn’t hard to find comfort in Ottawa’s charm. Favourite class so far? I was fortunate enough to be taught by some great Professors who made legal concepts easy to grasp and interesting to learn. Classes that stood out to me were Public and Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Tort Law, and my elective: Women, Religion and Law. These classes gripped my attention for their heavy involvement in social advocacy and systemic reform. While all law is a form of advocacy, I’ve always focused on how we can make significant changes to legal systems heavily affecting those underrepresented. Seeing and working with legislature impacting constitutional rights and freedoms, as well as case law that drastically evolved Canada’s legal systems really grounded my appreciation for law school and my motivation as a future lawyer. I had a variety of learning experiences, with some professors primarily using experiential learning, and others more traditional. It's important to learn how to adjust the way you learn and retain information in each class. Some weeks were tougher than others, and exams definitely felt like an uphill battle in the first semester, but once I got over that hump, it felt much more conquerable. Legal goals? Law school has always been the goal for me growing up. Hearing me say “I want to be a lawyer” at 10 years old gave my dad a free pass to tell everyone we knew that I’m headed for law school (no pressure). The reason for wanting to be a lawyer is quite deeply rooted for me though. Growing up a Muslim, woman of colour, I witnessed a significant amount of Islamophobia exuding after 9/11 and knew I wanted my voice to be heard from a very young age. I remember teaching my friends about it in elementary school and doing class presentations on Malcolm X whenever I could. My undergraduate and graduate degrees in Rhetoric and Business furthered that need to let people know how they were being impacted by systemic issues in everyday business, politics and social and cultural structures. Being one of the only visible minorities in my Master’s degree further pushed me to project my voice where I felt it needed to be heard. Understanding how to legally tackle these issues is something I hope my legal career will enable me to do. While I currently have my sights set more broadly, my goal is to merge Constitutional Law with International Business Law. I’m excited to see what that entails for me in the near future. If people have more questions about your program, how can they contact you? Feel free to reach out to me if you want to know more about law school, Ottawa, or for general advice! You can find me on LinkedIn! |
Legally BrownThree Osgoode Hall Law students sharing their lived experiences and providing *unsolicited* advice. Archives
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