It is twice as
likely for a visible minority to be unemployed after graduating from university
than it is for their Caucasian counterparts. This is not because of a lack of
relevant experience or education but because of a lack of opportunity,
triggered by inherent biases in the workplace. This is why an event like the
one the University of Toronto Black Ties Association held on Tuesday, October
18th, 2016, was so important.
First, here is a quick snapshot of
the impressive panellists that were gracious enough to take time off their
incredibly busy schedules to attend the event.
Christien Levien – He is the current founder and CEO of
Legalswipe, a mobile app that informs people of their rights during
interactions with police at a practical and rapid pace. Christien is a leader
and innovator who is having a great impact on the Canadian society.
Jonathan Odumeru – He acted as a representative of TD on
the panel. He is an Osgoode graduate and a previous associate at McCarthy
Tetrault, which put him in a position to offer a wealth of quality insight and
experience to the conversation.
It
was the first major event of the year and the theme was Setting the Bar, a
panel of legal industry professionals and experts. The event was hosted by the
prestigious Blakes, Cassels and Graydon LLP and sponsored by them as well as TD
Canada Trust. It was a chance to be inspired and hear from a panel of legal
industry professionals and experts with different experiences and perspectives.
It was also a chance to engage in meaningful conversation and network and
obtain personalized advice for the future.
The points of discussion were
obviously geared towards students who are looking to enter a career in the
legal industry, but the conversation was as valuable to them as it was to the
average pre-professional looking to gain general advice about the workplace.
So, here are ten important tips that I got from the event…
One.
There is a need
for innovation within any industry but especially the legal industry. It is not
about standing in line, it is about creating a job for yourself like Christien
has done with an app like LegalSwipe.
Two.
Engage in
activities that will make you a whole human being. It is important to strive to
keep a balance. It is your personalized life experiences that make you stand
out when applying to law school because being a strong student academically is
not arguable.
Three.
Confidence +
Character = Success
Four.
Be passionate
about whatever it is that you choose to do
Five.
The “Where do I
fit vs. Who is going to pick me” dilemma
When
making a decision on where to go to law school, it is important to pick where
you can see yourself living for the number of years you will be in law school
as opposed to what you think is the best school. Except of course, you get into
Harvard, in which case, you will be crazy not to accept the offer.
Six.
Do your research.
Be knowledgeable about what the GPA requirements and LSAT requirements are for
the law schools you are considering applying to.
Seven.
You deserve your
success, especially when you fail
Eight.
Know how to
manage your time effectively
If
you haven’t figured out how to manage your time now in your undergraduate
degree or in your current role, then it will be that much more difficult to
manoeuvre in law school.
Nine.
Don’t
underestimate the value of your experiences as a marginalized individual. It is
imperative that you leverage your experiences in your application for law
school.
Ten.
Be forthcoming
and be willing to learn from your mistakes
