Law students hit the books for a new year

(Sept. 13, 2010) It was a busy and noisy week last week, as hundreds of law students descended on Falconer Hall and Flavelle House to find their classes, buy books and begin school.

And that included keeping 194 first-years busy with orientation events, such as the Club Fair, to which many headed over with enthusiasm, says 2L Karen Law.

"They seem overwhelmed," she says with a laugh, "but really eager to find out about the social life of the law school. The reaction from 1Ls has been great, as well as from exchange and transfer students."

Law was pitching the benefits of the East Asian Law Association, "as a great way to eat East Asian food in Toronto, but also to get to know more students."

And one way 3L Kate MacDonald is helping with camaraderie is running the Peer Mentorship program, which pairs upper-year students with newcomers.

"We provide coffee cards to the peer volunteer to meet with their mentee four times throughout the year, to chat, answer any questions, and be that familiar face in the hall," says MacDonald. She and some of her classmates launched the program last year "to help keep 3Ls involved and make the law school a friendlier place."

Not a bad idea among the student body of 566. MacDonald says 150 students have signed up to be mentors, double the number from last year. "In fact, most of the mentees last year signed up to be mentors," she says.