FATEMA JIVAJI
<Contributor>
I, like many first year law students, did not have any legal experience in any capacity prior to the first day of Ethical Lawyering. And although there are so many opportunities at Osgoode to get involved during the school year, I knew I had to make my summer count. Something to challenge me, yet set me apart. It was my chance to get some legal experience under my belt. I was confronted with reality when I realized how limited the jobs in Toronto are. I applied to the International Legal Partnership (ILP) with two things in mind:
1) I would get to exercise some of the skills I gained in 1L
2) I would get to live in the Global South for a whole summer. I knew that post 1L, a chance to live in either Asia, Africa or Latin America would be few and far between.
I decided to go to India. It is a strong developing economy and I would summer with a Nobel Peace Prize nominated organization. I came out of my experience with two stories: ‘working in India’ and ‘living in India’. They both speak to the ILP experience in general.
Let me start with working in India. I worked at the Concerned for Working Children (CWC), an NGO focused on human rights, more specifically child rights advocacy. The first day we were told where the organization was headed within their five-year mandate and their areas of concentration. We were given an array of potential research topics and were told to pick the one that most interested us. Though I didn’t know anything about child rights in India, it certainly would not be the last time I would be put in a position where an assignment would be forwarded to me without my having any prior knowledge about the topic; I took it as a learning exercise. The organization was excited to have us. They helped us along the way and guided us in the right direction. Ultimately, we got to do some cool stuff. We interviewed many government agencies and quasi-government entities on the state of current legislation and its implementation. Working in India came with its challenges, namely, navigating the bureaucratic system, language barriers and understanding local policy concerns. It became important to know our own limits and recognize uncontrollable roadblocks such as corruption and a lack of resources. In the end, it gave me the opportunity to delve into something new and unknown. I may not use my knowledge about child rights in my professional career moving forward, but I will employ many of the practical skills I gained in my placement. Grappling with new legislation, looking at policy outcomes, talking to various stakeholders, drafting reports – these are all hallmarks of being a lawyer. Enjoying that experience reinforced that I was in the right place and pursuing the right profession.
Living in India was the other face of my experience. What drew me to India were the same things that surprised me – things like the growth and the rich culture. I had never been to India before and I looked forward to the cultural invasion. Of course it depends where you go and how willing you are to make a life for yourself in the new and unknown, but India came with some sweet perks. If you have the travel bug, India’s travel scene is thriving and flights in and around Asia are affordable. You can really make use of your weekends and visit the Taj Mahal, Goan beaches or Nepal. CWC even allowed us to go to Sri Lanka for a week! Of course I had relinquished a few of my favorite Canadian staples – Starbucks and drinking water from the tap. But in return I got so much more. India is the place of convenience and abundance. No matter what type of cuisine you want, you can get it (but nothing really beat the local homegrown Indian restaurants where a meal for two cost $1.50). The other ILP fellow broke his Mac charger and within an hour the Apple store had delivered him a new one right to our doorstep. Even without a car, I was the most mobile I’ve ever been. Arguing with auto-rickshaws became a daily occurrence.
What it comes down to was that ILP not only afforded me to stretch my legal mind, but it provided me soft skills that will be equally useful in my profession. While on an ILP, you will learn how to adapt to a new environment, manage cultural barriers and learn something about yourself. Acting as counsel for clients from varied cultures and backgrounds, you’ll need to be able to interact with them. You’ll be surprised how your experience hacking it in Sierra Leone or El Salvador will prepare you for your future as a lawyer.