An innovative new program gives students a competitive advantage

INTRODUCING LAW+ Giving students a competitive advantage

BY STEPHANIE HURLEY

In September of 2019, Schulich Law’s Career Development Office (CDO) launched an innovative new program called Law+. The program complements students’ first class legal education, by helping them build the skills required to gain a competitive advantage in today’s complex and evolving legal services market.

In its first year, more than 65 students registered for the program.

“The level of interest from students, employers and alumni in the pilot year of the Law+ program surpassed our expectations,” says Kelly Tracey, Senior Career Advisor at Schulich Law and Coordinator of Law+. “The program enabled participating students to learn key skills, navigate unique challenges, and discover innovative practices driving the law profession today.”

Law+ gives students the opportunity to develop and reflect upon their strengths through a series of skill-development workshops, professional practice sessions, and careerdevelopment programming delivered by industry experts with a range of diverse backgrounds. In its pilot year, 14 sessions were offered on a variety of topics ranging from persuasive writing to storytelling to resilience to the business of a law firm.

“The storytelling session taught me useful skills to share my experiences in a more meaningful and favourable way, while still maintaining my authenticity,” says third-year student Darren Gill. “Like all of the Law+ sessions, I learned skills that will be useful not just in law school, but in my career and beyond.”

Students create a personalized experience by selecting programming best suited to their unique goals and interests from a menu of options. Each session fits into one of four focus areas: engaging with authenticity, expectations of practice, impactful communication and effective career management. Participants who complete the requirements of the Law+ program receive recognition through the Dalhousie University Co-Curricular Record.

Law+ also gives employers and alumni the opportunity to build genuine relationships with Schulich Law students in a collegial learning environment. The majority of sessions offered last year were led by industry partners, who generously shared their experience and expertise with students.

PENNY THAM (’84) LEADS A LAW+ SESSION CALLED “IN-HOUSE OR OUTSIDE/ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?”. PHOTO CREDIT: WILL YANG

“Law+ puts Schulich Law students in the driver’s seat when it comes to career orientation and preparation,” says Chris McKenna, Bennett Jones LLP, who led a session in resiliency. “The program allows students the opportunity to learn some of the core skills needed for future practice and success in the legal profession. As an employer, having students exposed to these skills early on only helps reinforce the curriculum we provide during early firm training, better assisting in how those students will adapt to the student program and life within practice.”

Recent graduate Nancy Li (’20) helped organize a Law & Tech Panel for Law+ comprised of innovation leaders that leverage technology to gain a competitive edge in the legal industry. “Speakers provided thoughtful insights about practice management that, as a student, I found invaluable,” she shares. “The event provided a glimpse into the evolving legal landscape that stretches beyond the walls of a classroom.”

The CDO is already thinking of ways to build on the success of the Law+ program as it enters its second year.

“Our goal is to ensure the program becomes a staple at the law school,” says Tracey. “We plan to further engage our national partners on a wide range of topics and deliver more interactive sessions that generate dynamic and reflective learning for students.”