TMU's first law graduates leave a lasting legacy

Three years have passed since the inaugural class at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law started their law school journey at Canada’s newest law school in 2020 - with the ambition to become a new kind of lawyer. 

Ahead of Lincoln Alexander Law’s first ever convocation on June 27, we caught up with five graduating students and asked them about their law school experience, their most proud moments, and what the future holds.

Oksana Romanov
Up next: Commencing her judicial clerkship with the Superior Court of Justice 

What drew you to the Lincoln Alexander School of Law?

I was at a massage therapist’s office, flipping through Toronto Life, and I saw an ad for the law school that resonated with me – so I called the school to find out how to  apply. The law school’s pillars of access to justice, diversity, and inclusion are important to me and I saw it as an opportunity of a lifetime to be a changemaker and help shape the first cohort of lawyers graduating from the law school. 

What were your proudest moments or achievements during law school?

My favourite moments during law school included having the opportunity to be involved in so many different organizations. I did a legal internship with Pro Bono Students Canada (external link) , a non-profit organization providing free legal support to people and communities facing barriers to justice, which set me up for success on the path of my future endeavours. I also participated in the Young Workers Rights Hub at TMU, where I researched  topics pertaining to occupational health and safety issues in the workplace. I also served as our law school’s ambassador to the Ontario Bar Association (external link)  and as one of its student executives this year. 

What would you say was your most outstanding achievement during law school?

In my third year of law school, I focused on my mental health and well-being. The whole year was very challenging for me, and I’m proud of myself for completing my degree with distinction against all odds. My mom passed away at the end of March, just a couple of weeks before exams, and it was truly heartbreaking – she was the one person who always gave me unconditional love and support. My mental health was not in the best shape but it was incredibly heartening to receive support from Orlando Da Silva (external link)  (a prominent lawyer and wellness mentor), the law school’s student engagement and experience team, the faculty and the administration. Dean Donna Young sent me a personalized note - a small gesture that kept me going during difficult times.

Leo Cho
Up next: Articling at Dentons Canada LLP

What are some extracurricular activities you did or organizations you were part of?

I was the vice-president of academics for the Lincoln Alexander Law Students’ Society because I believed that we needed to establish a curriculum with learning opportunities aligned with the school’s mission statement and experiential learning opportunities that could be directly translated into our work placements Ultimately, we wanted to  develop a comprehensive knowledge base in order to be ready to practice upon graduation. 

What would you say was your most outstanding achievement at law school?

I’m proud of the fact that we built a sense of community and I hope that every student felt comfortable enough to voice their concerns and to resolve them in a collaborative manner. The faculty were also very open and willing to make changes to the curriculum, which I think is a strength of the program. We are always adapting, improving and changing. 

What was your experience with the law school’s Integrated Practice Curriculum?

It’s an incredibly valuable experience because it exposes students to what the law practically entails –   there is a difference between theory and the practical nature of the working realities in any given field or discipline.

Shanté Brown
Up next: Articling at Blake, Cassels and Graydon LLP

What drew you to the Lincoln Alexander School of Law and how would you describe your experience?

What drew me to the law school were the principles it was founded on, especially the diversity aspect. As a Black woman, that focus on greater representation is extremely important to me and has played a huge role in my legal journey. Seeing Dean Young appointed as the founding dean, showed me that the school was following through on its promise of facilitating greater diversity in the legal field.

What are some extracurricular activities you did or organizations you were part of?

I was the vice-president of communications for the Black Law Students’ Association, which was an incredible experience because we created a safe space to discuss the challenges we face as Black students entering  the profession. As the founding executives, our team was able to spearhead many initiatives aimed towards supporting Black students at Lincoln Alexander Law, the most memorable of which was the BLSA Black Excellence Award.

What was your experience like with the Integrated Practice Curriculum?  

It made for a much more robust educational experience because we were able to complete assignments based on real legal practice. We were able to go to classes and learn from practicing lawyers who showed us how things are done in their field, which helped me connect the dots to what we were learning in theory.

What are your plans for the future?

I was a legal intern at Nestlé Canada for my third year professional placement while on secondment from my firm and I will be returning to Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP as an articling student. I have always had an inclination towards litigation and legal advocacy but I am hoping to also explore other areas of practice.

Arshad Auckbarallee
Up next: Articling at a mid-sized full service law firm

What are some extracurricular activities you did or organizations you were part of?

As someone coming from a marginalized community, I knew right away the importance of creating a sense of community at the law school. I was the founding president of the Muslim Law Students’ Association serving three years and was also the founding vice-president of the South Asian Law Students’ Association. During the pandemic we hosted virtual events such as Zoom movie night and Q&As about recruitment. When things opened up again, we hosted many networking events that allowed students to meet other legal professionals who are also Muslim. 

What was your experience like with the Integrated Practice Curriculum

During my third year of law school, I completed my professional placement at the Ontario government’s Treasury Board Secretariat. The experience allowed me to overcome the fears I had about being a junior lawyer by gaining practical exposure to the legal world. I learned how to interact with other lawyers and what to expect when I start my career as a lawyer. 

What would you say was your most outstanding achievement at law school?

I’ve wanted to become a lawyer my entire life and now I want to be someone who people feel comfortable reaching out to about anything in the legal sphere. If someone wants to go to law school, they can approach me at the mosque to ask about what it’s like. I want to be that role model for others hoping to pursue a legal career. 

What are your plans for the future?

I will be articling at a mid-sized full service law firm at the end of the summer, which I’m really excited about.. I also want to help the next generation of lawyers with a similar background to me and continue building those relationships to give back to the community.

Ridhey Gill
Up next: Working at Gilbert’s LLP

What drew you to the Lincoln Alexander School of Law and what was your experience?

When TMU launched the law school’s JD program, I knew it was going to be my number one choice because I had so much faith in its ability to provide an innovative approach to legal education. I knew that a modern approach to legal education and practical-hands on learning was what I was looking for. 

What was your experience like with the Integrated Practice Curriculum? and why do you think it’s beneficial? 

It was an amazing experience that was challenging as much as it was rewarding. I was thrown into the deep end and had to learn quickly how to navigate real life situations. I really loved the team that I worked with and had some incredible mentors to learn from. Having this type of exposure to the legal world be embedded into the law school curriculum is exactly what students need.

What are your plans for the future?

I will be taking a much needed break for a few months to travel after the bar exam and then in August I will be returning to Gilbert’s LLP to work with the incredible Slingshot team where I hope to be working at the intersection of law, tech and innovation. 

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