By Lucianna Ciccocioppo
The Faculty of Law is bursting with energy and excitement for the 2012-2013 academic year, as new and returning students descended on campus last week. Orientation Week 2012, based on “Welcome to Lawgwarts,” a play on the Harry Potter book series’ home of magical wizardry, introduced new students to their academic home for the next three years. O-Week co-chairs Jennifer Bates, 2L, and Andrew Jin, 2L, selected the theme for a “lighthearted attempt to ease the tension” for 195 new JD students. Have a look at the Orientation photo gallery put together by Ultra Vires, the law school student newspaper.
The number one concern most new law students have, says Bates, is “not measuring up. They worry about their academic studies and marks. One thing we’re trying to emphasize is that they’ll be fine,” she says with a laugh. A host of other concerns, such as the pros and cons of commuting to law school, eating nutritious foods, budgeting and extracurricular activities, were addressed in blog postings here.
Former NYPD officer, Aurora Curtis
For 1L Aurora Curtis, Orientation Week got her off to a great start for her new career. The former police officer for the New York Police Department says her first week at the Faculty of Law was “exhilarating.”
“I am impressed by my fellow students, both the other 1Ls and the upper-year students, who have uniformly gone above and beyond to help out and ease our way,” says Curtis. “I am delighted and deeply honoured to be a part of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law community.”
Curtis spent most of her former career as a night-shift patrol cop in downtown Manhattan, where she saw firsthand the needs for social justice. “Somewhere along the line, during all those harrowing and heartbreaking nights of responding to countless 911 calls and endless days of sitting in court waiting to testify, I had a watershed moment: I had been exposed to what the law could do, and I wanted a deeper knowledge. I wanted to become a lawyer with the idea that I could better accomplish that original goal of being an advocate.”
The Columbia University graduate (“I finished my BA in anthropology while working the whole time”) applied to law school, took early retirement and landed at UTLaw.
Jonathan McKee, right, with the commanding general
of 1 Canadian Air Division HQ in Winnipeg.
Jonathan McKee, 1L, now has his feet firmly on the ground, after seven years with the Canadian Forces, five of which he worked as an air combat systems officer. He plans to use his law degree working for the federal government, and aims to summer or article with the Department of Justice.
“While working for the military I saw to a great extent how the law influenced all aspects of my work. This included anything from my personal conduct to planning CC177 flights all over the world. I missed the rich intellectual environment of university and thought that law school would be a great way to transition into a new career.”
McKee says the future looks good. “I am amazed by my fellow students,” he says. “They come from such diverse and incredible backgrounds. The first week of school has made me excited for the challenging and rewarding experiences that the next three years will bring.”
