CITLALLY MACIEL
<News Editor>
This piece is for you 1Ls. If you are like me, you are already thinking about next summer and beginning to explore your options. If so, congratulations! You are on the right track. Succeeding in law school requires, among other things, methodical planning. First, do your research. If at this point you do not know your options for summer employment, you are so behind you should not even bother. A job in retail awaits you.
Yes. This is my attempt to prank you 1Ls, but you guys are probably too smart for my jokes. In fact, you probably know everything there is to know about summer jobs. I will nonetheless give you some unsolicited advice and share with you my own summer experience. At the risk of sounding trite, I will tell you to relax. Yes, anxiety is unavoidable in law school but it is important to keep things in perspective. This is especially so when it comes to summer jobs after first year.
First, lets talk Bay Street. The reality is that there are not many jobs available for first year students. At about 250 students per each of the six Ontario law schools (plus those out of province), you have in theory a total of more than one thousand students competing for a very small number of available jobs. Yet, you should not let this discourage you. If getting a summer job is very important to you, you need to work really hard. Especially during first semester, as the marks you get then will be the measure by which law firms will evaluate your suitability. Again, it is all about perspective. If after all the effort, you are not successful in getting a job, remember that there are many other disappointed souls just like you. Smile.
Second, always remember that you have other options. There is no doubt that a Bay Street job comes with many perks. However, this is not the only choice out there. Do not feel pressured just because everyone else is doing it. You are not in high school anymore. At this point, many of you have probably heard of community legal clinics such as CLASP and Parkdale. These two places are excellent alternatives to Bay Street jobs. In fact, if you are all about practical experience, working at one of these clinics may be a better choice for you. This is not to say that the Bay Street experience is trivial. The difference is that 1Ls will rarely have the opportunity to manage their own files with these firms. At the legal clinics, however, students run the show. They are involved in interviewing clients, attending court, and other similar tasks.
These are also coveted positions, and so volunteering at either one of these places during first semester is a good idea.
Third, you do not even need to get a legal job. All of us have schooling or work experience that is sufficient to land a worthwhile summer job. Some students decide to go back to their old job, or opt to try something new, or decide to open their own business. If this is a possibility for you, you should give it a go. Aside from the obvious financial gains, you will acquire valuable skills that will translate into the legal field. Opening your own business will show that you can take initiative, while working at a summer camp will reveal that you can be a leader. It is all about being creative.
Fourth, you do not even need to get a job. Many of us do not have that luxury. If you do, you might want to consider taking advantage of it. Seriously. For one thing, this may be the last fun summer of your life. I know it sounds dramatic but the fact that life will become more stressful and full of responsibilities is unavoidable. Second, that first year of law school is stressful is an understatement. You deserve a break!
Now, the best part! My internship at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) through the Ian Scott Public Interest Internship Program. Ok, that was a mouthful so let’s divide and conquer. First, the Ian Scott Public Interest Internship is a program funded by our school with the assistance of generous donors such as the firm Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP. The official description, a.k.a. Osgoode’s description, is as follows:
This award was developed to support the initiative of students interested in social justice/public interest and is available to students who attain summer work experience at a public interest organization such as a legal aid clinic, advocacy organization or non-governmental organization. Preference will be given to a student who is working unpaid or underpaid. Recipients must demonstrate consistent high academic achievement and financial need.
Second, ACE is a legal clinic based in Toronto that specializes in the legal issues of seniors. When I first learned about the Ian Scott Public Interest Internship Program, I knew that I wanted to volunteer at a place like ACE. Call me crazy but volunteering and interacting with seniors has always been a fun and rewarding experience for me. I have always treasured their wisdom and charm. Yet, through these experiences, I have also become aware of the neglect and abuse that can afflict their lives. My search for a placement inevitably led me to ACE.
In general, volunteering at ACE provides an opportunity to experience the diversity of endeavors of the legal profession. In addition to providing free legal services to low-income seniors, ACE undertakes to educate the public and engages in advocacy efforts to generate legal reform. For my part, I was interested in the legal reform aspect and so I wanted to focus on conducting research that would assist ACE in their advocacy efforts. Coincidentally, ACE was planning to write a research paper that, if accepted, would become part of a legal reform project funded by the Law Commission of Ontario.
Accordingly, the main part of my internship was devoted to conducting research for this project. However, I was also involved in other interesting activities. For instance, I was able to attend a number of events, such as the Elder Abuse Symposium: The Universal Challenge. I was also asked to be ACE’s proxy at a meeting assembling representatives of a number of Toronto’s legal aid clinics such as the Canadian Environmental Law Association and the Disability Law Centre. Attending this meeting was a unique experience that allowed me to meet individuals involved in remarkable work. Other undertakings included assisting with the intake process and, most notably, managing the file of one of ACE’s clients.
Overall, this internship was an excellent introduction to legal practice through the lens of social advocacy. In addition, I was able to meet interesting people with whom I established professional and personal relationships. Most importantly, this internship allowed me to make a contribution that, although small in the greater scheme of things, was of enormous significance at a personal level.