I was once told that what matters in law school is what you do with your time here. I never fully appreciated what that meant until I was embedded in the student culture at Osgoode. It has been a transformative chapter in my life, both for developing a better understanding of the law and myself.
While I am always enthused by exposure to Osgoode’s myriad of classes, the opportunities available outside of the classroom make this experience especially rich. I was fortunate to join Osgoode’s student government, the Legal and Literary Society, as a First-Year Representative. This allowed me to develop skills in advocacy, negotiation, and – of course – balance. My involvement continued the following year as Vice President External, and has culminated in my role as President. Having the opportunity to assist in developing Osgoode’s student life is something that I highly value.
Beyond these student initiatives, I spent my first summer working for Professor Alan Young, Director of the Innocence Project, becoming involved in files for those who lacked access to legal services. I entered that summer with the foundation provided by my first-year, but emerged with a greater appreciation for what is truly required of a legal advocate.
Finally, I must promote Osgoode’s mooting program. The Mooting Society allows students to develop oral advocacy skills through various competitions. My personal experience was on the Oxford Price Media Law Moot Team, which represented Osgoode internationally, both at New York’s Cardozo University and then at Oxford University. This honour was only possible through the wealth of resources our school provides.
I encourage all students who come through Osgoode to make the most of their time here. Become involved, sometimes in ways outside of your comfort zone. It will benefit your personal development and the Osgoode student community at large.