Assistant Dean of Students Alexis Archbold kicks off Welcome Day 2014 in the Old Vic chapel.
By Lucianna Ciccocioppo
The Faculty of Law was a busy host to 145 newly admitted students and their guests on February 14, during its annual Welcome Day, with information sessions about student life, alumni insights and academic programs.
New this year was the “Inside Scoop”, a no-holds-barred Q & A with current students—but no staff nor administrators. And one of the most popular sessions was the mock law lecture with Prof. Anthony Niblett, something McMaster University psychology, neuroscience and behaviour student Philip Omorogbe says he was not expecting.
“It gave me an insight into what a law school lecture would be like, and it was really surprising to see it was very, very entertaining and very engaging…I was excited to participate, and to hear other people’s opinions on what he was presenting.”
Students' Law Society president, Brendan Stevens, talks about student life at law school.
Students heard from alumni regarding their various career paths, about the strength of the Career Development Office, financial aid options, student life, and clinical opportunities available outside class hours. More than 20 students groups, such as the Black Law Students’ Association and Out in Law, together with law clinics participated throughout the day.
The Faculty of Law admitted more than 200 students, and for those who could not attend Welcome Day, due to mid-terms, commitments or location, the law school reached out to them with receptions in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, London and Vancouver.
“I really liked hearing about all the extracurricular things that students here do, like Pro Bono Students Canada and being involved in Downtown Legal Services,” says Geetha Philipupillai, who has a master’s degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in sociology and equity studies. “I was surprised at the number of opportunities in public interest law available at U of T and I was overwhelmed by all the options.”
Dafe Ocutu says his favourite part of Welcome Day was “connecting to the current students. I got to meet a lot of students who were doing very interesting things.” The McGill University student in honours political science and history says while he’s leaning towards U of T law, he still hasn’t made his final decision. “Whatever my decision, this day informed me a lot about what this law school offers, and it really convinced me it has the opportunities that I’m looking for.”
Deborah Mazer says meeting current law students was very important to her as well. “Getting a sense of what the other students were like, and to see incoming students of that caliber with diverse interests was very valuable,” says the U of T graduate in bioethics, philosophy of science and African studies.
A reception to meet the law school faculty and staff closed out the day.
More than 80 percent who participated in the feedback survey (about a third of the attendees) felt “that Welcome Day positively impacted their decision to attend U of T Law.”
That’s exactly how McMaster University biology student Brendan Singh explained it to his student team leader. “Before Welcome Day to be honest, I had no idea what in the world I was getting myself into. But after that experience, I've already identified a club that I am interested in, a clinic that I would like to get involved in, and even courses that I would like to take in my upper years. It feels great to have a sense of direction, and confidence in my suitability for such a phenomenal opportunity.”
Photos: Neel Joshi, Lucianna Ciccocioppo
