Newly minted GPLLM graduates: Rubal Bhadu, Tisnai Thaitham, Simmy Yu and Ji Wei Shao.
By Lucianna Ciccocioppo
On November 15, 31 new graduates of the Faculty of Law will proudly add GPLLM after their names, as the second cohort of this unique master’s program celebrates Convocation Day with family, friends, classmates and faculty.
The Global Professonal LLM, an executive-style graduate degree, is open to lawyers and non-lawyers, and focuses on the intersection of international law and business. And in today’s increasingly globalized economy, it’s a degree that many of the grads coveted “to gain a competitive advantage.”
“As you progress in a multi-national organization in a senior management role, the understanding of international regulatory compliance is very important in the decision-making process,” says Tisnai Thaitham, regional director (the Americas) for Singha Corporation. “Most people have an MBA, but very few would also have a law degree.”
I had the opportunity to learn from legal practitioners who have been involved with some of the most high profile domestic and cross-border transactions.
Rubal Bhadu says the program's “combination of academics and pragmatic real-world expertise” appealed to her. “As an internationally trained lawyer and a newcomer to Canada, the GPLLM program helped me to build a strong foundation and understanding of practicing law in a new jurisdiction.” Currently employed at the Ministry of Attorney General, Court Services Division, Bhadu will be articling with Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP in 2014-15.
The program draws on scholars and international experts, not only from the Faculty of Law, but from around the world. And with an equally diverse study body, it made for some very dynamic debates, says Ji Wei Shao.
“The lecturers, whether full-time professors or industry practitioners, were extremely knowledgeable in their field of expertise and were superb in the delivery of the course materials,” says Shao, an investment banking analyst at Wells Fargo Securities. “I was fortunate to meet a group of high calibre classmates from very diverse backgrounds. In addition to acquiring new friends, I have learned tremendously from everyone’s perspective during class discussions.”
Simmy Yu, of Tkatch & Associates, agrees. “As a GPLLM student, I had the opportunity to learn from legal practitioners who have been involved with some of the most high profile domestic and cross-border transactions.”
She stresses globalization has transformed more than just transactions.
“In today's competitive marketplace, employers and clients alike are looking for people who understand the intricacies of different cultures, and their ways of doing business.”
View the University of Toronto's Convocation site for further information. Watch it here: live-streaming link.
Photo: John Guatto
