Opinions
Norm YallenSeptember 28, 2017
Dear 1Ls, it’s Okay to…
Relax Rachel Chan (2L) In 1L, I often found it difficult to stop working. I felt like there was always something I should be reading […]
Web EditorSeptember 28, 2017
Let Them Eat Cake: Single Moms, Estranged Fathers, and Financial Aid Policies that Totally Miss the Point
Chelsey Legge (2L, JD/MSW) Applying for financial aid is never fun. You have to fill out a huge form, collect a bunch of documents, and […]
Graeme OddyMarch 30, 2017
Non-Competitive Advocacy: Building a Better Mooting Community for Everyone
In October 2016, I wrote an article about U of T Law’s competitive mooting program. I discussed how a success-based valuation of the program leads […]
Charlie MillarMarch 30, 2017
Bestiality, Statutory Interpretation, and the Baffling Injustice of a Narrow Approach
“Do you think that today’s Supreme Court bench would interpret a piece of legislation in a way that protects the purpose of said legislation, or […]
Shyama TalukdarMarch 30, 2017
Challenging Judicial Attitudes to Systemic Racism
As law students, we are party to a legal system that we know disproportionately disadvantages black people. What do we owe a protest movement working […]
SuJung LeeMarch 30, 2017
The LPPE Puzzle
Here is the LPPE puzzle: the subject matter of the class is probably the most straightforward compared to other 1L courses, but the classes themselves […]
Kevin KaczmaraMarch 30, 2017
Graduation (Friends Forever)
“Two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of them says, ‘Boy, the food at this place is really terrible.’ The other […]
Norm YallenMarch 30, 2017
Sessions is Now in Court
Donald Trump and his administration have been constantly in the news, making it difficult to keep track of all the different players and their scandals. […]
Web EditorMarch 30, 2017
We Are Not Alone
The other day, I made a joke about not doing laundry and readings because #3LOL. But really, it’s because I spend my nights crying on […]
SuJung LeeMarch 1, 2017
1L Recruit: To Apply or Not To Apply
1Ls hit the ground running in the new year with the 1L Recruit: applications for firm and government jobs came due January 25, and applications […]
Davina ShivratanMarch 1, 2017
Executive Orders: Absolute or Absolutely Crazy?
President Trump has never been one to shy away from controversy, and his recent wave of executive orders have been nothing if not controversial. In […]
Web EditorMarch 1, 2017
Dr. Strangelaw or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Law Follies
The hype for this year’s Law Follies has been building ever since last year’s smashing success. The entire law school was in a state of […]
Web EditorMarch 1, 2017
The Scales of Justice: My Life as a Recovered Anorexic Law Student
Jacob Roth (2L) I used to be anorexic. Anybody close to me knows I do not hide that part of my life and that I […]
Web EditorMarch 1, 2017
And That’s the Waaaayyyy the News Goes
Nick Papageorge (2L) Everything is fine. There’s an infinite number of realities, Morty. As we descend further into absurdity, I find myself taking greater solace […]
Web EditorMarch 1, 2017
On the Importance of Student Voices at U of T Law
Kassandra Shortt (3L) At the October 2015 Faculty Council meeting, Dean Iacobucci essentially asked why law students can’t be more positive. I’ve heard similar sentiments […]
Web EditorFebruary 27, 2017
Moot Court Committee Statement on Decision to Decline Participation in Commonwealth Moot
The 2016-17 Moot Court Committee Dear Dean Iacobucci, We were incredibly disappointed by the administration’s decision to unilaterally decline the Gale team’s invitation to the […]
Kevin SchoenfeldtJanuary 26, 2017
I’m Afraid of Everyone: Social Anxiety in Law School
Kevin Schoenfeldt (2L) Picture this: You’re at home getting ready for the end of Orientation Week pub night. You were actually invited to a pre-pub […]
Priya KhalsaJanuary 26, 2017
The Law School Experience: A Single Mom’s Perspective
Priya Khalsa (JD/MSW) Getting that acceptance letter to U of T Law inevitably sparked a flurry of excitement and change. Of course it meant the […]
Shari NathanJanuary 26, 2017
The Promise Auction: From Tangled Web of Obligations to Tangled Web of Influence
Shari Nathan (2L) The Faculty of Law’s sixth annual Promise Auction was held on January 11. The event raised over $3,000 for the Native Women’s […]
Web EditorJanuary 26, 2017
Always Playing an Away Game: The Unique Challenges Faced by First Generation Students
UT Law First Generation Network Executive Committee One of the greatest parts of law school is the diversity of our class. Each person brings their […]
Louell TayeJanuary 26, 2017
Thoughts of a Professional and Ethical Man
Louell Taye (1L) When I woke up at 7:00 am this past Friday morning, I immediately had one thought: it’s too early. So, I went […]
Web EditorJanuary 26, 2017
Law Games 2017 Review: No Ragrets
Scott Dallen (2L) During the first week of the new year, twenty-seven U of T Law students travelled to Vancouver to compete against other Canadian […]
Mathew ElderNovember 30, 2016
Trinity Western University: A Queer Post-Evangelical Perspective
Mathew Elder (1L) It can be hard to avoid hyperbole when we perceive religion as creeping into spheres that we don’t think it belongs in. […]
Aaron HaightNovember 30, 2016
Trinity Western University: BCCA Struck the Right Balance
Aaron Haight (2L) As a person of faith, surely I must be celebrating the most recent Trinity Western University (TWU) law school decision? Yes, but […]
Benjamin MillerNovember 30, 2016
What’s Charity Law?
Benjamin Miller (1L) So charity law is, like, where you do legal work for free, right? Not quite. According to Linda Godel, partner at Torkin […]
Web EditorNovember 30, 2016
My (Non-Exhaustive) List of Reasons Why You Should Totally go on Exchange (If Possible) During Law School
Rona Ghanbari (3L) Last year around this time I was having an internal dilemma about going on exchange. I had doubts for various reasons. I […]
Web EditorNovember 9, 2016
We Won’t Believe We’re on the Eve of Destruction
Nick Papageorge (2L) What a time to be alive: only a handful of people throughout human history have gotten to bear witness to the total […]
Web EditorOctober 31, 2016
Pulling Back the Curtain: Introducing Your Moot Court Committee
The 2016-17 Moot Court Committee This year, we have seen greater interest in the Moot Court Committee (“MCC”), the tryout processes we run, and the […]
Web EditorOctober 27, 2016
Comparatively Not That Bad: Transfer Students on U of T Law
Kalyna Baziuk-Swaga – University of New Brunswick It’s been an interesting couple of months, transferring from a small and tightly-knit law student community in Fredericton […]
Norm YallenOctober 27, 2016
In Defence of Defence Lawyers
Norm Yallen (1L) Criminal defence lawyers should be recognized for ensuring that people accused of crimes receive a fair trial. Criminal defence lawyers in the […]
Amanda KovatsOctober 27, 2016
Life Outside of a “Magic House”
Anonymous The guest speaker said he grew up in a “magic house.” The type of household where there is always food in the fridge and […]
Tali CherninOctober 27, 2016
Just Dig Up!
Tali Chernin (1L) As a part of the professionalism training for 1Ls mandated by the Law Society, we had to answer some questions following our […]
Bethanie PascuttoSeptember 28, 2016
The Truth, As Far As I Know It
Bethanie Pascutto (2L) with contributions from Elizabeth White (2L), Eva Jadine Lannon (3L), Misha Boutilier (2L), Gabrielle Thompson (2L), and Catherine Fan (2L) If […]
Kevin SchoenfeldtSeptember 28, 2016
It’s All Upper Year Moot from Here
Kevin Schoenfeldt (2L) Every once in a while, law school reminds you that you are essentially a complete, one-hundred percent, total failure. Just a useless […]
Cory BettelSeptember 28, 2016
I’m Not Here to Make Friends
Cory Bettel (2L) Maybe it’s whimsical and obscure and makes me a little weird… but I’ve spent my entire life obsessed with reality television. […]
Web EditorSeptember 28, 2016
Unsolicited, Unqualified, and Unwarranted Advice to the 1L Class
Scott Dallen (2L) Okay, so you made it into U of T Law. Now that you have had a few weeks to settle into […]
Tali CherninSeptember 28, 2016
Orientation, Legal Methods & the Time In Between
Tali Chernin (1L) Leading up to orientation, I was repeatedly warned about the gusto of our law students. Everyone who comes to the Faculty […]
Web EditorSeptember 28, 2016
Why Do We Have to Compete for Everything Here?
Erinn Wattie (2L) There are two themes that seem to characterize a lot of my experience at U of T Law: scarcity and comparison. […]
Stephanie LewisJuly 21, 2016
U of T Law Should Incentivize Student Engagement with Aboriginal Law
Stephanie Lewis (2L) The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Call to Action #28 calls upon law schools to implement a mandatory course on Aboriginal […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Feedback On Assignments Should Be The Rule, Not The Exception
Jeff Couse (3L) In my experience, feedback has been the exception rather than the rule at U of T Law. Most of my assignments at […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Mental Health And The Duty To Accommodate: How Does U of T Measure Up?
Lawrence Veregin (1L) and Angela Pagano (1L) Mental health disorders are unlike any other disabilities. They represent a broad spectrum of categories, such as schizophrenia, […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
A Call For Community
Leanna Katz (3L) Jackman walks into his doctor’s office. “I’m sick, doc. I’ve got anxiety, depression, I’ve been precariously housed for the past three years, […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Acclaimed
Alex Redinger (2L) It is very disappointing that the candidates for all three Students’ Law Society (SLS) Executive positions and all representative positions—both Student Affairs […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Towards a Constructive Tuition Debate
Kellie Mildren (3L) Last year, the cost of a University of Toronto JD was approximately $56,000. That number rises to approximately $63,000 if the University […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Not My Role Model
Anonymous The fact that the upper tiers of our profession are dominated by white men is something I try not to think about too much. […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Negativity At Critical Mass On Facebook
Adam Ragusa (1L) Last month, the editors of this newspaper brought to the attention of the community the fact that the official student Facebook groups […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Tear Down This Wall: Reflections of a 3L on Diversity and Belonging
Nabila Pirani (3L) I have never been made aware of my racial and ethnic difference more than during my three years at U of T […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Advocacy For U of T’s Moot Program: One Year Later
Bilal Manji (3L) and Dave Marshall (4L) The verdict is in: 2015 was not a fluke. Just one year after the most successful year in […]
Web EditorMarch 31, 2016
Please Clap: Civic Engagement at the Law School
Katherine Long (3L) and Padraigin Murphy (3L) The last issue of Ultra Vires prompted a discussion in our law school community about civic engagement and […]
Web EditorMarch 25, 2016
Follies 2016 Review: 👍
David Pardy (4L) Alright, everyone, I’m going to keep this review positive so that Aron Nimani doesn’t write me a response.[1] Nah, nah, I joke. […]
Web EditorFebruary 24, 2016
On Diversity: Thank Goodness It’s…Monday?
Nabila Pirani (3L) At the last Faculty Council meeting, Associate Dean Kerry Rittich introduced the sessional dates for the 2016-2017 school year. Like this academic […]
Web EditorFebruary 24, 2016
New First-Year Course Aims to Right Legal Writing Wrongs
Nick Papageorge (1L) Last month, our Editor-in-chief put out a call to first-years: “Just take it easy, man.” First-years undoubtedly replied: “We’re perfectly calm, Dude. […]
Web EditorFebruary 24, 2016
The Gastronomic Plight of the Law Student
Scott Dallen (1L) As the most recent refugees of the administrative pandemic that is university construction, we law students have been cast out into U […]
Web EditorFebruary 24, 2016
Thinking On ISIS: A Reflection On A Reflection
Ramz Aziz (1L) On February 11, Professor Anver Emon hosted a student-organised event titled “Thinking On ISIS: A Public Forum.” ISIS (or ISIL or Da’esh) […]
Aron NimaniFebruary 24, 2016
Put Up or Shut Up
Aron Nimani (3L) Discussions within the law school are pretty unusual. When you are more accustomed to hearing the opinion of a softball teammate at […]
Web EditorJanuary 27, 2016
The abysmal state of sexual assault services at U of T
Sarah Bell-Etkin (2L) Trigger warning: sexual assault. We’ve all heard the statistics. Roughly one in four North American women will be sexually assaulted in her […]
Web EditorJanuary 27, 2016
What is the Legacy of the Transition Space?
Alex Carmona (3L) Way back in the good ol’ days of September of 2013, when oil prices were high and Donald Trump was just a […]
Web EditorJanuary 27, 2016
Exchange Pros and Cons
Harrison Cruikshank (3L) Foreign correspondent, is of course, a facetious title. The articles are jokes (in both the literal sense, and also hopefully in the […]
Web EditorJanuary 27, 2016
Do Things
David Pardy (4L) The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law is a fascinating place for its sheer brainpower. In my fourth year here (sigh), after […]
Web EditorNovember 26, 2015
The Law Society of Upper Canada: A Love Letter
Danny Urquhart (Class of 2015) Law students have three major points of contact with the Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC): hiring regulations, the bar […]
Web EditorNovember 26, 2015
On Diversity: The “My Neighbour is African” Edition
Nabila Pirani (3L) I have spent the past few weeks talking to several “diverse” people at U of T Law who went through the LSUC […]
Web EditorNovember 26, 2015
The problems with OLSAS
Daniel Carens-Nedelsky (3L) Admission to law school is critical to ensure access to justice. If underrepresented groups cannot get into law school, they cannot become […]
Web EditorNovember 26, 2015
Point-Counterpoint: To #3LOL or Not to #3LOL?
Point – It’s All Downhill From Here Alex Carmona (3L) Law students are good at many things. Reading, arguing, eating free pizza. Probably some other […]
Web EditorNovember 26, 2015
Keep Calm and Keep Hustling
Why not landing a 2L summer job isn’t that big a deal. No really, I promise. Bernd Buschke (3L) So you didn’t land one of […]
Web EditorNovember 26, 2015
Why U of T Law needs an Innocence Project
Solange Davis-Ramlochan (2L) On July 6, 2002, 51-year-old Colin Moore and his brother Roger were hosting a charity event at an Etobicoke nightclub. When club […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
Talking about law: The environment, war, morality, and more
Nick Papageorge (1L) I came to law school with numerous ideas about what might be done with a law degree. But for a few, these […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
Faculty Council: A familiar feeling
Ramz Aziz (1L) The second Faculty Council meeting of the semester occurred this past Wednesday, October 21. The Law Union rallied its faithful to attend […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
Commitment issues during in-firm week
Jacob Gehlen (2L) If OCIs are the speed-dating of the recruitment process, then in-firms are like one-night stands with jealous and possessive strangers who demand […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
The Inquisition: Reflections on OCIs
Michael Cockburn (2L) In the weeks beforehand, the students went about their days in a desperate search for quantification. What grades did you get? What […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
Kid, you’ll move mountains.
Tamie Dolny (1L) You are prepared. You have watched Legally Blonde seven times and know that perms are not water-proof. You have not perfected your […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
A better way to do financial aid
Daniel Carens-Nedelsky (3L) The Faculty of Law has an exclusively needs-based approach to financial aid. This is wonderful and incredibly important for ensuring that financial […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
Open letter to Dean Iacobucci re: SLS request for household income data
We, the undersigned, were present at the October 21, 2015 Faculty Council discussion on tuition and financial aid at which you expressed a commitment that […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
Let’s lead on climate change. Let’s break up with fossil fuels.
Graham Henry (2L) Governments around the world, including our own, have agreed that we must limit global warming to two degrees Celsius. Past this point, […]
Web EditorOctober 28, 2015
Word on the Street: What did you do right after OCIs?
I walked to the corner of Bay and King and stood in all the lobbies, suit on, arms crossed, and tried to figure out if […]
Web EditorOctober 13, 2015
Pruning the living tree: Justice policy under Stephen Harper
*The”pruning the living tree” title comes from remarks given to the Globe and Mail by Professor David Dyzenhaus. Justin Khorana-Medeiros (1L) Stephen Harper is not […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
In Memoriam: Stefan Djordevic
Leonid Kotov (3L) and Gigi Van Leeuwen (3L) After a big night out, I wake up to find my friend Stefan, a big 6’4” mountain […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
Word on the Street
The Best and Worst Parts of O-Week Best: My favourites were probably the variety of free food and the socials. Worst: They planned a social […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
You Don’t Have to Work on Bay Street
Aurora Curtis (Class of 2015) So you’re going to U of T Law and, unlike the vast majority of your classmates, you think you want […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
Marcus McCann Speaks to the Class of ’75 About Tuition and Debt
Marcus McCann (Class of 2014) A version of this talk was delivered to the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Class of 1975 Reunion on […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
Dear 1Ls – You Do You, Boo
Rona Ghanbari (2L) As you enter your second month of 1L (holy crap a month as already gone by WHAAATT???) you may be inundated with […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
1Ls Talk 1L
Initial Feelings, Impressions and Sweeping Generalizations From Students Who Haven’t Had The Sincerity Beaten Out Of Them Yet So far, 1L has raised a bunch […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
Don’t let Jackman Hall derail the tuition debate
Alex Carmona (3L) If there is one issue which I can already assume every student has familiarity, it is the tuition debate. No-one spends thirty […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
1L students demonstrate against anti-alcoholism sentiments
Nick Papageorge (1L) We were greeted by a giant tent, for we needed some visual affirmation of the hermetic intellectual circus about to take place […]
Web EditorSeptember 30, 2015
Canada’s system of refugee exclusion
Roxana Parsa (3L) The image of young Alan Kurdi lying lifeless on the shore brought public attention to Canada’s destructive policies and attitudes toward the […]
Marita ZouravlioffMarch 28, 2015
Point-Counterpoint: Manbuns on the [Bay] Street
POINT: Let the Manbun take Bay Street By Marita Zouravlioff (3L) Bay Street. The mecca of big law, stiff collared shirts, and pantyhose. A place […]
Aron NimaniMarch 28, 2015
Reflections of a 3L
By Dharsha Jegatheeswaran (3L) A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend my first ever RebLaw conference at Yale University (which you can […]
Aron NimaniMarch 28, 2015
Vote Yes DLS!
By Andrew Lynes (2L) This is a big week for Downtown Legal Services. Through a massive, sustained effort by dozens of volunteers this school year, […]
Aron NimaniMarch 28, 2015
Should U of T Have More JD/MBAs?
Point: More JD/MBAs Jeffery Ma (4L) More JD/MBAs snagging Bay Street jobs. More JD/MBAs flooding the MBA Dean’s List. More JD/MBAs mentoring other JD/MBAs. And […]
Aron NimaniMarch 28, 2015
My, how things have changed!
By Colleen McKeown (3L) Hey, 3L pals – you remember the Class of 2013, right? They were the fearless leaders of the law school when […]
Aron NimaniMarch 5, 2015
If it wasn’t for those meddling kids!
Amir Eftekarpour (1L) An open letter to the SLS about the future of student advocacy at U of T law Yesterday, the Students’ Law Society […]
Aron NimaniFebruary 25, 2015
Word on the Street
Name, year What did you do during Reading Week? Ashley Major, 1L Caught up on the two weeks of readings I neglected for law follies. […]
Aron NimaniFebruary 25, 2015
“Stop it! Stop it! This has gotten too silly!”
Harrison Cruikshank (2L) Violence against women and access to justice are serious issues. Each implicates the efficacy of Canada’s legal framework and highlights troubling parts […]
Aron NimaniFebruary 25, 2015
Law Follies Review
David Pardy (?L) I’m not one to exaggerate, yet I feel confident saying this. Like Clement Greenberg’s Art and Culture, this review will change the […]
Aron NimaniJanuary 29, 2015
Columbia Right to Allow Students to Defer Exams Following Trauma of Eric Garner Decision
By Nathaniel Rattansey (1L) Last year while many of us were studying the finer aspects of easements and promissory estoppel, Columbia Law School—along with Harvard […]
Marita ZouravlioffJanuary 29, 2015
Point/Counterpoint: Law School Enters the Computer Age
Point/Counterpoint Point: Computers have ruined the learning of the laws By Marita Zouravlioff There was a time, a beautiful, simpler, pure time, where students treated […]
Aron NimaniJanuary 29, 2015
Word on the Street
Name, year What would be your ideal pub night location? What’s your cure for the winter sads? Quinn Keenan, 1L Dog and Bear Playing with […]
Aron NimaniJanuary 29, 2015
Job Interviews Suck At Their Jobs
My opinion is that behavioral job interviews (like OCI’s) suck. I don’t mean that I hate doing them (I’ve […]
Aron NimaniNovember 27, 2014
Impressions of U of T Law School From the Eyes of an Exchange Student
Gal Shemer (4L) After being here for almost 3 months on exchange from Tel-Aviv, I can share some interesting observations about U of T law […]
Aron NimaniNovember 27, 2014
The UTSU’S Defeat Reflects Crisis of Legitimacy
Spencer Burger (2L) The University of Toronto Students’ Union recently suffered a significant and shocking upset. At this year’s Annual General Assembly, the UTSU’s governing […]
Aron NimaniNovember 27, 2014
Point-CounterPoint: Law School Friends vs “Normals”
POINT Jen Aziz (2L) Law school feels a surprising amount like high school. Every day, you see the same people, in the same classrooms, the […]
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