Canadian Lawyer

doing extracurricular activities related to academics, which was not what I was used to. I figured that these new friends of mine were not necessarily smarter than I was but they had a particular path that was very well thought-out beforehand. Nobody actually asked me in school back at Jane and Finch if there was a plan in place; there was no path to a university education or even a career. This was all shocking to me. My new friends even knew the names of the universities they wanted to attend. Institute, as he couldn't afford the bus fare to Mackenzie. His grades had soared to high Bs (he had failed the prior year) and he was accepted to York University, but without any money, the student who ultimately graduated on the dean' After a semester, Vijaya switched to C.W. Jefferys Collegiate " go. Out of nowhere, a friend from Mackenzie called him up and offered to pay for the first year. "I was stunned. I cried, Vijaya, adding he blurted, "'You understand I can't pay you back," and she said, 'I know you will do the right thing. still hear her words in the back of his mind. Eight years later, Vijaya wrote her a cheque plus interest. She had forgotten about the loan. Meanwhile, during those years, he needed a place to live and '" He says he can another friend offered free lodging and covered the tuition for his second year. He also paid back that gift and to this day helps out this benefactor, who is now wheelchair-bound, with errands. Vijaya was accepted to law school at the University of Windsor s list, almost didn't " admits me?' I truly can't honestly answer as to why; I'm just glad that they did. They saw a need and without my asking for it they came to their own conclusion that I needed it and provided it without any hope of advantage. moral duty to do what we can to advance the cause of social justice. Vijaya has been quietly helping out those of a similar background, who need financial assistance to become lawyers. There' young man in Newfoundland who dreams of a career in law. He's Now it's his turn. "I think as lawyers, we have a social and " Calling it his "small attempt to do my part in that ideal," s the " just completing high school, but Vijaya has promised his family he'll take care of his first year of university. Back when he was to take his LSATs, Vijaya couldn't afford the prep course. A friend gave him the study materials. Remembering that, to date he has put two court clerks with their eyes on legal careers and a third youth through the course. Meanwhile, Vijaya paid for the first year of another disadvantaged youth. Two of his protegés have completed their schooling and are in the early years of practising law. Rather than pay him back, Vijaya is hoping they will help someone else by putting the money earmarked for him to students who want to follow the same route. "Nothing would please me or those who helped me along the way more than to inspire/see others to pay it forward," he says. and paid nominal rent living off-campus with a family he found through a local church, "I got a break," he says — until the house he was living in with two other school friends burned down. "Students had a fundraiser and people offered us meals and a fellow law student allowed me to stay in her attic for five months free, nal law and trial advocacy. But he still faced financial obstacles. He had student loans that had piled up from his second year onward (he didn't know about the student loan program in time to apply for first year). Articling at a firm, eating ramen noodles, and fix- ated on paying off the debt, he succeeded in a year. He laments how students today are handcuffed by the bloated Vijaya graduated law school with a very high ranking in crimi- " he says. "Beyond being a way to give talented youth a crack at contrib- uting to our legal system, it just makes you feel good to play a small part in the big picture. There's no downside. " costs of education and insists more than ever lawyers should con- sider helping students. "This is beyond cynicism, it feels good if you can even help one person." Criminal law is a calling for Vijaya, who is the grandson of Indian freedom fighters jailed in the famous "Quit India" move- ment. He says, "From whence I came, I can relate to the social, political, and legal issues." Vijaya' yer Shil Sanwalka offered him office space, telling him, "'You can pay me what you want. It is difficult to start up a practice. does that? He's a great man." s good luck continued in his first year of practice, as law- ' Who being called to the bar, he didn't have enough money to pay his insurance. A now-judge took care of the tab and picked him up in north Toronto each day for a month to drive him to the Oshawa courthouse because the alternative was the bus. He says his hum- ble mentor would not want to be publicly identified. Vijaya can't explain his great fortune. "I didn't ask for the money. I'm very shy; I'm the last person to say, 'Would you help When it came to his first trial in Superior Court, right after ntitled-2 1 What do your clients need? The means to move on. Guaranteed . ™ Baxter Structures customizes personal injury settlements into tax-free annuities that can help your clients be secure for life. Need more information? Contact us at 1 800 387 1686 or baxterstructures.com www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com JUNE 2012 21 12-03-12 3:20 PM

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