Using legal research and writing skills in the real world
This summer, I worked under the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association in Ottawa (CWTA). The CWTA is an association that represents wireless companies before several regulatory agencies and all levels of government. In June, the CWTA published a report in conjunction with Accenture Strategy on Canada’s path toward 5G deployment.
I had two main responsibilities at the CWTA: first, mapping the development of wireless telecommunications in Canada and historical shifts in the regulatory landscape; and second, researching and writing memos detailing current and potential regulatory issues the wireless industry is facing. These issues included net neutrality, foreign investment policies, and regulatory barriers to small cell deployment.
My work mostly consisted of independent research and writing and I really enjoyed how immersive it was. I learned a lot about wireless telecoms while putting my newly acquired legal research and writing skills into practice.
This job exposed me to the developing Canadian tech landscape: every morning I’d have an inbox full of news clippings to read about developments in the telecommunications industry and advancements in the Internet of Things, Smart Cities, and Artificial Intelligence. I was also invited to attend a 5G launch event and to participate in a roundtable discussion with Videotron executives.
Working closely with the Vice-President was great: his broad view of the industry helped me contextualize my work within the Association and the industry, which made it seem relevant and meaningful.
Another great aspect of the work was the fact that the CWTA is located in my hometown, Ottawa. Besides occasionally raiding my parents’ fridge, the best thing about working in Ottawa was that the hours were lovely—I would come to work around 10 am, and by 4 pm I was usually the only one left in the office.
I got this position in a rather unusual way: in 2014, I befriended a lawyer who was a customer of a candy store I worked at. Since I was interested in studying law, he became an informal mentor and we have been meeting for lunch a few times a year since. He recently moved from BlackBerry to the CWTA and needed some projects done over the summer. Midway through the 1L recruit, I got a message from him asking if I could come in for an interview. I hopped on a train, had my interview, and got the position within 48 hours.
Besides work, I spent my summer in bookstores and espresso shops (the Black Squirrel in the Glebe is a personal favourite), riding my road bike in the Gatineau Hills, doing weekend trips to Montreal and Prince Edward County, going to concerts (Emanuel Ax, the Peptides, Bettye Lavette, the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, Andrew Wan, and Angela Hewitt), exploring art and photography exhibits at the National Art Gallery and the new Ottawa Art Gallery, eating the world’s best ice cream at La Cigale in Chelsea, Quebec, reading (not case law for once), and attempting to keep my potted plants alive.
