Meet Akashreet Brar! Akashreet grew up in Toronto but has called Ottawa home for the past several years after attending both high school and now university in the Nations Capital. Akashreet now attends ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ with a major in Law with a concentration in Business Law as well as a minor in psychology. Akashreet is also this year’s recipient of this year’s Captus Press Award for Introductory Courses.

What lead you to pursue your degree at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´? This university offers a comprehensive undergraduate law program which really interested me. Additionally, ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ is my home university so it made the most sense for me to pursue something I am interested in while being close to home.

What has been your favourite part of the program? My favourite part has been LAWS 2202 (Obligations) with Professor David Dwoskin. This was one of the best courses I have ever taken with an amazing instructor who had tons of practical experience in the field, with a great sense of humour, which made class really fun to attend.

What are you hoping to do after graduation? After graduating, I am planning to attend law school and pursue a JD. I’m hoping to use my degree as a stepping stone towards becoming a lawyer.

Any advice for incoming students? My advice for incoming students would be to get involved with clubs and activities on campus.

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Meet Marcy Kataquapit, who is this year’s Transformation Scholarship for Indigenous Students! Marcy is s fourth year student majoring in Law with a minor in Political Science. Marcy comes from Kashechewan Cree First Nation and Attawapiskat Cree First Nation, both located on Treaty 9 of the Omushkegowuk Cree territory. The Omushkegowuk Cree reside in northern Ontario, along the outskirts of the northwestern James Bay coast.

What led you to decide to pursue your BA at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´?

After taking a long gap year, I was unsure as to where I would pursue my BA in law. I felt there were not many opportunities for legal studies in northern Ontario universities. After researching universities, I found out about ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University’s unique law program. As a northerner, I took the big leap and moved to Ottawa to pursue my BA in southern Ontario. Being located in Canada’s capital, I thought ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ would be a great place to study law and politics.

Do you have a favourite part of your program (whether a specific course or instructor, or something else)?
The program has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of various areas in Canadian law. I am particularly interested in Indigenous rights, and this program has provided me with opportunities to apply and expand my knowledge of Indigenous legal issues within Canadian legal studies. The specific courses that I really enjoyed were LAWS 3509: Settler Sovereignty and Aboriginal and Treaty Rights: The Charter’s Section 25 with Professor Douglas, LAWS 4308: Indigenous Criminal Justice with Professor Ford, and LAWS 4702: The Gladue Requirements in Theory and Practice with Professor Dickson. Reflecting back, I met great professors and TA’s along the way who supported and inspired my education. It is always a privilege to meet and connect with law professors who specialize in Indigenous legal issues. 

What are you hoping to do after graduation and what do you hope to gain from your degree?

After obtaining my Bachelor of Arts in Law program with a minor in Political Science, I plan to further my education by pursuing a master’s degree in either Legal Studies, or Indigenous Policy and Administration, and eventually attending law school to purse a Juris Doctor degree. 

Any advice for incoming students?
My advice to incoming students is to enjoy your educational journey at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´. Be at your best potential, fulfill your responsibilities, and learn to speak up for yourself. I strongly encourage students to utilize ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´â€™s student support services when needed. Stay connected with your family, friends, and community, who I believe are rooting for you from miles away. For those who come from far away, do not be afraid to take those risks and make sacrifices; they are part of the path toward where you are headed.

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Meet Omosefe Ebhoaye! Omosefe came all the way from Lagos, Nigeria to pursue a degree at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ with a major in Law and a concentration in Business Law. Omosefe is the recipient of this year’s Lynn Campbell Award in Business Law.

What led you to decide to pursue your BA at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´?
In high school, I avoided subjects that involved heavy reading and writing and instead gravitated toward further Mathematics and Accounting. But after graduation, I began paying closer attention to the issues around me and developed a strong interest in advocacy and social justice. That’s when I realized that studying law could be a powerful way to support the causes I care about, especially in the fight to protect human rights.

Do you have a favourite part of your program?
One of the highlights of my program was the course Accountability of Management, taught by Professor Alberto Salazar. I took it after my CO-OP year, and it gave me a practical understanding of how corporations operate, while also revealing key gaps and loopholes within the corporate world. Another course that really stood out to me was Methodological Approaches in Legal Studies I, taught by Colin Fletcher. He helped me strengthen my legal writing and critical thinking, which made a big difference in how I approached assignments. I ended up using those exact skills during my co-op at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), where I worked on writing policies and developing internal processes.

What are you hoping to do after graduation and what do you hope to gain from your degree?
I plan to attend law school and pursue a career as a lawyer. I am deeply passionate about helping others and being a voice for justice. Through my degree, I have begun developing strong critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the law, which I hope to continue building on. My goal is to use that knowledge to make a meaningful impact, whether by shaping legal reforms, contributing to infrastructure development, or driving positive social change in the communities that need it most.

Any advice for incoming students?
Take the time to enjoy the experience ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ offers. Get involved, build your community, and stay committed to your academic journey. Do not let anyone tell you that your goals are not important or out of reach.

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Meet Gabriella Rodrigues! Originally from Ottawa, Gabriella is pursuing an Honours BA in Law and Journalism. Gabriella is one of this year’s recipients of the Sarah Metrick Scholarship in Introductory Law.

What lead you to decide to pursue your BA at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´? I wanted to set a path to law school where I could develop different skills and experiences- ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ allowed me to do that by letting me easily pursue a double major in Law (which allows me to develop critical thinking skills) and in journalism (which allows me to develop communication skills.)

Do you have a favourite part of your program? My favourite course was LAWS 2302 (Criminal Law) with Michael Smith. 

What are you hoping to do after graduation? I’m hoping to attend Law school with all of the knowledge and skills I have and will continue to gain at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´!

Any advice for incoming students? Prioritize academics but also participate in as much as possible! I myself am the president of a club here at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ (Her Campus ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´) going on two years now and I have gained so much from that experience.

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Meet Kiana Gauthier! Originally from Ottawa, Kiana is pursuing a BA in Law with a concentration in Transnational Law and Human Rights. Kiana is also this year’s recipient of the King McShane Award in Civil Liberties.

What lead you to pursue your degree at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´? I knew I wanted to study human rights, and ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ is one of the only universities in Ontario with a human rights program! What made it a particularly easy choice among the other options is that it is located in Ottawa, meaning that I wouldn’t have to deal with the stress of moving to another city. However, what solidified ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ as my choice of university was the interdisciplinary nature of its law program. Because of my interest in human rights, I appreciate how human rights and social justice-based perspectives are incorporated into the law program, as are perspectives from other disciplines such as sociology and criminology, rather than the focus being exclusively on legal perspectives. 

What is your favourite part of the program? The interdisciplinary nature of my program was its biggest draw for me. I had originally planned to study exclusively in human rights before deciding to study law alongside it, so I really appreciate being about learn about important issues through a human rights or social justice-oriented perspective, rather than just purely through legal perspectives.

What are you hoping to do after graduation? Admittedly, I’m still not quite sure what I want to do after I graduate, but whatever path I choose to take, I hope that my degree provides me with the skills I need to succeed!

Any advice for incoming students? My biggest piece of advice would be to not get overwhelmed by the heavy workload. That might sound easier said than done, but while the workload might look daunting at first, it’s often not as scary as it looks when you get to it. Remember, you can do it if you try!

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Meet Camden Ringer! Camden came to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ from Athens, Ontario, located an hour outside of Ottawa and is pursuing a Combined Honours BA in Law and Psychology. Camden is the recipient of this year’s Mr. and Mrs. Louis L. Goldstein Book Award in Law.

1. What lead you to pursue your degree at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´? My decision to attend ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University was made because of the great things I had heard about the program’s amazing professors and the program’s focus on the wider, social impacts of law. Also, the campus is simply beautiful.
2. Do you have a favourite part of the program? While I have loved a great deal of my time in the Law program at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´, by far my favourite part so far was having Vincent Kazmierski as a professor in my first year.
3. What are you hoping to do after graduation? After my undergraduate degree, I hope to continue my education in law by pursuing a Juris Doctorate. While I hope to gain a foundational knowledge on case law and legal theory at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´, I also wish to gain a deeper understanding of how law works in a broader implicit context.
4. Do you have any advice for incoming students? The best advice I can give upcoming students is to understand that university is a process. People are going to be starting at different points but remember to be patient with yourself and make achievable steps towards your goals.

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Meet Zara Shamsi! Originally from Ottawa, Zara is pursuing a BA Honours in Law with a concentration in Transnational Law and Human Rights. Zara is the recipient of this year’s Oxford University Press Award in Law.

1. What lead you to pursue your degree at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´? I first discovered my passion for law and human rights in high school and ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University was the perfect choice. It allowed me to live at home and save money while pursuing the only full program that truly matched my interests, due to its concentration in human rights and law.
2. What is your favourite part about the program? The more I learn about law and human rights, the more interested I become.
3. What are you hoping to do after graduation? I plan to join the JET program and teach English in Japan for a few years before working for the UN or another non-profit organization. Through my degree, I’ve gained and continue to gain exactly what I was hoping for: knowledge in the legal and human rights field as well as greater confidence in myself and my work.
4. Any advice for incoming students? Do what scares you. Whether it be making new friends or trying something new, doing something outside of your comfort zone will increase your confidence and ensure you leave university with no regrets.

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Meet Clara Wheaton! Clara is originally from Stratford Ontario but has also lived in various places over the past few years including Germany and Timmins, Ontario. Clara now calls Ottawa home and is pursuing an Honours BA with a major in Law. Clara is also the recipient of this year’s Osgoode Society Legal History Book Prize.

1. What led you to decide to pursue your BA at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´?

One of the key things that drew me to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ is that it is located in Ottawa. I was excited about the opportunity to study in the country’s capital and explore the opportunities there. But it was ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´’s inviting and welcoming atmosphere that sold me on attending!

2. Do you have a favourite part of your program?

My favourite part of my program has been the other students! Having the opportunity to engage with others who are passionate about learning, examining hard questions and sharing ideas is energizing. Class discussions are always my favourite part of a course, and I have greatly appreciated the many professors who take students contributions seriously and deeply engage with our ideas.

3. What are you hoping to do after graduation, and what do you hope to gain from your degree?

After graduation, I plan on pursuing a Master’s degree in business and sustainability. My goal is to take my understanding of law and the legal system and apply it to questions about how communities can drive legislative and economic change. 

6. Any advice for incoming students?

My key piece of advice for incoming students is to find what it is that makes you excited to learn. What is that question that you keep coming back to? Find that and lean into it. Each course will give you a new opportunity to examine the topic or question from a new perspective and allow you to engage with others who might have a different opinion or perspective, which can deepen your own.

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Meet Rowan Elsmore! Originally from Ottawa, Rowan is currently pursuing a combined BA Honours in Law and Philosophy with a concentration in Transnational Law and Human Rights. Rowan is also one of the recipients of this year’s Sarah Metrick Scholarship in Introductory Law.

1. What lead you to pursue your degree at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´? I was drawn to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ for a few reasons, but I will give the two main ones. First, the size and style of ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´’s legal studies program appealed to me because I am interested in understanding what the law ought to be, not just what it is. I love the interdisciplinary approach, as students are given an opportunity to see dimensions of the law that formalistic law programs omit. The law is so complex and deserves to be studied as such. Second, ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´’s campus is beautiful. I love being by the river, having the option to walk in the tunnels when it’s cold outside, and the amount of quiet study space were all factors that drew me in.
2. What has been your favourite part of the program? It sounds simple, but my favourite part of my program is any opportunity where I get to write. Regardless of the course topic, I try to find some subject or angle in my writing that I can sink my teeth into. This past winter, I took LAWS 2105C with Professor Deniz Konuk, where I produced some of my best writing to date. It was a paper about addressing the rise of anti-transgender legislation in Canada through not only rights frameworks but also democratic institutions. I believe that I presented a compelling vision for structural reform, which extends beyond the rights framework typically considered when addressing discrimination. I’m quite proud of that paper.
3. What do you hope to do after graduation? I hope to attend law school after I graduate, although I have not yet decided which school I wish to attend. I could see myself doing several jobs in the legal world, but I would most definitely want to work in a field that is related to human rights in Canada. I could also possibly end up in international law, but I am quite sentimental about the Canadian legal system despite its flaws. It is also possible that I would look for opportunities to teach law or legal studies later in my career or engage in academic legal research. There are so many possibilities, and I try to remain as open to them as one could possibly be.
4. What advice do you have for incoming students? In giving advice to new students, I cannot help but think back to who I was two years ago, and there is so much I would say to that person. However, the main thing I would say is this: Do not allow fear to author your story. There is so much potential for wonder and beauty in this life, but our ability to see it is too often clouded by fear—mainly a fear of trying. So far, my solution is to be kind to myself, especially when I fail or make a mistake. When we become our own biggest supporters and take failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, life becomes much brighter. Make connections with people, join clubs, volunteer, and don’t let fear prevent you from seeing what life has to offer.

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Meet Jiire Fowler! Jiire came to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ from the Niagara area and is entering her third year of an Honours BA with a major in Law and a minor in Community Engagement. Jiire is this year’s recipient of the Manan Shah Memorial Scholarship and has been involved in many extra curricular activities both in and out of the department. 

1. What led you to decide to pursue your BA at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´?

I chose to pursue my BA at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ because it was one of the few schools in Canada to offer an undergraduate law program. ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´â€™s Law and Legal Studies program focuses on exploring law through an interdisciplinary approach, which appealed to me. I knew this program would challenge me to develop exceptional critical thinking skills, which will equip me not only for a potential career but also for being a global citizen. Additionally, I was excited by the capital city advantage and Ottawa’s proximity to major government and legal institutions, which would provide unique opportunities to advance my learning. 

2. Do you have a favourite part of your program (whether a specific course or instructor, or something else)?

My favourite part of the Law and Legal Studies program is the courses! I love both the readings and the interactive approach to learning that the program offers. Specifically, I really enjoyed LAWS 2202: Obligations, with Professor David Dwoskin. I learned about legal obligations in different areas of private law, such as Trust, Torts, and Contracts. My favourite part of the course was the interactive nature of the class, as it followed a Socratic format, we as students, led learning through answering the professor’s prompts. I found the opportunity to take ownership of my learning in collaboration with my peers to be exhilarating. 

3. What are you hoping to do after graduation, and what do you hope to gain from your degree?

After graduation, I hope to attend law school and pursue a career in civil litigation, advocating for the most marginalized members of society. As for now, as I complete my degree, I hope to gain more opportunities for experiential learning to see how what I am learning in the classroom manifests in the real world. 

4. Any advice for incoming students?

I would advise incoming students to immerse themselves in their education! Do your best to complete your assigned readings, participate in classes, put your best effort into assignments, and most importantly, use your resources and reach out for help! Not only is being an engaged student likely to improve your grades, but it also makes the process of learning, and not just ‘going through the motions,’ fun and engaging, making your educational experience so much more enjoyable!

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