By Lucianna Ciccocioppo
More than 130 students spent a half day meeting and greeting faculty, students and staff at the law school's annual Welcome Day on Feb. 26, 2010.
For some, it was a reaffirmation of their acceptance to the Faculty of Law. For others, like Sarah Rosenbluth, it will help make their decision.
Rosenbluth came straight to Welcome Day from the airport, on a flight from Boston, where she currently lives. A native Torontonian, Rosenbluth says "U of T law ranks pretty highly on my list, but I just wanted to come here and get a feel for the campus and see the school."
This is exactly why the Faculty of Law organizes such an event. "We had 132 prospective students and their guests join us, and their incredibly positive feedback indicates our collective efforts were well-received," says Jiffin Arboleda, director of admissions and financial aid.
Students heard from Dean Mayo Moran herself that she teaches the largest first-year class in Torts. "I like to be the first professor for all the law students," says Moran.
Alexis Archbold, assistant dean of students, encouraged people to investigate and participate in non-academic aspects of the law school as well, and to look at what other law schools offer in their Career Development Office.
Prof. Sujit Choudhry, associate dean of first-year programs, emphasized that the student body was a vital component of the law school experience, in addition to the faculty and curriculum.
"Law school is not just about reading and learning about cases," says Choudhry, "but who you read them with, and with whom you discuss them. Look at the law school as building a life-long community of colleagues."
The prospective students also heard from Prof. Lorne Sossin about current legal issues that involve faculty members and student researchers, such as the Omar Khadr case.
They also heard from career services and from the program directors of Downtown Legal Services, Pro Bono Students Canada, the International Human Rights Program, David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights and the Law in Action Within Schools Program.
Current law students spread their enthusiasm in the "Inside Scoop" panel and with tours of the law school.
As for Sarah Rosenbulth, she's waiting to hear back from law schools in the US, but "at this point, there's a really good chance I'll end up at U of T."
Prof. Lorne Sossin speaks to prospective students at the 2010 Welcome Day
