About 50 internationally trained lawyers met for the first time May 3, 2010 at the Faculty of Law to embark on their 10-month integrated legal-bridging program with the goal of obtaining professional accreditation and licensing in Ontario. Representing 20 different countries, this group is the first cohort of the law school’s Internationally Trained Lawyers Program, thanks to an Ontario government grant that helped launch the initiative last year.
“This group of dynamic, talented individuals has so many wonderful stories,” says Georgina Alexandris, ITLP director. “And many shared their journeys with us this week.” There’s a singer who performed in a Montreal concert on May 2 that attracted 1,000 people, and whose teenaged twins "helped" her to prepare for school the next day. Another student comes from a family of lawyers, but here in Canada earned a living in the limousine business—not as a driver but as the owner/operator of the fleet. Some were recent arrivals to Canada; others have been here awhile. “For each, however, one thing was clear,” says Alexandris. “This was their time to finally take the steps to realize their professional goals.”
Orientation week—a rite of passage for so many Canadians—proved a novelty to most of these students. Says Alexandris: “Many simply wanted to get down to the business of studying and preparing for their exams. But they all embraced Orientation quickly!”
Activities included a welcome address from Derry Millar, treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada; a motivational talk by Naeem "Nick" Noorani, an award-winning entrepreneur and editor of Canadian Immigrant magazine; a personal address by Amrit Soar, an internationally trained lawyer and the first intern at Fraser Milner Casgrain in its award-winning internship program; introductions to courses and U of T campus tours; and a “meet and greet” hosted by the Ministry of the Attorney General, where AG Chris Bentley, LLB 1979, and many staff warmly welcomed the group. Tours of the historical Ontario legislature followed.
The week’s events wrapped up with a reception at ITLP partner Fraser Milner Casgrain that drew representatives from a wide cross-section of the legal profession, including other Toronto firms, legal clinics, in-house counsel offices at major corporations and all levels and areas of government. As well, the Multiculturalism Citizenship and Immigration minister Dr. Eric Hoskins, whose ministry funded the program, welcomed the lawyers, congratulated U of T on the initiative and encouraged the legal profession to support the program.
After the course work, each ITPL student will participate in a five-month internship in a legal workplace to provide them with Canadian experience. Alumni interested in offering an internship opportunity can contact Jane Price, jane.price@utoronto.ca, 416-978-5540 for further information.
