We have some truly impressive student institutions at this school. My involvement in student life has been the most rewarding aspect of my time here.
As an executive at Downtown Legal Services I help set clinic policies and strategic direction on a committee with six students and six staff lawyers. We make difficult decisions – decisions that sometimes split along staff/student lines. Building consensus with staff in these situations is challenging, but crucial to effectively represent student interests. I also help coordinate outreach, which involves over 30 events that send law students into the community to educate people about their legal rights.
As Editor-in-Chief of Ultra Vires, I have experience managing a large team and serving U of T students. This year I’ve tried to make the paper relevant and responsive to students. Earlier this year I helped coordinate the external events for O-Week, and was an enthusiastic write/editor/dress-wearer at Law Follies two years in a row.
Before law school I was a journalist in East Africa and helped found Own Your Own Boda, a Ugandan microfinance institution. The business was selected to attend the 2012 Unreasonable Institute, an incubator for social entrepreneurs, and is a finalist in the Dell Social Innovation Challenge, a venture capital competition. Working on OYOB is still my one of my favorite activities (besides listening to Call Me Maybe).
Vote Matt, Sierra and Danielle 