Year of Law School:  3L

Age:  26

Hometown:  North Vancouver

What did you do before law school?   After completing my history degree at the University of Alberta I took a year off to work for the Vancouver Olympics and travel.

What area of law are you interested in?  I am definitely interested in environmental and natural resource law, but have found other areas extremely interesting as well. I haven’t figured out what I want to do yet, so the broader exposure I get the better!

A fun fact about yourself… I recently did the Tough Mudder and find the Grouse Grind “fun” 🙂

What was your favourite part of Orientation Week?   Meeting the people that are now some of my best friends!

What was the best advice an upper year gave you when you started school?  Maintain balance! Keep doing all the things that made you an awesome law school candidate – they will be much needed de-stressors when things get busy.

What was the worst advice an upper year gave you when you started school?   That I needed to find study groups as soon as possible. I like to study alone until right before an exam and then meet up to go over practice exams. In the end that worked for me. Don’t worry about doing what other people are doing, study like you did in undergrad but with a bit more intensity.

What was your favourite part of first year?   Being challenged and getting out of my comfort zone. I loved meeting so many diverse and amazing people and going through the ups and downs of all that is law school together!

What was the most challenging part of first year?   Finding balance – getting the advice is one thing and living it is another! It took me until about November to realize that I would burn out if it was all law all the time. It is refreshing and necessary to spend time with people who don’t know what a CAN is.

What was your favourite social event in first year?   Boat cruise – it was the first big social event of the year, and I’ve always been partial to being stuck on a boat with good people and good drinks.

What would you do differently in 1L if you could go back now?   I would have signed up for LSLAP. I was worried about overcommitting to extracurriculars (which you do need to be aware of) but I think the on-the-ground clinical experience would have been interesting.

What extracurriculars would you recommend to 1Ls?  I really enjoyed Legal Education Outreach (“LEO”) where you go into high schools and give presentations about law. I also loved being a member of the Careers Committee because you get to work with the Career Services Office who are total gems. The Hoop-Law Charity basketball tournament is a well-recognized, low commitment way to get involved. Lastly, join whatever groups interest you – they are a great way to find like-minded people! For me that was the Environmental Law Group – we went for hikes, watched documentaries, etc.

What was your favourite class?  Favourite professor?   Torts – Joost Blom is the perfect mix of knowledgeable, engaging and jovial.

Any words of wisdom for the incoming 1Ls?   You are coming to UBC because you are all awesome, skilled candidates who have what it takes to excel. Keeping doing what makes you great and remember that your life is not law school, law school is just a very cool part of the next chapter of your life!

Welcome UBC Law Class of 2016,

First, congratulations on being accepted into Law School, this really is a significant accomplishment onto itself.  UBC has a great program with a very active and engaged student body.

The Indigenous Law Students’ Association is one of the many opportunities for you to get more from your time at Allard Hall.  Our association is open to all members of law school and is focussed on providing opportunities to learn about indigenous laws and traditions, First Nation, Metis, and Inuit culture, and provide social activities for members in our group. 

Last year our executive was very busy with a very engaged speaker series on issues like sentencing for aboriginals, resource development on First Nation lands, careers in Aboriginal Law, and even a discussion on the Idle No More movement.

Our members attended the annual Indigenous Bar Association conference in Winnipeg, as well as the University of Victoria annual community conference.  Both of these included a variety of speakers on topics dealing with land claims, indigenous rights, water rights, legal orders and traditions, along with providing various networking opportunities with individuals and firms in the community.

Our social committee put on a wide variety of events last year that included getting teams involved in the UBC longboat race, trike race, putting on pub nights, the ugly sweater Christmas party, an art crawl, and a couple of movie nights for everyone to gather and blow off some of the law school stress.

The highlight of our year is the Indigenous Awareness Week, which was sponsored last year by Fasken Martineau, Mandell Pinder, and Alliance Pipeline.  The activities from this last year included an annual BBQ, a movie, speakers (former BC Lt. Gov Stephen Point and Jean Barnum), dance and musical performances by a variety of First Nation and Metis groups and of course the famous Indian Taco Day.

If you want to learn more about the association and see what our members have been doing you can go to our website at http://ubcindigenouslaw.com/ or email us at ilsa.ubc@gmail.com.

We hope you have a great rest of your summer and look forward to meeting you in September.

The Indigenous Law Students’ Association Executive

…for Orientation and the First Few Weeks of Law School!

Hello incoming 1Ls! My name is Aicha (pronounced “eye-sha”) I’m a third year student (3L) and this year’s Orientation Assistant. If you’re anything like I was before 1L, you have a million and three questions about law school buzzing around in your head. I’ve compiled the following list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers in hopes of helping silence that buzz!  If you still have questions after reading this post, please feel free to email me at studentservices@law.ubc.ca and I’ll be more than happy to help you out. Here we go!

What should I wear to Orientation?

First day: No suits required! Please dress in whatever casual clothing you usually wear. Keep in mind that we will be providing you with a fabulous Orientation t-shirt at registration and you’ll need to wear it for the first day.  

Rest of Orientation: Most people only wear the Orientation t-shirt on the first day, so dress as you usually would for daily life. No suits required!

Banquet: The banquet is NOT a formal event so sweeping ball gowns and sleek tuxes are unnecessary. This isn’t an event you need to buy new clothes for: just don some dress pants and a shirt, or a dress if you like, and you’ll be golden. And if you’ve got a tie, great! Pop that bad boy on and you’re more than ready. You can see some examples below of what’s been worn to previous banquets.

First week: You likely know this is coming, but I’ll say it again: no suits required! Wear casual clothing: you’ll be sitting in class, meeting people, and (hopefully) basking in the glorious sunshine during your breaks. No need to get fancy over here.

 Prior Banquets:

What should I bring to Orientation? Do I need to take notes?

There is no need to bring a laptop and you aren’t required to take notes during the lectures. That said, bringing a pen and a small notebook can’t hurt: the “How to Read a Case” lecture on Thursday, August 29 will be useful when you do start your readings, and you might find it helpful to take some quick notes. Most orientation events are purely informative and meant to introduce you to your peers and professors, and to give you a small taste of what ‘The Law’ and law school will entail.

When do I get my class schedule?

A general schedule will be posted on the UBC Law website (this schedule is subject to change), but your finalized schedule will be included in your beautiful, comprehensive, made-with-love Orientation packages. You’ll receive those bad boys at registration on the first day of Orientation. Be excited!

Can I get a list of my required textbooks? Where can I buy them?

All textbooks can be purchased at the UBC Bookstore, but there are a few reasons why you don’t need to worry about your textbooks or book lists just yet: you won’t know exactly which books you’ll need until you meet your professors and receive your syllabi. Also, the Grad Committee organizes a used book sale at the beginning of each semester, and this is a fabulous opportunity to get great deals on texts that you’d otherwise have to buy at full price. You’ll get more information about the used book sale during Orientation and the first week of school.

If you’re really anxious about your books despite my sage advice, you can try the UBC Bookstore Booklist tool to see what texts your professors have ordered. However, I wouldn’t go this route because you don’t need the books yet and can save money with the book sale, and because I can’t guarantee that the booklist function is accurate. You can find more information about the Booklist on the UBC Bookstore website.

 Do I need a suit in first year?

You do not need a suit for the first few weeks, but I highly recommend getting one for first year. It will come in handy during Wine & Cheese receptions, at networking events with firms, or if you plan on going to the court house (to observe a trial, or as a representative for LSLAP etc.). It does not need to be expensive; I bought my first suit at Sears!

Is it true that December exams ‘don’t count’?

Yes and no. December exams are ‘fail safe’, so if you do better in the April exams only that April mark will count. If you get a better grade on a December exam, it will count for 25% of your final mark in the course. I recommend approaching the December exams as if they do ‘count’, because then you will know exactly how well your preparation paid off. It allows you to modify your studying style for April if necessary, and that 25% boost doesn’t hurt if you really knock a December exam out of the park!

Should I take notes by hand or with my laptop?

You should use whichever method you’re most comfortable with, it’s all about personal preference. Most students do take notes with a laptop, but there are usually a few students in a class who stick it out old school and handwrite. I find using a laptop easier because it’s neater than my handwriting, I type faster than I write, and I find my notes easier to organize once I want to edit them for exam purposes. The downfall of typing is you can get caught up in trying to transcribe a lecture and then don’t actually learn as you frantically type away. Handwriting forces you to be concise and to get down the main points.  

Once school starts, keep an eye out for the Academic Success lectures offered by the faculty.  You’ll get a chance to hear from upper year peer tutors, and they’ll give you helpful tips on what study and note-taking methods worked for them.

Should I read anything law related to prepare for first year?

In the words of a wise man, “don’t worry, be happy.” Enjoy your summer before law school and read ‘for-fun’ books, climb a mountain, or frolic on the beach. You’ll have ample time to sequester yourself in the library during the school year so enjoy the time away from law things while you’ve got it. Grab some sun while it’s here, by November you’ll be your special shade of Winter White and will have forgotten what ‘sunshine’ is.

That being said, the UBC 2013 Orientation Guide does list some recommended books if you’re super keen to get a glimpse of law life. I didn’t look at any of them and I’ve managed to make it this far. Don’t worry, you’ll get to experience law school first-hand soon enough.

Do professors use the Socratic Method?

Most professors do not, but I had one use it in first semester of first year. Don’t panic! This was mostly to learn our names and he never tried to trick, trap, or embarrass anyone. When we were asked questions they were usually along the lines of ‘what were the facts’, and that’s easy enough to answer if you’ve done the reading. Don’t worry, no prof will Legally Blonde you in front of the class (I know you’ve seen that movie and know what I’m talking about).

Should I be worrying about law summer jobs and articling jobs already?

No! While there are summer legal employment opportunities after 1L, many of these jobs don’t have application deadlines until later in your 1^st year (i.e. Term 2).  Focus on your studies and get involved with some of the activities, clubs, or communities that you’re interested in. The Career Services Office does a fabulous job of keeping us apprised of when and what we should be thinking about when it comes to legal employment. Enjoy your first year—and the summer before law school—because you will have plenty of time to think about your summer and articling job options later on in your law degree. If you’re thinking about non-law summer jobs in general, the same advice applies: you’ll get many opportunities to consult the Career Services Office about summer employment, and they are magicians when it comes to keeping us informed about opportunities that arise. Relax, enjoy your summer, and don’t yet worry about law jobs!

I hope you’ve found the above helpful! If not… oh look, a picture!

Cheers,

Aicha

Orientation Assistant 

Hello incoming 1Ls!

Congratulations on your admission to Allard Hall, and welcome to the UBC Law community. At this time last summer, I was in your shoes, eagerly awaiting the start of Orientation Week. What to do after law school was the furthest thing from my mind, and I had no clue what the “CSO” stood for. As it turns out, having more questions than answers was, and still is, okay!

To give you a head start, here are the three career-related things I wish I had known before Orientation Week:

1.    What is the See-Ess-Ohhh?

The Career Services Office (the “CSO”) is dedicated to helping you develop and realize your career goals, in and beyond law school. The Career Services Team consists of three wonderful previously practicing lawyers: Pamela Cyr (Assistant Dean), Jennifer Lau (Associate Director), and Tracy Wachmann (Public Interest Coordinator). Pam, Jenn, and Tracy each have a wealth of legal experience, having collectively worked for national and regional full-service law firms, boutique law firms, with public interest organizations, with the government, and as a sole practitioner. In fact, in addition to being the CSO’s Public Interest Coordinator, Tracy continues to practice administrative law to this day, focusing on public interest environmental law and self-regulated professions.

Throughout the school year, the CSO offers law students many career-related opportunities, including:

• One-on-one counseling appointments;
• Frequent workshops and information sessions, including Resume and Cover Letter Workshops, a How to Wine & Cheese panel, and public interest seminars;
• Dozens of sample legal resumes and cover letters, targeted at a variety of traditional and non-traditional legal opportunities; and,
• The opportunity to participate in recruitment and networking events, including the Vancouver Employers Wine & Cheese Reception, the Calgary & Toronto Employers Wine & Cheese Reception, the Small Firm Wine & Cheese Reception, and the Social Justice Forum.

The CSO is a bridge that spans the divide between law students and the legal community.  Events hosted by the CSO will connect you with student recruiters, practicing lawyers who could become future mentors, students who are currently articling, and public interest organizations that may ignite your passion for their cause.

2.    “What type of law do you want to practice?”

Before law school began, I was asked this question more times than I could count. I had no idea. Environmental law? Family law? Business law? Maybe not law at all? If you find yourself in a similar situation, do not worry.

As you enter law school, stay open to all of the possibilities and opportunities that come your way. You might enter law school dead set on becoming a Crown Prosecutor, practicing business law at a large downtown law firm, or setting up a Main Street storefront law practice in a small town, but then find out that your interests lie elsewhere.  Your interests will continue to change as you try new courses, get to know your professors, and meet practitioners within the legal community. Embrace this. The CSO is here to provide you with perspective, based on a wealth of experience.

(I still haven’t made up my mind).

3.    Remember where you came from (the most important piece of advice)

Law school is a transformative experience, and the CSO exists to support you in this journey.  As you get to know your 1L classmates and begin to develop a sense of the legal landscape, never forget where you came from. Every law student, you included, has taken a unique path to Allard Hall. This path will inform where you end up going, and where you end up going may be very different from where you expected to go on your first day of law school.  Also, remember the intrinsic values that led you here and the communities from which you come. They will support you as you make your way through law school and beyond.

Finally: You will have the opportunity to learn everything you need to know about traditional and non-traditional legal career opportunities once 1L begins… so enjoy your summer!

I look forward to meeting all of you at the end of August!

Caitlin

Career Services Summer Student

Year of Law School: 2L

Age: 24

Hometown: Burns Lake, BC

What did you do before law school?  I completed a degree in Political Science & International Studies at the University of Northern BC. Following that, I took an action packed year off where I worked in municipal government, travelled South America and completed an internship at the International Criminal Court.

What area of law are you interested in?  Generally speaking, litigation, as well as aboriginal law, business law, international law, energy law and …the list goes on. A legal career offers many options!

 A fun fact about yourself… I’m writing this from Cape Town, South Africa where I’m currently working as a researcher for a legal NGO.

What was your favourite part of Orientation Week?  The “Student Perspectives” panel, where a few students shared their outside interests; a representative peek into the talent that exists at UBC Law.  It was reassuring to know that students found time to cultivate other interests during their time at Allard Hall. It also inspired me to pursue a non-conventional summer job.

What was the best advice an upper year gave you when you started school?  “Some of those who are the most successful academically are those who take meaningful breaks”

Legal reading, research and writing all require a high level of focus. Instead of spending 14 hours without moving from my desk, I planned breaks that enabled me to return to work and be more productive. This doesn’t mean refreshing Facebook every ten minutes. Instead, breaks I would recommend include: going to the gym, making a nice meal, and of course anything outside in Vancouver’s spectacular natural environment.  I went to a daytime show at the Commodore in the middle of exam period and I swear I did better on my exams because of it.

You can achieve much more on a day when you’re operating at 80% energy rather than 30%. While its important to work hard, find a balance where you make self-care a priority. Work smart!

What was the worst advice an upper year gave you when you started school?

“You don’t really need to start taking school seriously until February”

First year increases in intensity as the year progresses.  In the fall semester you can expect a lighter reading load as you attend social events, get to know your classmates and simply get used to being in law school. During the second semester, the pace of work picks up quite a bit. If you were behind during the first semester, it’s going to be very challenging to catch up.

Importantly, this recommendation taught me to take advice with a grain of salt. Different things work for different people. Some people can be in cruise mode until the last minute and do well; others can’t.

Bottom line: stay engaged throughout the year. December exams offer a great learning opportunity in preparation for the more significant exams in April, so you should take them seriously.

What was your favourite part of first year? The feeling of accomplishment when it was all over!

What was your favourite social event in first year?  The boat cruise. Getting dressed up and going out with UBC Law… on a boat! As a newcomer to Vancouver, I loved taking in the night skyline of the city… on a boat! You should also not under any circumstances miss the Guile debate. Or Law Revue.

What would you do differently in 1L if you could go back now?  Definitely, I would have stressed less. I should have believed the upper years when they said it was all going to be ok.  So save yourself some grief and believe us now.

What extracurriculars would you recommend to 1Ls?  Scope out the many options with an open mind. Its nice to balance your studies with something you enjoy that also informs your broader legal education. Or doesn’t. Do what interests you and have fun!

What was your favourite class?  Favourite professor?  That is one tough call. Who could definitively choose between Professor Sheppard’s spectacular Powerpoints and morning property class laughs … Professor Bakan’s engaging lecture style … Professor Elliot’s great SCC stories… or Professor MacDougall’s great sense of humour and mastery of the law of Contracts.. We have great profs.

Any last words of wisdom for the incoming 1Ls?  I’ve got several!

Engage with the community around you.  The social element of law school is a significant part of the experience. From firm recruitment events, socials, lunchtime lecture series, to club events and sports teams, there is so much to do! Take advantage of the incredibly collegial and inclusive atmosphere at UBC Law and get involved. Your time at Allard Hall will be that much better for it. Get to know those around you; there will definitely be a few life long friends in the group.

Pay attention in class.  Come prepared and stay engaged… why tune out and then have to go back and learn something on your own later, when the professor who sets the exam can teach it to you right then and there? Make the most of your time in class. You should also note anything unclear or confusing right away so you can resolve it with your classmates or professor.

Define success for yourself.  Law school is competitive. Its easy to get caught up in concerning yourself with how much time others spend studying, who has the most reading done or who has gone to the most firm recruitment events etc. You can’t predict your own success by comparing yourself to your classmates. So, don’t bother!  Instead, think about what you want to achieve during 1L and evaluate what it will take you to get there. For example, don’t panic if someone is in a study group and you aren’t in one yet… or never join one. You may be surprised to learn that sometimes, the person who studies 30 hours a week does better than the person who studies 90 hours a week. The experience differs for everyone. Focus on reaching your own goals on your own terms.

Relax. Please try not to get too stressed out. Law school is challenging, but ultimately extremely rewarding. I loved my first year and I hope you will too.  You only get one shot at 1L, so dig in and enjoy it!  Best of luck!