Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50715
HAMZA DAWOOD Dean's Gold Key Award, JD/MBA graduate, Osgoode Hall Law School 1) My route into the JD/MBA program off ered by Os- goode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Busi- ness was a bit unconventional because I decided to enter the program after completing my fi rst year at Osgoode as a JD student. Having entered law school, convinced that I was going to be a criminal prosecutor, I realized after fi rst year that business law was what I really wanted to do and an MBA was what I needed to improve my knowledge and understanding of the language and logic of business, especially given my liberal arts background. When I realized that I could secure a world-class MBA along with a JD through the joint program for a fraction of the time and tuition that it would otherwise take, my decision to enrol in the program was made. 2) When I enrolled in the Osgoode-Schulich program, one could only complete the degree in four years. The program can now be completed in either three or four years. 3) Juggling school and life was tough but solid organization and time-management skills got me through, along with a lot of late nights and hard work. I found that my ath- letic and social activities were a very important outlet that helped me blow off steam and maintain my focus when the demands of school got especially onerous. Above all, MICHAEL COMARTIN Medal in Law, MIR/JD graduate, Queen's University 1) Based on prior work experience, I knew I had an interest in labour and em- ployment law, but I did not have any formal background in industrial relations or human resources. I was also torn between law school and graduate work in his- tory. A trusted professor recommended I look into the joint master's of industrial relations/JD program, which is unique to Queen's. After a few meetings with the MIR program co-ordinator, I was sold on the program. I felt it would give me a foundation in the IR and HR issues that I would end up dealing with in practice. 2) It took four years to complete the master's and JD, but this included a work placement that serves as the equivalent of articling for MIR/JD students. I com- pleted my placement prior to graduating from the JD. So the program took no longer than the usual three years of law school plus the articling year. Recently, the program rules changed and students now complete the master's and the JD in three years, with articling to follow graduation. 3) I wish I could say balancing work and life came easily to me, but it was quite the opposite. That said, my experience might be of use to students starting law school. In my fi rst year, I had to work hard just to keep up. It wasn't a question of juggling school and life, as all I had time for was school. I gave up a part-time job and focused on school. I wanted to succeed, and worked hard, but despite that, I barely kept up. About halfway through the fi rst semester of my second year, things fi nally clicked for me. During my fi rst year I learned all the technical skills students learn in 1L, but I hadn't put the pieces together to form a coherent approach to studying law. Helpful professors taught me eff ective techniques for expressing le- gal conclusions in a clear and persuasive manner. I learned new ways to think and a positive attitude and a strong desire to maintain balance in my life proved most valu- able in helping me to succeed in the face of the intense demands of life and school. 4) Take classes that are interesting to you with professors you admire so learning is a pleasure rather than a chore. Try to establish relationships with upper-year student mentors who can provide school-specifi c insights regarding ideal course and professor selection. Participate in extracurricular activities relevant to your academic and profes- sional interests so you can meet like-minded peers and apply the knowledge you have learned in the classroom in the real world — the results will often inspire you! 5) I enjoyed virtually all of the courses I took, but if I had to choose one I would pick the fi nal year JD/MBA capstone seminar led by a senior professor and various professionals in careers at the intersection of law and business who lectured on issues in their fi elds, while providing a practical perspective concerning career and professional develop- ment. The lessons I learned in this course helped me better understand the day-to-day issues with which business people are concerned, while also equipping me with a better sense of how the worlds of law and business interact outside the classroom. To the extent that this seminar forced me to think about and apply the knowledge that I had learned throughout my legal and business studies in concrete, real-world terms, it helped me develop a more sophisticated and mature outlook as I prepare to begin my career as a corporate lawyer on Bay Street and thus it was my favourite course. 6) When I have spare time, I enjoy playing sports and travelling and engaging in entrepreneurship and service. write, and these tools made law school a lot easier and more enjoyable for me. Perhaps the most important change I made was learning to focus on factual application of case law rather than on abstract "rules." I had initially focused on learning "rules" rather than on understanding the fl exible principles that an adjudicator would apply to a given set of facts. Learning to think and write like a lawyer proved to be far more important for my work/life balance than anything else. 4) First, you should be familiar with the requirements of your program. I would suggest speaking to upper-year joint-degree students, as well as the administration of each school. Second, be prepared for the additional work your program requires. Law school is challeng- ing on its own, so you need to be aware of the impact of the second degree. Be willing to adapt to a new way of thinking. 5) My favourite course was advanced constitutional law, a seminar taught by Justice David Stratas. The course covered a wide variety of topics from equality rights to federalism to search and seizure, and students had a choice of three cases to moot. Since the subject matter was very broad, it attracted students with varying interests and perspectives, which made the seminar discussions incredibly diverse. And Justice Stratas' lectures on eff ective legal writing were invaluable. 6) Usually one of three things: reading, watching TV (particularly History Television), or playing cards. I'm also involved with the new Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace at Queen's. C ANADIAN Lawyer 4STUDENTS F all 2011 15 TOP TIPS FROM THE *