Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50905
BY JULIE SOBOWALE abroad Going International experiences are a popular way for students to add a unique dimension to their legal studies. A lison Hopkins nervously walked into the session. As part of her internship with the Asia Foun- dation, she would for three days educate 100 male imams in Bangladesh on the importance of child and civics educa- tion. Her task wasn't easy: as a young, female student in a highly patriarchal society, it would be difficult to gain the imams' respect. "I sat down and they sat as far away from me as possible," says Hopkins, an articling student at Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP in Ottawa. "I was so uncomfortable." The tension was short-lived. By the end of the session, the imams were chat- ting with Hopkins and promising to keep in touch. "I gained their trust because I didn't come into the session with precon- ceived notions," she says. "Once they saw that I was open to their ideas, they were willing to work with me as a team." Going international is a popular way for students to add a unique experience to their legal studies. Studying or work- ing abroad can help students break into international law, stand out in the hiring pool, or be an outlet to get involved in the global community. Most Canadian law schools provide international student exchange programs. Typically, exchanges run for one semester during the second or third year of law school. Students must fulfil course requirements for graduation within their program while taking the in- ternational courses as electives and usu- ally carrying a full course load in their host country. Most exchanges are taught in the native language of the host country so students speaking multiple languages have an advantage. Nora Ciurysek was looking for a chal- lenge when she decided to study at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia during her final year at Dalhou- sie University's Schulich School of Law. Australia was a good choice. The similar legal system and language along with ex- otic locale made the country appealing. "Learning the law in another country is eye-opening," says Ciurysek. "It's interest- ing to look at how other cultures deal with issues. In Australia, they don't have hu- man rights legislation in their constitution but many people feel they have adequate protection. This gave me a different per- spective on how our laws work." The added bonus of an exchange is, of course, travelling. Ciurysek went to the Great Barrier Reef to become a certified scuba diver. "Swimming underwater is like being a bird flying over land," she says. "I was in another world." Students also experience different cul- tures through international work. Cana- dian Lawyers Abroad promotes human rights in developing areas and offers in- ternational internships to law students. It matches students with organizations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Canadian North. In the CLA's five-year history, it has sent more than 60 students abroad from its 10 student chapters across Canada. With firms offering few sum- mer positions for first-year students, an internship provides an alternative way to gain experience. "You see the bigger picture through international law," says Catherine McKenna, executive director and co-founder of CLA. "In law school, issues seem very academic. Once you start working with an organization you can see how practical it is to talk about issues like human rights." C ANADIAN Lawyer 4STUDENTS F ALL 2010 7 HUAN TRAN