SHAWN KNIGHTS
<Contributor>
I came to law school as an idealist. I watched every episode of Law and Order and I was convinced that I would become the next Jack McCoy. Or, better yet, I hoped to be like Atticus Finch, and single-handedly stop the state machine from convicting my innocent client with an inspirational closing argument. Finally, I wanted to fuse these characters together with the sharp-tongued brilliance of Johnny Cochrane, whose famous line “If the glove doesn’t fit, then you must acquit…” solidified my interest in Criminal Law.
However, first-year law school was not helpful in nurturing my interest in Criminal Law. By the end of first year, I believed the law was boring, frustrating and couldn’t really help anyone. And worst of all, it appeared as though I was doomed to a career of paper pushing.
And then I did the smartest thing I have ever done in Law School: I applied for the Criminal Intensive. I’ll never forget my interview with the course co-ordinators Joseph Di Luca and Enzo Rondinelli. I left my interview convinced that I had bombed the interview and considered giving up on Criminal Law. However, I was accepted into the program and it was by far the best experience I have had at law school.
For the first two weeks of the semester, you will spend your days getting a crash course in being a criminal lawyer. All the things that you hoped to learn in 1st year Criminal Law and didn’t – you will get all of that and more. You will discuss topics such as the business of criminal law, how to handle ethical issues and how to conduct yourself during a trial. These subjects are taught by guest speakers from the Crown, Defence bar, and other experts.
You will also examine various issues, such as the intersection between Criminal Law and mental health. And you will participate in various field trips to places like the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, detention centres, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and, if you’re lucky, the morgue! Oh… and how could I have forgotten about the trip to the phallometrics lab? If you don’t know what that is… well – let’s just say it’s a good time.
The most interesting part about the Criminal Intensive is that you will actually work in a Criminal Law office for either a defence firm, the Crown, or for a judge. I worked at one of the largest criminal defence firms in Ontario and did everything I could possibly do as a student. This included meeting clients, appearances, watching murder trials, shadowing articling students, and writing memos.
Your semester will be evaluated through two major research papers and a presentation on a criminal law topic of your choice. Whether you are an idealist like me, or if you are not sure if criminal law is for you but are interested, I would highly recommend that you apply.
Through this intensive program, I reclaimed the passion I had before I came to law school. Joe and Enzo are some of the most sincere and transparent legal professionals that you will ever meet. And there will likely never be an opportunity for two lawyers of their calibre to pour their knowledge and experience into you for an entire semester. The Criminal Intensive is something you don’t want to miss.