I’d like to share my top three RBG quotes. These quotes show the magnitude of a judge’s impact on society. She is no longer with us, but what she stood up for, how she phrased it, is eternal. She will forever be remembered for her fight for equality, on and off the bench. By: Karen Randhawa
Hi! My name is Trishala Parikh and I am currently in my last year of the JD/MBA program at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business. I am not your traditional law student because I have a science background and at every single 2L recruit interview I was asked the question “Why did you attend law school after your science degree?” The simple answer is that my Indian parents always wanted me to be a doctor but I had different plans. This answer is often met with laughter and I think I have learned to find the humour in it too. Despite family pressure, I knew I always wanted to be a lawyer. Some of my fondest memories from high school were participating in debate and Model UN and my favourite course was Introduction to Canadian Law. Therefore, two years into my undergraduate degree I decided to follow my instincts and plan for a career in law and I have never looked back. JD/MBA Program The JD/MBA program has provided me with the well-rounded educational experience I sought upon entering law school. The law is often about preventing every single problem imaginable and we often dissect a single provision or case for hours. This detailed, risk-averse perspective is really important and has its place but my MBA has trained me to sometimes embrace the bigger picture. The legal and the business world speak two different languages and a dual degree equips you with the knowledge and perspective to navigate both sides effectively. Favourite Courses Two of my favourite law school courses have been Securities Regulation and Corporations & Diversity. I enjoyed Securities Regulation because it was such an interesting introduction into the world of financial markets and the unique role lawyers play in regulating the financial system. I also loved the professor because he encouraged us to critically think about capital markets and not rote memorize for the three hour final. Secondly, Corporations & Diversity with professor Aaron Dhir was one of the most rewarding classes in my law school career thus far. Often, black-letter corporate courses such as Tax Law and Business Associations fail to address key issues such as diversity—or the lack thereof—which is a shame because there is a very clear business case for diverse boards and executive teams. Corporations & Diversity allowed me to contextualize my corporate law education and critically think about the gaps in our legal curriculum. Also, I was very fortunate to be in an extremely engaged class and I learned so much from my peers during our weekly class discussions. Law School Advice I have two pieces of advice for anyone in law school or entering law school. Firstly, this journey is challenging and it will make you question yourself and your abilities. Imposter syndrome is a real struggle for many but it is important to remember you have earned your spot in law school, in the boardroom, and in that courtroom. When it comes to imposter syndrome I always refer back to one of my favourite Michelle Obama quotes "I have been at probably every powerful table that you can think of, I have worked at nonprofits, I have been at foundations, I have worked in corporations, served on corporate boards, I have been at G-summits, I have sat in at the UN; they are not that smart." Secondly, stay open-minded and take different courses and participate in varied extracurricular activities because you never know what area of law may interest you. Hi! I’m Shefali Sood and I am a recent graduate from the combined HBA/JD program at Western Law and Ivey Business School. I recently completed my bar exam and will be articling at Davies, Ward Phillips & Vineberg beginning in September 2020. Western University is situated in London, Ontario, a city about 200 km southwest from my home, Toronto. London is a small city and I cannot say it was my favourite city right away, but over the years it became a place I called a home away from home. From frequenting Richmond Row for the nightlife, experiencing the eclectic food scene, and meeting some of my best friends due to the tight-knight community that Western University has to offer, I can easily say that going to Western was one of the best decisions I ever made. Full Disclaimer: I chose Western University for law school because I was in an undergrad program (the HBA program at Ivey Business School) that offered a dual degree option with Western Law. Consequently, I did not apply to any other law schools, however I could not have been happier with my decision. The HBA program is a 2+2 program, meaning you have to complete two years in a different program prior to entering Ivey Business School in third year. This leaves a lot of room for dual degree options. Many of my colleagues pursued dual degree options as varied as engineering/business, arts/business, music/business and more. The HBA program also offers a dual degree program with a professional school, Western Law. This is the dual degree option that I pursued. For this option, you enter Ivey Business School in your third year and apply to Western Law at the end of the year to be admitted during your fourth year. In fourth year, you complete 1L and during 2L (5th year) and 3L (6th year), you simultaneously complete your degree at Ivey Business School. At the end you are awarded both degrees. Western Law is an amazing faculty. Each year at Western Law is comprised of 176 students and by the end of your three years at the law school, you can safely say you have at least met, if not meaningfully interacted with, nearly all the students in your year. My classmates at Western Law were helpful, kind, supportive individuals that made my experience at the law school enjoyable. Further, the law school has so many opportunities to get involved such as clubs, clinics, moots, and a variety of social events. Through my years at Western Law, I was part of a legal clinic as a caseworker, co-chaired the Community Outreach Committee, was on the Student Legal Society as a year rep, partook in a competitive external moot, played dodgeball and volleyball through intramural sports, joined a squash ladder despite never having played squash prior to it, and was even a member of In Wingo Veritas, a chicken wing enthusiast club. Being a student at Western Law also means that you are part of Western University as a whole, which means you have access to not just all the clubs and opportunities at Western Law but also to the 200+ clubs, intramural teams, and facilities that this amazing university has to offer. Western University’s culture fosters a tight-knight community that facilitates long-lasting relationships. Plus, the campus is simply breathtaking so why not make it your home for the next three years if given the choice? Some of my favourite memories during my time at law school are from going to Denning Wednesdays. Every second Wednesday, the law school would go out to a local bar and socialize. One piece of advice if you go to Western, no matter how busy you get, make time for Denning Wednesdays. After you finish school, you won’t remember the nights spent studying, but you will remember the nights spent getting Smoke’s Poutine at 2 AM after a night out, while getting ready to make it to 8:30 AM Admin Law the following morning. All in all, going to Western was an amazing experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. However, now that I’m done school, I am ready to focus in on the next stage of life: articling. Right now, my goals for the upcoming year are to finish articling and hopefully, secure a full-time position thereafter. In other words, I’m just trying to take life one day at a time. If you have any questions about Western Law or would just like to connect, please reach out to me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn. |
Legally BrownThree Osgoode Hall Law students sharing their lived experiences and providing *unsolicited* advice. Archives
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