Opinions
Hannah WestDecember 27, 2023
University of Toronto Law Union Releases Canadian Law Firm Climate Impact Report
The complicity of five major Canadian law firms in the climate crisis is examined ahead of Toronto Recruit Call day. Students at the University of […]
Shelby HohmannOctober 29, 2023
Tasting My Way Through the Terima Coffee Menu
Just kidding, I obviously can’t afford that Terima Coffee Bar (Terima) opened in the Jackman Law building on September 27. For most caffeine-starved law students, […]
Caeleb R. GoffOctober 29, 2023
Australia’s Referendum Votes “No” on Indigenous Voice to Parliament
What can that tell us about our country’s treatment of Indigenous peoples? Uluru Statement From the Heart: “This is the torment of our powerlessness.” On […]
Carson CookOctober 29, 2023
Faculty Fails in Response to Anti-LGBTQ2S+ Protests
University policies and Faculty communications fail to protect and support students On September 20, the One Million March 4 Children movement (1MM) held a protest […]
Olivia SchenkOctober 29, 2023
OCI Debrief
Reflections on my OCI experience Congratulations 2L recruit participants! Electing to participate in the 2L recruit is extremely brave. The recruit is a very time-intensive […]
Peeha LuthraOctober 29, 2023
Why I Did Not Participate in the 2L Recruit
There is no neutrality in the law, and every single lawyer plays an essential role in upholding or combatting this oppressive system My decision to […]
Olivia SchenkOctober 16, 2023
VOI, Why?
The verification of illness requirement to access lecture recordings if sick should be removed Everybody gets sick. In 2023, Ottawa released a new law requiring […]
Shelby HohmannOctober 16, 2023
Cognomos Deserves an F
Students’ Cognomos horror stories from this year For any 1Ls or transfer students who remain blissfully unaware of Cognomos, it is an algorithm used by […]
Taylor RodriguesOctober 15, 2023
Where Are All the Upper-Year Courses?
Seemingly few options in course selections despite improvements Limited course offerings were a common complaint from students and Students’ Law Society (SLS) representatives last academic […]
Ivy XuApril 8, 2023
Former Grand Mooters Speak Out
The “ins” and “outs” of mooting The “ins” and “outs” of mooting that students often encounter at our Faculty do not refer to a skill-set, […]
Sabrina MacklaiApril 3, 2023
An Ode to UV
A graduating student and former-EiC’s plea that students carry on this newspaper’s legacy This is my last article for Ultra Vires, our law school’s beloved […]
Amy KwongApril 3, 2023
Call Me by My Name
A rose by any other name would NOT smell as sweet I am sick and tired of U of T professors messing up the names […]
Naomi ChernosMarch 3, 2023
ISO Unsolicited Feedback
Giving reasons for grades would help improve the student experience I often joke that my law school grades are none of my business and have […]
Claire BettioMarch 3, 2023
No Job? No Problem!
Comforting words from a 2L who did everything wrong in her 1L job search Hi, 1L friends! I hope everyone isn’t too stressed, but I […]
Rebecca RosenbergMarch 3, 2023
Moot Schmoot
Is the traditional oral advocacy system really the answer? The dreaded moot. I was anxious about U of T Law’s mooting requirement even before I […]
Paloma AlaminosMarch 3, 2023
Bring Back the Free Bean Juice!
Having a paid café exploits a captive audience—and courts student hostility On February 1, the Goodmans LLP Café (“the Café”) in the Jackman Law Building […]
Alisha KrishnaMarch 3, 2023
Falling Recklessly Into the “Death Spiral”
The TTC’s budget ignores the far-reaching and severe impacts of service cuts In 2017, I was a somewhat regular user of Line 2 of the […]
Sabrina MacklaiMarch 3, 2023
Intersession or Interruption?
Winter semester does not have to be this bad January sucks. The holidays are over, the skies are grey, and, if you are a U […]
Rebecca RosenbergJanuary 30, 2023
Finding Love in Law School…?
Dating is hard enough without 100 percent exams, OCIs, and cold calling in the mix With Valentine’s Day around the corner, some might be feeling […]
Luka KnezevicJanuary 30, 2023
School on January 2nd? A 2nd Rate Decision!
Starting classes so early undermines the school’s efforts regarding student wellness New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are two of the most widely celebrated […]
Sabrina MacklaiJanuary 30, 2023
What to Do When You “Fail” the 1L Recruit
Odds are, you probably will The Toronto Summer 2023 1L recruit is in full swing with applications due just a little over a week ago; […]
Vivienne SternJanuary 30, 2023
Palentine’s Day
Whether friend or foe, you can have a good time! Okay so hear me out, Valentine’s Day is easy. Pass/Fail. You grab a bouquet of […]
Claire BettioJanuary 30, 2023
Ultra Vires Presents: Rom-Coms That We Love
Romantic comedies to get you through the winter blues We are now deep into January and it feels like this winter has been especially bleak—I […]
Sabrina MacklaiDecember 5, 2022
Why Law Students Should Learn Coding
From legal analytics to AI decisionmaking, coding is becoming an essential skill for lawyers Law students and coding is something you don’t often see together. […]
Luka KnezevicDecember 5, 2022
Highlighting is a Waste of Your Time and Resources
And it definitely should not be among the highlights in your study arsenal I must confess that I used to be a notorious highlighter all […]
Paloma AlaminosDecember 5, 2022
First They Came for CUPE…
We all lose when the public sector unions lose Last Monday, November 21, the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) bargaining team averted a […]
Manreet BrarDecember 5, 2022
Taking It 1 L at a Time
Reflecting on the first semester of 1L When making the decision about which law school to attend, I was repeatedly warned about ‘U of Tears.’ […]
Taylor RodriguesDecember 5, 2022
Taming the Wild West of U of T Law Syllabuses
Recommendations to make syllabuses more useful and fair There’s a reason U of T Law syllabuses drastically vary in content and quality: there are virtually […]
Justin NathensOctober 31, 2022
OCWhys?
Making a choice: abstaining from OCIs This year, I chose not to participate in the formal on-campus interview (OCI) process, otherwise known as the recruit. […]
Matthew BenoitOctober 31, 2022
Orange Shirt Day is Not a Metaphor
On reconciliation as a process On the morning of Orange Shirt Day (September 30), I was able to turn my phone on just long enough […]
Claire BettioOctober 31, 2022
The Library Chairs Need to Go!
My neck! My back! My carpal tunnel syndrome! We would like to draw your attention to a particularly sexy and studious topic. That’s right; we’re […]
Stephen MapplebeckOctober 31, 2022
SNAILS? In My Library?
How many are too many? You’ve noticed it, haven’t you? The library is busy…too busy. Surely these cannot all be highly motivated 1Ls diligently completing […]
Shae RotheryOctober 31, 2022
Surviving the Toronto 2L Recruit
Unsolicited advice from a 3L Recruit season is here and in full swing! The 2023 Toronto Summer Student Recruitment process, regulated by the Law Society […]
Paloma AlaminosOctober 31, 2022
The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Articling Recruit
And some suggestions to make it better Let’s be real. This year’s articling recruit was hell. There were about five positions for everyone to fight […]
Eloise HirstOctober 3, 2022
Tuition Increase for Out-of-Province Students? Take Your Money Elsewhere
Differentiated tuition fees spark outrage amongst out-of-province students On March 31, 2022, U of T’s Governing Council approved a three percent increase for domestic non-Ontario […]
Alisha KrishnaOctober 3, 2022
The Right Time and Place
Criticism of the Queen’s reign must be acknowledged Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022. I received this news during the Faculty’s Clubs’ Fair; […]
Taylor RodriguesOctober 3, 2022
Welcome to Law School, You Will Probably Be Average
Tips to thrive in 1L from a mostly average 2L Dear 1Ls, congratulations on getting into one of the most selective and, some might say, […]
Vivienne SternOctober 3, 2022
Cognomos: A Thought Piece
I’m sorry, you’re enrolled in how many classes? For those of us returning to law school this fall, our year began with several challenges. For […]
Naomi ChernosOctober 3, 2022
The Illusion of Choice in Upper-Year Classes
Seemingly few options in course selection The Faculty promotional material lures prospective students with the promise that in upper-years, you will “have the freedom to […]
Sabrina MacklaiMarch 31, 2022
Keep Your Coffee, Let Me Attend Class Online
The Faculty’s revised accommodations policies are not good enough In our first issue of the year, I wrote on how getting a Zoom link for […]
Harry MylesMarch 31, 2022
Accommodations at the Faculty of Law: the Student Perspective
A collection of student experiences with Accessibility Services and the Faculty’s accommodations process Access to sufficient accommodations has been a major issue at the Faculty […]
Jonathan HouMarch 31, 2022
Reflections on Mooting the Jessup
In the end, all the sacrifices were worth it How should I describe my experience in the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition? I […]
Gerrit YauMarch 31, 2022
MIT Sports Conference Illuminated by Industry Stars
Students aspiring for a career in sports law can find no better networking platform What’s the common thread joining: WNBA legend, Sue Bird; UFC Hall […]
Mithushan KirubananthanFebruary 28, 2022
Shading in the Supreme Court
Justice Mahmud Jamal’s appointment and the significance of diversity on the Court Justice Mahmud Jamal’s appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) marked a […]
Willem Crispin-FreiFebruary 28, 2022
Why You Should Consider Running for the SLS
A chance to create a vision for the post-pandemic law school “Me? Run for SLS? Nope.” That’s what I remember thinking when I saw the […]
Taylor RodriguesFebruary 28, 2022
Where’s the Ethics and Professionalism in the 1L Ethics and Professionalism Training?
Recommendations to improve the mandatory training I wanted to like the 1L Ethics and Professionalism Training (EPT). I like ethics. I have an undergraduate certificate […]
Donya AshnaeiFebruary 28, 2022
Words v Actions: The Case of Mental Health at U of T Law
The Faculty’s actions do not live up to their words Law school is known to be a challenging and competitive environment. Incoming law students are […]
Emily Sarah HeanFebruary 28, 2022
Should I Work in Law School?
The answer, like many things in law, is that it depends It’s a question you see constantly on law school forums: should I work in […]
Nik KhakharFebruary 28, 2022
The Accidental Utility of Vaccine Skepticism
Inciting critical discussions about anti-corruption in procurement Over the last three weeks, we have been witnessing monumental events in our ostensibly perpetual history textbook chapter […]
Vivian ChengFebruary 28, 2022
Reflections on Fostering a Dog
Dog fostering can make you more empathetic I don’t know how, but the pandemic has heightened my affection for dogs. Although I am mildly sleep-deprived […]
Emily Sarah HeanFebruary 28, 2022
Standardizing the 1L Curriculum
A one-size-fits-all model might not be the best solution There’s a level of standardization to the 1L curriculum for sure. Everyone starts with Legal Methods, […]
Vivienne SternFebruary 28, 2022
How To Manage Relationships In Law School
Is that love or sleep deprivation in the air? Valentine’s Day is stressful for anyone, regardless of whether you are involved in a romantic relationship […]
Hye-seon JungJanuary 26, 2022
Is LRW Valuable to the 1L Curriculum?
The problem lies not in its material, but in its inconsistent delivery When I talk to other students about their experiences in the first semester […]
Mithushan KirubananthanJanuary 26, 2022
The Illusion of Mindfulness
A critical analysis of the mindfulness program and other mental health supports at U of T Law ‘Believe, and you shall receive’—a great deal of […]
Ellen AnJanuary 26, 2022
The Unjust Academic Offence System at the University of Toronto
U of T fails to communicate standards and provide procedural rights Since the pandemic began, academic offence cases have soared at the University of Toronto. […]
Dominique WightmanJanuary 26, 2022
Out of Province? Out of Luck
Constant changes in delivery format disadvantages out-of-province and international students It’s funny how words mean different things to different people. For example, an email from […]
Vivian ChengJanuary 26, 2022
Please Stop Pitting Members of the Legal Profession Against Each Other
A response to Grayson Alabiso-Cahill’s “Movement Lawyering: Which Side Are You On?” Although we are told that law degrees are versatile, we are also told […]
Fievel LimJanuary 26, 2022
Reflecting on Our First Law School Exams
Comments and thoughts about the exam experience after first semester of 1L In the aftermath of the fall examination period, I have gathered up (a […]
Gerrit YauJanuary 26, 2022
Take Me Out to the Ball (Arbitration) Game
U of T Law competes at its first (but hopefully not its last) International Baseball Arbitration Competition Toronto is a large sports market—not just within […]
Vivienne SternJanuary 26, 2022
Welcome Back … To Online Learning
Zoom-of-T Law Round Two? Winter break has come and gone, leaving a bittersweet aftertaste … at least in my opinion. The sweet comes from the […]
Mithushan KirubananthanNovember 25, 2021
Hard Times for Soft Copies
The Faculty’s closed-minded approach to open book exams Change can be an uncomfortable thing and, contrary to our Ozymandian delusions of permanence, it is almost […]
Alisha KrishnaNovember 25, 2021
There are No Shortcuts for Mental Health
Cost-efficiency should not be the marker of success Content warning: This article contains discussions of suicide and mental illness. I began my undergraduate degree at […]
Stephen MapplebeckNovember 25, 2021
Reading Week in Review
Exam pressure winding up and steam running out With exams just around the corner, it’s difficult not to look back longingly at reading week, a […]
Annecy PangNovember 25, 2021
Headnotes Bulletin, I Miss You
Lamentations over a once great service Reading the weekly Headnotes Bulletin was an integral part of my Monday routine in 1L. I would scroll through […]
Grayson Alabiso-CahillNovember 25, 2021
Movement Lawyering: Which Side Are You On?
Students dedicated to the struggle for justice must see themselves as a part of movements, not separate from them Lawyers Facilitate Injustice Lawyers work on […]
Adrienne RalphOctober 28, 2021
The 2L Recruit: Not the Be-All and End-All
Words from a 3L—you’ll be fine For the many 2Ls reading this, not getting a job offer from on-campus interviews (OCIs) is probably the last […]
Tom RussellOctober 28, 2021
A Victory for Academic Freedom?
The new donation policy serves as an illusion of progress, while still maintaining the status quo This article will focus on the topic of academic […]
Vanshika DhawanOctober 28, 2021
An Open Letter to the Students Barely Holding it Together
Reflections on the other costs of law school The University of Toronto Faculty of Law administration strongly recommends that you do not work while in […]
Sabrina MacklaiOctober 28, 2021
Another Plea for Lecture Recordings
How many times do students need to express their concerns before the Faculty listens? I’m not the first person to make a plea for lecture […]
Mithushan KirubananthanOctober 28, 2021
The Cost of Becoming
“You’re gonna carry that weight/carry that weight a long time.” Most professions demand an entry fee—some type of price paid for the privilege of academic […]
Alisha KrishnaOctober 28, 2021
The Problem with University Mental Health Crisis Management
Rethinking police presence on campus Content Warning: discussion of suicide, descriptions of incidents of police violence, and mental illness In the last issue of Ultra […]
Vivienne SternOctober 28, 2021
How Do You Become a Functioning Human in Law School after COVID?
The woes of transitioning everything from online to back in-person How do you adjust to in-person school and social commitments when all you’ve known for […]
Rebecca RosenbergOctober 28, 2021
Raising the Bar: A Review of Family Law
Global TV’s new show centered around a Vancouver-based family law firm and the drama that ensues within When I heard about a new television show […]
Harry MylesSeptember 29, 2021
Why Students Should Care About the University Mandated Leave of Absence Policy
UMLAP is up for review next year and consultations are now open to hear feedback from students Content Warning: discussion of suicide and mental illness […]
Mithushan KirubananthanSeptember 29, 2021
Last Minute Class Changes Leave Students Blindsided
When in doubt, Zoom out! Like many others, I was eager to return to in-person classes following a largely-virtual year. I imagine many of my […]
Sabrina MacklaiSeptember 29, 2021
Getting a Zoom Link for Class Shouldn’t Be This Hard
The Faculty’s refusal to freely distribute Zoom links puts students at risk Despite the ongoing global pandemic, the Faculty has made clear in their communications […]
Jacqueline HuangSeptember 29, 2021
The Costs of Maximizing Happiness
A 2L’s verdict on Cognomos I had been warned about Cognomos before entering 2L. After a year working with UV, I already knew we have […]
Jennifer SunSeptember 29, 2021
In-Person Event Planning: Expect the Unexpected
Can nothing go according to plan? I had high hopes for 2021, after a year that fundamentally changed our way of life. I thought vaccines […]
Faisal BhabhaMay 2, 2021
To Post or Not to Post Your Summer Job News
The unexpected moral dilemma of sharing recruit successes In the minutes after 5:00 p.m. on March 4, I, like a number of other fortunate law […]
Flint PattersonMay 2, 2021
IIO and ILSA Create Podcast Entitled “28: A Call to Action”
Law students can learn how to be a positive force in Canada’s reconciliation efforts It’s no secret that our progress towards reconciliation has been sluggish […]
Anna ZhangMay 2, 2021
Anti-Asian Racism: This Ends Now
Reflections on experiences of Anti-Asian racism from childhood to the pandemic One evening a few months ago, I was riding a streetcar from Bathurst to […]
Shae RotheryMay 2, 2021
A Difficult Conversation
A call for the Faculty of Law to ensure all faulty and staff members have adequate mental health and sexual violence response training Content Warning: […]
Rebecca RosenbergMay 2, 2021
A Reflection on International Women’s Day Events
Paving the path forward for women in the law This year, I was invited to speak at the University of Ottawa’s Pre-Law Society’s International Women’s […]
Jennifer SunMay 2, 2021
The Summer After Zoom Law School?
You better still keep six feet away! We just passed our one-year pandemic anniversary from when we first closed down in March 2020. This past […]
Max SamuelsMay 2, 2021
What Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism Can Look Like in Academic Settings
How general discourse can cloak anti-Semitic sentiments Anti-Semitism has existed for a long time — long before the establishment of Israel as an independent Jewish […]
Hannah JohnsonMay 2, 2021
What Not to Say to Someone Who Didn’t Get a Job in the Recruit
Avoid the “everything happens for a reason” and instead, say you believe in them Not getting a 2L job in the OCIs felt like imposter […]
Alisha KrishnaMarch 5, 2021
A Review of This Year’s 1L Joint Professionalism Training Sessions
While the JPT workshops showed some promise in discussing anti-oppression and anti-racism, much improvement is needed Anti-racism, mental health, and the role of the legal […]
Jacqueline HuangMarch 5, 2021
On Cold Calling in a Pandemic
Still not easy, but it is better on Zoom In my early school years, I often spoke up in class, yet I was never a […]
Anil NairMarch 5, 2021
GPLLM: The Forgotten Students?
My experience during the recent summer recruit doesn’t make me feel like a U of T Student Graduate students at any university are often more […]
Vivian ChengJanuary 27, 2021
Out with Yak’s Snacks, in with Brunnée’s Canapés?
Editors’ Corner Welcome back to another issue of Editor’s Corner, where members of UV’s Senior Editorial Team espouse their opinions on something arbitrary and divisive. […]
Lara ZarumJanuary 27, 2021
Point/CounterPoint: “Normies” outside Law School?
Two Osgoode and U of T students go head-to-head on the topic of friendships Point: By Lara Zarum (1L, Osgoode) I figured it would be […]
Sabrina MacklaiJanuary 27, 2021
Reflecting on Changes to the 1L Curriculum
The Faculty should reconsider their decision to shorten small groups to one semester For the first time at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, […]
Meaza DamteJanuary 25, 2021
A Space to Have Tough Conversations or Another Cog in the Machine?
Thoughts on Joint Professionalism Training and anti-racism in the legal profession When I first began thinking about applying to law schools, the University of Toronto […]
Sabrina MacklaiNovember 27, 2020
Breaking the Stereotype
U of T Law students rip pages out of library books, send notes with deliberate errors, and hoard articling positions — right? While the University […]
Avnee ParanjapeNovember 27, 2020
With Amy Coney Barrett’s Confirmation, the Infection Became Complete
Reflections on a diseased democracy With a leader refusing to relinquish his grasp on authority after a definitive election and an uncontrolled virus ripping through […]
Jennifer SunNovember 27, 2020
A Different Perspective on Academic Stress
Hey, at least it’s not workplace stress! I vowed never to go back to school after finishing my graduate studies. Yet here I am, just […]
Annecy PangNovember 27, 2020
Eggnog: Eggcellent or Not All It’s Cracked Up to Be?
Editors’ Corner Welcome back to the monthly article where members of the Senior Editorial Team espouse their views on a controversial foodstuff. This month, given […]
Sabrina MacklaiNovember 2, 2020
Battling Information Overload
Staying sane amidst the Zoom classes, Quercus notifications, and endless emails I woke up this morning to 40 unread emails, 16 Facebook alerts, and too […]
Graham RotenbergNovember 2, 2020
A New School In Uncertain Times
A 2020 transfer student reflects on coming home When I packed my bags to attend an American college in 2013, I didn’t know what was […]
Jennifer SunNovember 2, 2020
The Future of In-Person Classes
Oh, Flavelle House, how I miss thee There is never a dull moment in 2020. Just when you think a level of normalcy has returned, […]
Browse through some of our popular tags: