Navigating the 2L recruit with accommodations
In July, while preparing cover letters and editing my résumé for the 20th time, I received news that would alter the next few months of my life.
I had been living with chronic pain for a recurring issue, and a visit to a specialist determined that I would require urgent surgery. I would then come to learn that “urgent” in our healthcare system meant months—my surgery was set for Monday, November 4th—the first day of in-firms. I had spent months going to firm open houses, scheduling coffee chats, and networking over phone calls. I did not want to let my condition get in the way of the recruit. The law school environment has a way of making you feel like your career ends before it even begins if you don’t succeed in the 2L recruit. Knowing what I do now, that clearly isn’t the case. But for the last few months, it definitely felt that way.
I immediately realized that I would need an accommodation and went straight to the law school administration to figure things out. Unfortunately, the Dean’s Office and the Career Development Office (CDO) didn’t know what to do with my situation. Waleska Vernon contacted the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) on my behalf and I eventually corresponded with one of their counsels. The LSO provided me with an accommodation that would allow me to participate in in-firms “prior to November 4th”.
So, I got an accommodation letter from the LSO, now what?
What followed were frequent “appointments” (meltdowns) with the CDO Director Neil Dennis. Neil was my champion in navigating these tumultuous waters. If you find yourself in a similar situation when going to the recruit, reach out to the CDO—you do not have to go through this alone. Neil was copied on every single one of my accommodation emails to prospective employers, and he was a consistent cheerleader and force of positive energy. He continued to check in on me during OCIs, on Call Day, and during my in-firm week. I would not have made it through the recruit intact if it wasn’t for Neil.
I panicked about employers not being willing or able to accommodate me, so I applied to an obscenely high number of positions (56), some of which I wasn’t even remotely interested in. This was clearly a mistake. I should have prioritized my top job prospects and trusted the process. But, it was hard to trust a process that no one could predict.
A big issue I wrestled with was when to tell prospective employers about my accommodation. Ultimately, I decided to inform employers with whom I had scheduled OCIs prior to OCIs. Many firms responded pleasantly, some tried to wiggle around the accommodation, but most did not reply at all. This caused me huge bouts of anxiety. In my follow-up thank you emails post-OCIs, I had to remind most employers about my accommodation. I decided to notify non-OCI employers two weeks before Call Day for continuity’s sake.
I want to trust the process and believe that I didn’t miss any opportunities due to requesting accommodation, but I can’t be certain. What I will say is that you do not want to work somewhere that is unwilling to accommodate this type of scenario. In the end I received more in-firm offers than I could accept from large firms, boutiques, and government offices. They were all very flexible and understanding of my situation. Of course, there were a few employers who claimed to have never heard of my accommodation and had to confer and call me back later in the day. My Call Day experience dragged on intermittently until 4:00 p.m. (it usually ends by 8:30 a.m.). The LSO accommodation allowed me to schedule interviews over the course of the week and to take breaks to rest so my condition didn’t worsen, and my immune system didn’t weaken immediately prior to surgery.
While my interviews were technically completed the week before in-firm week, in reality, they were not over. A few employers contacted me on the Tuesday and Wednesday of in-firm week after my surgery for phone call follow-ups. While I ended up accepting a position from one of these employers, which was my top choice, I received offers from employers that only interviewed me during my allotted accommodation period the week prior. I want to think that if I was unable to answer the phone due to my recovery, my chances at a job at those offices would not have been compromised.
This process is stressful enough without health complications. If you are suffering through something, reach out to someone as you are not alone. I missed the entire interview week’s classes and all my classes the week after Reading Week for recovery. I’m lucky to be part of a supportive community where family, friends, mentors, professors, and my DLS Staff Lawyer were willing to support me and help me succeed.
When physical health is at issue, mental health concerns often follow closely behind. The U of T Health & Wellness Centre offers psychotherapy, group counselling, and other services that can be booked online. There are also crisis hotlines from the broader community available 24/7. Should you find yourself in need of support, choose the resource that best works for you. A list of the Faculty’s counselling and support services can be found at: https://www.law.utoronto.ca/student-life/personal-support/health-and-well-being/health-and-wellness-law-school.
