Canadian Lawyer 4Students

C A N A D I A N L a w y e r 4 S T U D E N T S F A L L 2 0 1 5 27 are doing and give us a head start [so] that, when we start classes, we actually know what is going on." And that is exactly what the fi rst-year three-week block course is designed to do. Basics such as writing, analyzing cases, briefi ng cases, developing research skills, and teaching students about the types of law and the court system in Canada is what will be covered during the intensive course three-week load. Class times will be longer and teachers will move beyond traditional methods of teaching, says Woolley. 2L NEGOTIATIONS AND ETHICS In the second year, another block course is introduced. Civil procedure, ethical law- yering, and negotiations are essential skills needed in lawyering and in life, says Daniel Lasko, 3L Calgary law student and summer research assistant for the new curriculum. "Everything is a negotiation, whether it is with your family or it is business," he says. Having worked closely implementing the curriculum with various professors, Lasko sees the value in the program. Instead of theory-based learning, the school is imple- menting practical learning — a U of C phi- losophy and learning approach fi rst imple- mented in the 1980s, Lasko says. "Teach them how to do tasks that they would have to do in their careers." Another unique element of the curricu- lum is the block courses themselves. ey are generally three weeks in length, during which students attend the same class every day, all day for three weeks, and really focus in on the subject matter before commenc- ing their regular course load. 3L MOCK TRIALS is school year, Hogg and Lasko, both entering their third year of law school, will prepare and conduct mock trials in the area of law of their choosing, using the help of actual lawyers. " e diff erence is that we are combining the expertise of lawyers with the expertise of the professors so the stu- dents could have both of those perspectives within a single class," says Woolley. e advocacy course is being expanded to three weeks instead of one and will spe- cialize in civil or criminal litigation. Wool- ley anticipates that the trials will be con- ducted in front of an actual judge. " e students will be doing much more hands-on, performance-based learning, where they are actually doing instead of just passively receiving the information," says Woolley. INTIMATE SETTING AWAY FROM HOME Unlike most other law schools, the Fac- ulty of Law in Calgary admits a fairly small number of students, which has a big eff ect on teaching techniques, accountability, and creative solutions. "I think we have about 110 students per class, but some other law schools are quite a bit larger, maybe 200 or 300 students per class," says Lasko. With an annual class size of about 100 students, there are about 30 students in any given course, he says. In such an intimate setting, he says, stu- dents get to know their peers well. Lasko fi nished his undergrad in Toronto and is originally from Montreal. Hogg, who is originally from British Columbia, never thought she would end up at Calgary law, but she is glad she did. "My plan actually — and it had been my plan for four, fi ve years — was to move to Toronto, and I got into schools in Toronto and London, and I just had a feeling U of C would be the right fi t for me," she says. "I am defi nitely surprised that I ended up at Calgary and I like it so much. "It [has] smaller class sizes than most schools across campus," says Hogg. "It also means greater accountability amongst the staff and the faculty." THE JOB MARKET e other reason students fl ock to Calgary for law is the job market. "Calgary is known for having fantastic job opportunities," says Hogg. "We have a phenomenal career offi ce that really does everything that it can to get us a placement." Lasko agrees. "I also came to Calgary be- cause of the better job market for lawyers. at is the main reason," he says. e university faculty plans to stand by the long-lived tradition of being an inno- vative law school that combines academic rigour and practical applicability, which is part of the school's history, says Woolley. "I think it is those types of things… walk- ing the walk and not just talking the talk that make it really diff erent," adds Hogg. ■ BY ANASTASIYA JOGAL Remember when all you wanted to be was a lawyer? Remember when all you wanted to be was a lawyer? Ranked In Leading Firm CHAMBERS GLOBAL 2015 2013 RANKED A G A Z I N E N E N IT'S TIME. www.sherrardkuzz.com | 416.603.0700 | 24 Hour 416.420.0738 | @SherrardKuzz We are one of Canada's leading employment and labour law firms. Join us.

• Cover