THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO FACULTY OF LAW
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Sakina Hasnain and Puneet Kanda
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Rachel Chen and Sahara Iman Mehdi
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Build your career
Letter From The Editors September 30, 2025
SAKINA HASNAIN (3L) & PUNEET KANDA (3L)
Dear Readers,
Welcome back to another year at U of T Law (we’re still going to keep calling it that unless Mr. Jackman, you decide to expand your contributions to UV). To the 2Ls—congratulations, you’ve now graduated to being perceived. 1Ls—try not to take it personally, you just have too much light still in your eyes, it blinds us. To our fellow 3Ls, we wish
you all the best in your 3LOL efforts—may we all lock out.
We are the Editors-in-Chief for the 27th edition of UV. For those of you unfamiliar with UV—we are your number one source for information around the law school, from news updates, antics with Administration, recruit roundups, life advice or even study room inspiration (we will be
ranking names again so get your best stuff ready!).
Under the covers of this issue you can find reactions to the recent name change, stress (or destress) over OCI tips, discover your next lunch spot, daydream about what else you could have bought with your tuition, and find the perfect puzzles to add to your in-class roster.
If you have any comments, are looking for ways
to get involved with UV, or just want to say hi, you can always reach us at editor@ultravires.ca or @ ultravires.ca on Instagram.
Until next issue, Puneet & Sakina Co-Editors-in-Chief Ultra Vires Vol. 27
Welcome from the SLS A note from the President of the Students’ Law Society
CHELSEA MUSANHU (3L)
As the new academic year begins, it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to our vibrant community at the Faculty of Law. To our incoming 1Ls, transfer students, and exchange students: welcome and congratulations on embarking on this journey where each of you will grow, be challenged, and develop the knowledge and confidence to succeed here and beyond.
To our returning students: welcome back! With each year, you step further into your identity as future lawyers, advocates, and leaders. Your persistence is something to be proud of. Many of you are stepping into new responsibilities—whether as mentors, student club leaders, or role models for the incoming class. Your example matters, and the community is stronger because of you.
As your student government for academic and social affairs at the Faculty of Law, the Students’ Law Society (SLS) represents all JD and jointprogram students at the Faculty of Law. The SLS has three committees: the Student Life and Academic Committee (SLAC), the Social and Finance Committee (SFC), and the Executive Committee. The SLS Executive also appoints officers who are integral to the efficient operation of the SLS. This year’s executive committee consists of myself, Chelsea Musanhu (3L), the VP Student Life, Sakina Hasnain (3L), VP Academ-
ic, Kabir Singh Dhillon (3L), VP Social, Robin Cumiskey (3L), and VP Finance, Andre Lanoue (3L).
The SFC is responsible for overseeing and allocating club funding. In addition, the SFC is responsible for organizing many of the exciting social events that take place both on and off campus and working closely with the SLS Equity Officers to ensure inclusive event planning. A special thank you to Robyn Cumiskey, Andre Lanoue, and our hardworking representatives for a successful first month. We hope you enjoyed our first few Call to the Bar nights at The Maddy and Rendezviews. Stay tuned for Halloween ticket sales in the coming weeks, it is always one of the biggest nights of the year!
SLAC is the advocacy branch of the SLS. Students on SLAC represent student voices on the Faculty Council, the governing body of the law school, and on the Dean’s Advisory Committees. SLAC representatives work with faculty members and administrative officials to determine policy on topics including but not limited to admissions, financial aid, curriculum, accessibility, equity, wellness, and experiential learning.
Last year, we collaborated with the Administration to address student concerns regarding the change to the exam policy which determined that students would no longer be permitted to ac-
cess their hard drives during exams and would instead be required to bring their materials in hard copy form. In response to the clear and passionate feedback from students, several measures were implemented to support the student body: the Course Add/Drop deadline was extended, students who had purchased electronic copies of textbooks from the U of T Bookstore were able to exchange them for a full refund, those with accessibility-related needs received the appropriate accommodations, and additional funding from the Dean’s Office was made available to provide financial assistance for printing to students in need. The SLS thanks the Administration for their thoughtful engagement on this issue. Further, as a small but welcome victory, we also saw the return of the long-lost copy-and-paste functions—hey, we have to take our wins where we can get them.
This year, we remain committed to working closely with the administration to ensure students have a strong, meaningful voice in shaping the policies and decisions that affect our law school community. I look forward to working with you, the student body, to explore how the SLS can continue to support and advocate for you. I encourage you to reach out with any ideas, suggestions, or concerns that you may have. You can reach out directly to your year representatives,
send an email to the SLS Gmail, or join us at our weekly SLS meetings, which are open to all students (SFC meets at lunch on Mondays and SLAC meets at lunch on Wednesdays).
As you navigate the opportunities and challenges of law school, remember that support is always available. The Faculty offers a range of resources, including our in-house counsellor, Liz Montgomery, who provides guidance and support to students, and Chantelle Brown-Kent, our Wellness and Student Success Program Manager, who can connect you with wellness programming at the law school.
Last year, the SLS collaborated with former corporate lawyer and life coach, Milisa Burns, along with business and leadership coach, Barbara Frensel, who facilitated working groups to guide students towards actionable personal and professional growth. Due to the overwhelming demand, we are excited to announce that this series will return again this year—details to come. In addition, the SLS is proud to provide 100 free annual subscriptions to Headspace, a mindfulness app designed to support your mental health and well-being. Stay tuned for more information in the weeks ahead.
Have a wonderful year everyone, work hard, and rest easy! Remember that you already have what it takes to succeed.
Orientation Recap
A reflection on two memorable weeks
MADURA MURALEETHARAN (2L), HARLEEN GREWAL (2L), PAUL KIM (2L)
Hi 1Ls! You thought you’d heard the last of us when that final orientation.law@utoronto.ca email hit your inbox, didn’t you?
Remember orientation? That bygone era? In case you are starting to forget a time before club applications, working groups, and wrapping your head around legal versus practical effects, this article is here as a refresher.
Orientation kicked off with the morning presentation, where it was lovely to see you all be such good sports about squeezing into J250. After your law school tours, we split you up into breakout rooms, where you either had guided activities to get to know your peers or informal chats with upper-year volunteers.
Our first event was trivia, where we were pleasantly surprised by your fervent enthusiasm to be correct – even when you were not (and especially when we were not). The winning team was able to snag some well-earned law school merch. We finished off your first week with a mixer at Twist Gallery. Eye of the aesthete or not, we hope you were able to fill up on dinner (oh, the days before pizza lunches), and enjoy the gallery’s convenient location. Over the weekend, we left you to be free and do as you pleased, with a couple of recommendations sent your way.
The second week started off with bingo, where amidst the frustration from just being one or two chips away, a few lucky victors emerged to claim their law school merch. Next up was Lawlympics, where after figuring out the challenge wasn’t actually navigating yourselves around the building, you competed
in a series of small games against each other. There was anger, there was sadness, there was grit, there was determination, there was—at times—questionable levels of sportsmanship, and alongside all of that, we loved seeing your team spirit and competitive streaks come out. Congratulations to the green team for their victory, we hope you’re still riding the high of being the first Lawlympics champions!
Throughout orientation, we tried to keep you guys fed with a variety of snacks. While not everything was premium (hey, take it up with the school if you want them spending their shiny new $80 million on endless Kinder Bueno), we’ll take the consistently emptied out buckets as a win. You also had your bingo sheets to fill out, which was hopefully a fun way to get to know your cohort.
We hope, for your sakes, that our last day together wasn’t overshadowed by the daunting pass/pass Legal Methods exam. And if it really did manage to get to you that badly, we hope you were able to sop up your sorrows with some free ice cream. We ended orientation with a full-stadium Blue Jays game. We hope you were able to relax, watch the sunset, and not take their defeat as a grave omen for the start of “real” law school.
It was exciting to welcome all of you to the U of T Law community. We hope you take all the highs and lows of your legal journey with an assured mind, and we remind you that within the chaos of applications, assignments, grades, and jobs, it really comes down to the bonds you venture to make, and how you make people feel. Good luck!
Meet the 2025–2026 Mooters!
Introducing the 2025–26 competitive moot teams
NAVYA SHETH (3L)
After a busy tryout season, U of T Law’s 2025–26 competitive mooters have been selected. As with past years, the student-run Moot Court Committee (MCC) coordinated the tryout process. First-round tryouts took place from September 9–10, featuring a panel of student judges with at least one MCC member. Second-round tryouts took place on Thursday, September 11. The second-round panel was composed of one faculty member, one MCC member, and one other student judge. Calls were made to successful candidates beginning at 6pm on Sunday, September 14.
This year, the tryout problem came from the 2019 Wilson Moot problem Irina Kowalski v Saskatchewan (Attorney General). The problem concerned the constitutionality of the Saskatchewan provincial government’s Fertility Program, which requires that an individual be under the age of 40 to be eligible for government funding for in vitro fertilization (IVF). The claimant, Ms. Irina Kowalski, was 41 years old at the time the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench heard the appeal. Kowalski sought declarations that her ineligibility for government funding for IVF treatment violated her ss. 15 and 7 Charter rights and that these infringements are not justified under s. 1 of the Charter
Prospective mooters were asked to represent Ms. Kowalski as the appellant on appeal. They were tasked with arguing that the Fertility Program’s violation of ss. 15 and 7 of the Charter were not saved by s. 1 of the Charter
The MCC would like to thank all the volunteer student and faculty judges who made the tryouts possible this year!
Below are the final results of this year’s tryout:
Note: Mooters in their third year of combined fouryear programs are noted as 2Ls (and fourth years are noted as 3Ls).
Mooters in the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Competitive Program were not selected by the MCC this year. The Willms & Shier Environmental Moot was not filled this year due to issues with prerequisites.
Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Competitive Program
Evan Chow (3L)
Jamie Blunt (2L)
Oscar Judelson-Kelly (2L)
Tyler Lee (2L)
Callaghan Competitive Program
Aliyah Mancini (2L)
Amanda Yu (2L)
Cassandra Heward (2L)
Dima Kiwan (2L)
Erica Walter (2L)
Hanaya Akbari (2L)
Jamie Dibble (2L)
Jordan Guberman (2L)
Katie Power (2L)
Neil Ryan (2L)
Paul Huang (2L)
Rayyan Esmail (2L)
Simren Sharma (2L)
Srivani Edupuganti (2L)
Tourang Movahedi (2L)
Zane Shammas-Toma (2L)
Canadian Labour Arbitration Competition
Ethan Sabourin (2L)
Ivy Chen (2L)
Davies Corporate Securities Competitive Program
Belaal Hamid (2L)
Jordan Rosenfeld (2L)
William Mitchell (2L)
Yebin Shin (2L)
Donald G. Bowman Tax Competitive Program
Daniel Austin-Boyd (2L)
George Macauley (3L)
Ke Xu (2L)
Talha Mahmood (2L)
Gale Competitive Program
Aditya Juvekar (2L)
Evan Tanovich (2L)
Sakina Hasnain (3L)
Sarah Mackenzie (3L)
Harold G. Fox Intellectual Property Competitive Program
Alexia Lee (2L)
Annie Chang (3L)
Caleb Lakhani (2L)
Sam Zhang (2L)
Jessup Competitive Program
Hasti Jamalomidi (2L)
Justin Wang (2L)
Samraggi Hazra (2L)
Yuha Khan (2L)
Julius Alexander Isaac Competitive Program
Bridget Le Donne (2L)
Bruce Yao (2L)
Jacob Meloche (3L)
Paula MacPherson (2L)
Laskin Competitive Program
Amit Nehru (3L)
Josephine Winsor (3L)
Marwan Yousif (2L)
Romina Hajizadeh (2L)
Tort Law Competition Program
Erika Mackenzie (2L)
Harleen Grewal (2L)
Myles Whelen (2L)
Sofia Sucevic (2L)
Walsh Family Law Competitive Program
Annabelle Lim (2L)
Chelsea Musanhu (3L)
Georgia Gardner (3L)
Madura Muraleetharan (2L)
Warren K. Winkler Class Actions
Allie Fong (3L)
Harjaap Brar (3L)
Iryn McMechan (2L)
Rebecca Dragusin (2L)
Wilson Competitive Program
Alicia Parker (2L)
Alysha Mohamed (2L)
Katie Martin (2L)
Tenzin Shomar (2L)
Welcome to the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law
The
law school changes its name after an $80-million donation
SAHARA I. MEHDI (3L)
On September 9, Dean Jutta Brunnée sent out an email to the student body announcing the new name of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Henry N.R. Jackman donated $80 million, which is the largest gift ever to be received by a law school in Canada. Jackman is a graduate of the law school and the 25th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
In her email announcing the change, Dean Brunnée said the donation would be designated towards financial aid for students and funding for scholarships, fellowships, and other programs such as the Future of Law Lab. In an anonymous poll conducted by Ultra Vires, 64 per cent of respondents said they do not support the name change.
“I wish they’d been clearer about how exactly it will benefit current students, and how it will affect financial aid,” a 3L student commented. “Are students who already qualify going to get more assistance, or will it be that people who wouldn’t have qualified before now will?”
Out of the 114 students surveyed, only 7.9 per cent said they
support the new name, while 28.1 per cent said they are indifferent. The students who support the change say it is dependent on it meaning more funding for clubs and student programs that are struggling to stay afloat.
Some students are concerned with the reputational effects of the name change on their resume.
“When I applied, I was deciding between competing offers and I would have picked a different school if I had known about the upcoming name change,” a 3L student said.
Many students are indifferent because they do not think the name will stick. Despite the official title, students predict the public will still refer to the school as the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.
Some students are less concerned with the tangible effects of the donation and more concerned with how long and awkward the new name is. “I would be okay with Jackman. Or Henry Jackman. Or Henry N. Jackman, or Henry R. Jackman,” a 2L student said. “The N.R. is just too much.”
Bill C-2: A Concerning Expansion of Government Powers
Carney government’s omnibus bill draws criticism and condemnation from experts and civil rights groups
ALLIE FONG (3L)
On June 3, the Carney government introduced Bill C-2, a sweeping omnibus bill, also known as the Strong Borders Act. The Bill contains 16 parts and proposes amendments to several Acts, including the Criminal
Code, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act. It also enacts the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act.
Among other things, the Bill proposes to dramatically expand government and police powers to collect digital information without a warrant and would allow officials to change, suspend, or cancel immigration documents en masse.
The government says the Bill will help keep Canadians safe by equipping authorities with tools to secure the border, stop the flow of fentanyl, and address transnational organized crime.
However, experts have raised major concerns about privacy and surveillance and have compared the proposed immigration changes to the Trump administration’s hostile and inhumane immigration policies.
Impacts on Immigration
If passed, Bill C-2 would make significant changes to immigration legislation. Advocates and experts have criticized the amendments, which, among other things, authorize unilateral changes to immigration documents and impose additional conditions on people seeking refugee status.
Part 8 of the Bill proposes provisions which would allow the Governor in Council to order the cancellation, suspension, or variation of immigration documents such as permanent residency, study permits, and work permits if they believe “it is in the public interest to do so.” The orders could “apply to specific documents or individuals” and could be amended or repealed in certain circumstances.
Part 9 of the Bill proposes new eligibility requirements for refugee claimants to be referred to the Refugee Protection Division (which hears and decides refugee claims made in Canada). Asylum seekers would be ineligible, regardless of the safety of their home country, if they do not make a claim within a year of entering Canada (provided that they entered after June 24, 2020). The Bill also eliminates the exception that allows
people arriving from the U.S. between ports of entry to apply for refugee status after 14 days.
The proposed changes have received widespread condemnation from migrant rights organizations, immigration lawyers, and civil liberties associations.
Amnesty International Canada described the Bill as an attack on “refugees’ right to seek asylum.” The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) warned that the proposed changes would disproportionately impact already vulnerable migrants such as people fleeing gendered violence and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab defended the Bill, emphasizing the number of applications in the system and the need to “act fairly” to “treat people appropriately who really do need to claim asylum.”
Privacy and Information Sharing
Bill C-2 proposes major changes that would allow police agencies and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to obtain certain information without a warrant.
Part 14 of the Bill, among other things, would allow law enforcement to demand subscriber information without a warrant from a “person who provides services to the public” on reasonable grounds that an offence has been or will be committed.
This information would include whether service providers have provided services to any subscriber or client or to any account or identifier, the date they began providing services, and whether the service provider controls any information related to the subscriber.
As Michael Geist, a privacy expert and professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, points out, the demand provisions are so broad that they could be used to demand information from service providers such as physicians, hotels, and educational institutions.
Part 15 of the Bill creates the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act (SAAIA). The SAAIA establishes a regulatory framework to facilitate the process by which police agencies and CSIS collect information
from electronic service providers.
Under this Act, the Minister of Public Safety could order “electronic service providers” to develop technical capabilities, including those “related to extracting and organizing information that is authorized to be accessed.”
Robert Diab, a professor at Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law, wrote in an article for Tech Policy that this law would “expand the state’s power to access private data in Canada than any law in the past decade.”
In addition to concerns about privacy and surveillance at home, experts are also disturbed by the implications for sharing data with foreign nations such as the United States.
Researchers at the Citizen Lab, an interdisciplinary laboratory based at the University of Toronto Munk School of Global Affairs, warned of the implications of the Bill in the context of a potential bilateral data-sharing agreement with American law enforcement under the U.S. law called the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (CLOUD).
Concerns over Civil Liberties Infringements
After the Bill’s introduction, experts and civil liberties groups immediately sounded the alarm about its Charter implications. Over 300 civil liberties organizations went to Parliament Hill on June 18 to demand the complete withdrawal of Bill C-2.
On June 19, the government released a Charter statement, attempting to justify the Bill in advance of future Charter challenges.
In response to a question about the Bill’s impact on civil liberties, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said that he believed that “we have [struck] the balance that while expanding powers in certain instances does have the safeguards and protections in place to protect individual freedoms and rights.”
The second reading of Bill C-2 in the House of Commons began on September 16.
RESULTS FROM AN ANONYMOUS POLL BY ULTRA VIRES WITH RESPONSES FROM 114 STUDENTS. CREDIT: ULTRA VIRES
THE NEW NAME FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO FACULTY OF LAW. CREDIT: JACKMAN LAW
Meet Professor Nathalie Smuha
Jackman Law’s new assistant professor brings with her a background in philosophy and legal scholarship in technology and policy
MATTHEW GRACE
(2L)
This fall, the U of T Faculty of Law welcomed a new assistant professor, Nathalie Smuha. Professor Smuha’s academic interests lie in the regu-
lation of artificial intelligence (AI) and the intersection of law, technology, and philosophy. Between Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the
Meet the U
GRACE XU (3L)
BEIJING - Each September, the arrival of the newest law students brings an air of excitement to the U of T Faculty of Law. This year is no exception. With the Faculty’s official name change marking a new chapter in its history, the incoming Class of 2028 enters a program whose reputation for academic excellence and professional opportunity continues to precede it.
The law school received 2,771 applications this cycle, up from 2,607 last year—a roughly 6.3% increase. This year, 220 students were admitted. The incoming class represents a highly competitive cohort. The Class of 2028 enters with a median LSAT score of 168 and a median GPA of 3.90, calculated from the best three fulltime undergraduate years. With these numbers, the Class of 2028 stands out as one of the most competitive in recent years.
This year’s class profile underscores the Faculty’s continued commitment to building a diverse and competitive class. The incoming students age from 20 to 40, reflecting the variety of paths that lead to law school.
United Sates, Professor Smuha is an internationally trained scholar who uses her background in philosophy and human rights to approach teaching and policy development in a unique manner.
Before joining the faculty at U of T, Professor Smuha wore many hats across the legal profession. Craving a more critical approach to her studies, Professor Smuha studied philosophy in concurrence with her study of the law at the KU Leuven Faculty of Law in Belgium. She then pursued an LLM at the University of Chicago Law School, where she was exposed to the Socratic method for the first time. Her education led her to an internship with the European Commission in antitrust and employment at an international firm working in antitrust law shortly thereafter.
Professor Smuha always knew she would return to academia at some point, and her experiences in private practice actually served as a springboard for her PhD topic. After working on a case pertaining to driverless vehicles, she became enamoured with learning more about the regulation of such technologies under a philosophical lens. Out of pure happenstance, while preparing her doctoral proposal, the European Commission’s department on AI regulation reached out to discuss creating precursory ethics guidelines for a prospective AI statute.
While policy development afforded her the opportunity to marry her passions in philosophy, technology, and law, Professor Smuha found that it required too much compromise between having to balance the interests of what seemed to be millions of individuals. As a result, she dove back into the world of academia in earnest and took up adjunct professorships at the NYU School of Law and Columbia Law School, and held visiting positions at the University of Oxford, the University of Chicago, and the University of Birmingham. Immediately prior to her arrival in Canada, she was an assistant professor and concurrent postdoctoral fellow at the University of Leuven.
Professor Smuha finds a particular interest in the field of AI law because of its polarizing na-
ture; balancing innovation and regulation is part of the challenge that lies ahead for academics in this field. Further, the tech world is still largely male-dominated, and Prof. Smuha’s work emphasizes the importance of having an eclectic approach to policy development, having worked in the field as a woman with a legal-philosophical background.
While there is a dearth of AI regulation in Canada at the moment, there is no shortage of material for those interested in learning more about this burgeoning legal domain. Professor Smuha commends the work done by the Future of Law Lab for exploring AI regulation and is excited to be part of the new AI legal curricula here at U of T. Otherwise, for those interested in making a start in the field, Professor Smuha recommends taking a look at The Cambridge Handbook on the Law, Ethics and Policy of Artificial Intelligence , or other open-access legal aids.
Beyond being active in the legal landscape, Professor Smuha enjoys exploring Toronto for the first time. She has adventured around the many trails in and around Toronto, and has been indulging in the ephemerally pleasant late-summer weather in Canada. She particularly enjoys yoga and has an itch to rekindle her passion for theatre.
Getting the chance to disseminate knowledge in such a volatile field and the prospect of dialogic teaching is what excites Prof. Smuha the most about being a part of the U of T Law community. Professor Smuha finds that technology law is a nascent field, and Canada’s vibrant AI scene is rife with unanswered questions. It is a field of law without borders, and Professor Smuha’s equally vibrant academic background has ensured that she is equipped to take on those questions.
Professor Smuha has expressed that she has felt extremely welcomed by U of T Law's enthusiastic community and cannot wait to continue learning about, and from, students.
T Law Class of 2028
Women make up 56% of the incoming students, 45% identify as students of colour, 44% identify with a range of religious traditions, and 20% are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
This diversity also extends to academic and experiential backgrounds: 14% of the class already hold graduate degrees, 14% come from STEM backgrounds, and 31% hail from institutions outside Ontario. In addition, 31% of students were born outside of Canada.
For many, the journey to U of T Law marks a family milestone. A striking 85% of the incoming students are the first in their family to attend law school. The statistics speak to the breadth of opportunity and access the Faculty continues to foster.
Still, behind the statistics is a community of students with quirks and interests of their own. According to survey results, the incoming class has a strong preference for ketchup-flavoured potato chips, a detail that may amuse upper-year students. 65% reported they are extremely or moderately interested in the 2026 FIFA
World Cup and the city’s anticipated celebrations. When it comes to movie sequels, the Class of 2028 declared Shrek 2 and The Dark Knight Rises superior to the originals.
Many students are already eager to explore Toronto, with Kensington Market, Trinity Bellwoods, and the Annex topping the list of places to visit.
The decision to attend U of T Law reflects both ambition and pragmatism. Among the top reasons why the students chose U of T Law are the calibre of the faculty and peers, as well as unmatched career opportunities. Their confidence is well-placed. Among second-year students surveyed in 2024, every single respondent had secured summer employment. Early data from that class demonstrates the strength of the program’s career outcomes. Of that class of 214 students, at least 32 secured positions in New York, Boston, or the Bay Area. Another 104 received offers through the 2L Toronto recruit. In all, roughly 63.6% of that class has secured a post-law school po-
sition already, with final recruitment numbers expected to climb. Historically, more than 95% of graduating students seeking an articling placement have secured one by June. The Class of 2028 is undoubtedly in good hands.
Beyond academics and career preparation, the incoming class can look forward to the unique culture that defines U of T Law. Annual events like the Students’ Legal Society Halloween Party and Law Ball offer memorable student experiences. Clinical programs and international exchanges also provide students with unique opportunities to expand their learning beyond the classroom.
The Class of 2028 enters at a moment of institutional change. Their journey will be rigorous, but also full of discovery, community, and growth. As they step into the halls of U of T Law, they bring with them not only impressive credentials but also curiosity, humour, and the promise of shaping the future of the legal profession. Welcome, Class of 2028!
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR NATHALIE SMUHA. COURTESY OF NATHALIE SMUHA
Law Student to Law Student: OCI Advice
How to survive (and maybe enjoy) OCIs
HARJAAP BRAR (3L)
While OCIs can be an exhausting and stressful process, you might find them to also be surprisingly enjoyable. My OCI experience is well summarized in a text I sent to my friends last year, “Had my first not great interview, the vibes were off. But I’m honestly kind of loving today, I just get to yap about myself.” It is inevitable to have a few interviews that may not go exactly as you would have hoped. However, you’ll find during most of your OCIs that it can be really fun to reflect on the valuable experiences that have shaped you into a strong candidate. In short, my abstract advice is to be confident and to go into your OCIs with a
positive attitude. Having said that, let’s get into some concrete tips that will help you achieve an enjoyable OCI experience:
Be Prepared
Almost every interview will start with the wonderful question: “Tell me about yourself.” Use this as an opportunity to frame your experiences in an authentic narrative that explains what has led you to this moment. Next, you’ll probably be asked a series of behavioural questions. It is very time-consuming to prepare for each possible one. Instead, I would suggest reflecting on five or six experiences that highlight your
strengths and cover a wide range of skills. Practice telling these stories to ensure that you are getting the key points across. It can also be helpful to prepare a “long resume” to familiarize yourself with the details of your past roles. You don’t want to be caught off-guard if you are asked to expand on what it is you researched in your research position. Finally, practice all of the above by doing as many mock interviews as possible. Each mock will help you tweak your answers to best convey your strengths. Mocks will also help you identify if there are any skills you haven’t addressed that you might need to go back and reflect on.
Apart from preparing information about yourself, you should also prepare information about the firms where you are interviewing. I found it helpful to have “cheat sheets” for each firm with basic information about the firm, the summer program, and my interviewer. Quickly reviewing these cheat sheets in the few minutes before your OCI will help you orient yourself for the interview. Pro tip: include pictures of your interviewers! You will be meeting a lot of people in a short amount of time and having a picture and a name will help jog your memory.
Lastly, prepare thoughtful questions that will help you differentiate between the firms. As a confident and strong candidate (which you are), OCIs are an opportunity for you to vet the firms just as much as they are vetting you. Reflect on what is important to you for your future workplace and prepare questions that will get to the heart of those issues. In the next stage, you might have to make tough decisions about which firms you want to continue interviewing at, and it is crucial that you use OCIs as an opportunity to be better informed about where you see yourself.
Setting Up Your Space
To ensure that your interviews run as smoothly as possible, it is important to anticipate and address possible challenges beforehand, such as:
• Make sure that you have a quiet and well-lit spot to conduct the interviews.
• Inform friends, family, and roommates of what you have going on so you aren’t disturbed during the day.
• Troubleshoot wifi or webcam issues and have back up plans for any potential challenges.
• Be prepared to hotspot from your phone or call into Zoom calls.
Everyone has experienced technological problems, so do as much as you can in the days leading up to OCIs to feel as prepared and calm as possible!
While it is very important to ensure that you have a professional background, it may be worth thinking about displaying something personal to interviewers. Consider including a conversation starter, such as a plant or a painting, in your background that could help interviewers see who you are outside of your accomplishments.
Just Do It!
Now that you are fully prepared and have set yourself up for success, you are ready to have a fun OCI experience! During your interviews, try to relax. Treat the interviews like a conversation with friends. Have faith that your preparation and practice will lead you to answering questions articulately. Instead of stressing about what else you could have done, focus on being present in the moment and creating connections with the interviewers.
Still, OCIs can feel like both a marathon and a sprint, so utilize your breaks well. Do whatever it is that will help you reset and be ready for the next interview, whether that is stepping outside and getting fresh air, listening to music, chatting with your roommate, or lying in bed. Do whatever works for you! Definitely have some snacks and water with you throughout the day though to keep your mind sharp.
While your short breaks are a time for you to reset, the nature of OCIs means that you might need to do a little bit of work in between interviews as well. Take a couple minutes after each interview to jot down any highlights (these will be helpful to plug into a thank you email template later that night!) and take note of how you felt coming out of the interview. While the interviewers may not be a representation of the entire firm, your initial impression can be helpful in deciding whether you want to continue interviewing with them. Simple ranking systems such as using happy/sad emojis or grading a firm out of ten can make a huge difference when it is time for you to choose your in-firm interviews!
Don’t forget that you are capable and extremely competent! You will do great. OCIs are a short week in the grand scheme of your life’s accomplishments and do not define your worth. Have fun and take care of your mind and your body. Good luck!
Law Student to Law Student: In-Firms Advice
Tips to help you get through recruit
KATHERINE FAN (3L)
Yay! Recruits are just around the corner, and before you know it, many questions may be running through your mind: How should I respond to certain questions? How should I present myself in the best light possible? What are some dos and don’ts during interviews?
In this article, I share some practical advice on interview best practices. Remember, though—what’s most important is that you show up in a way that feels genuine and comfortable to you. Think of the below as guidance from someone who went through the process not too long ago!
Professional Etiquette
While firm cultures vary, full-service firms generally expect that students wear business formal attire rather than business casual or smart casual. This is definitely not the time to shy away from wearing a full suit! Pops of color are acceptable, but it’s safest to stick with conservative palettes—navy, grey, camel, or black—especially since you may be interviewing with multiple people who each have their own preferences. Besides wardrobe, it is always good professional etiquette to arrive 5-15 minutes early before interviews
with a hard copy of your resume in hand. This is because interviews may be hectic for firms, and if your interviewer misplaces your application, having it ready shows thoughtfulness and preparation. In addition, interviewers generally appreciate receiving personalized thank-you emails as a way to show gratitude and genuineness. You’d be surprised at how far it can go!
Event-Specific Etiquette
In terms of event-specific etiquette, it is common for firms to take candidates out for lunch or dinner at for-
mal restaurants. While this may depend from context to context, a good rule of thumb is to follow the lead of the lawyer hosts at your table. For example, it may be helpful to observe the kinds of dishes that other lawyers are ordering and their relevant price points, as a general guideline for your order. In addition, sticking to polished, “easy-to-eat” foods such as mashed potatoes, fish fillets, risottos, or salads with manageable toppings is a good way to reduce the worries of making spills or splashes.
Recruit receptions are also great opportunities for firms to connect with students! While not all students
stay for the entire reception event (unlike lunches and dinners), it’s a good idea to stay for at least half the event if you have others to attend. If the reception serves alcohol, it’s recommended to keep it light!
Questions to Ask
Most interviews will conclude with interviewers asking candidates if they have any questions in return. While this is a great chance to obtain answers to your curiosities or uncertainties that may persist about a firm, this is also an excellent opportunity to make a fi
nal impression by communicating your values! For instance, showing curiosity about how to best prepare before summering at the firm (e.g., what are some important courses to take?) or about a practice area (e.g., what’s your favourite part of practicing in the X practice area?) may show initiative and genuine interest.
Things to Avoid (Generally)
Do youhave a suit guy?
What to Wear DuringInterview Week
In-Firm, In-Style
What to Wear During the 2L Recruit
Take it from someone who was in your shoes last year: the in-firm recruitment process can be stressful. Between prepping for interviews, surviving coffee chats, navigating dinners, and dreading the inevitable “So… tell me about yourself,” the last thing you want to be worrying about is your outfit.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a believer in the power of a good outfit, and regardless of how you feel about fashion, what you wear absolutely influences how you feel about yourself. Your in-firm outfits should feel like an extension of you and an enhancer of your best qualities, not another element to stress about during the three big days.
That’s where I come in. I eat, sleep, breathe fashion, AND I survived the 2L recruit without a single fashion faux pas (I know, I know, please hold your applause until the end). So, without further ado, here are my top seven fashion tips for in-firms…
1. Wear What YOU Want
Listen, everything that follows is coloured by this all-important statement: wear what YOU want to wear. Here’s the reality: law firms do have a “dress code” of sorts. Expect lots of neutrals, stiff blazers, tailored dress pants, and shiny black shoes. The world of legal recruitment is formal, and you want to respect that context; demonstrating an understanding of the environment is a valuable display of professionalism. That said, I believe the magic happens when you balance respect for the norms with authenticity. You will shine brightest in an outfit that projects the polished, professional version of your authentic self.
2. Yes To The Suit
Yes, you should wear a suit. The fact is that suits are the norm, and it is expected that you wear one. No, you don’t need a new suit for each day. One well-fitting suit will carry you through the whole process. Switch out your shirt or blouse, rotate ties or accessories, and you’ve got a variety of outfits without draining that poor student line of credit. But beware: if you are tempted to go the “separates” route (mix-and-match black or coloured blazer and pants from different stores), what looks like “matching blacks” at home often turns into “actually charcoal and midnight” under harsh office lighting. I am also all for throwing a fun blazer with black dress pants, but with any "separates" situation, you should always proceed with caution.
3. Thrift, Don’t Splurge
Law students are broke. Fast fashion is killing our planet. Those are two great reasons to grab your friends and head to the thrift store this recruit season. You might not be lucky enough to stumble across a perfect two-piece set on short notice, but you can absolutely score a great blazer to pair with items you already own. Trust me, there is a multitude of amazing quality and timeless office wear at all your local thrift store. My personal tip for thrifting office items is to go by feel: run your hand along the items and feel for thicker, softer fabrics. I would also recommend checking the fabric composition. When thrifting for pieces to last, look for natural fibers (cotton, wool, wool blends, and linen). These fiber types are more durable, comfortable, and
breathable than the alternatives on the market. Remember, tailors exist! Want to look like a million bucks? A $7 thrifted blazer plus $20 worth of tailoring can easily get you there.
4. Shoes: Comfort is Non-Negotiable
Repeat after me, “I will wear comfortable shoes.” This is not optional. Over the three days, I met many stylish but limping students who expressed regret about their three-inch heels or stiff new dress shoes. Ladies: flats, kitten or block heels, or loafers are your best friends. Gents: break in your dress shoes before infirms. In-firms involve lots of walking, standing, and sometimes running between interviews, so do not add bleeding feet to your list of worries.
5. Keep It Wrinkle-Free Friends, wrinkles can easily take your 10/10 outfit to a 6/10—tragic. Crisp, wrinkle-free clothes signal that you are detail-oriented and willing to put in the effort to show up as your best self. Ask your family if they have an iron you can borrow, or grab a cheap steamer at Walmart if the thought of ironing terrifies you (same). Pro tip: do NOT wait until the morning of your interview to iron/ steam your items. It can easily eat up five to ten minutes, and you don’t need that added stress. De-wrinkle your items the night before and hang them up overnight for a smooth, stress-free morning.
6. The Bag Trick
Here's a hot tip: shoulder bags can wrinkle your suits. You’ll throw one on and suddenly have a giant crease across your blazer. To avoid this, opt for a structured handbag or briefcase. Yes, they are a bit more annoying to carry, but they keep your outfit looking sharp all day.
7. Your Survival Kit
Interviews are a marathon, not a sprint. I recommend packing the essentials so you are never caught lacking. Here’s the “what’s in my bag ” that got me through in-firms without a hiccup: deodorant, hairbrush, gum or mints, Kleenex, water bottle, safety pins, lip balm, and a lint roller. There you have it - my top seven fashion tips for in-firms! But if I can level with you here, at the end of the day, your outfit is not going to make or break your chances. No partner is thinking, “Well, Emily had brilliant answers to my questions, but unfortunately I noticed that her shirt was too pink, and her shoes weren’t Gucci, so… pass.” That’s just not happening. What firms will notice, however, is your confidence, your curiosity, and your ability to hold a conversation like a future colleague. So, iron your blazer, wear those comfy shoes, and bring that lint roller, then FORGET about your outfit and focus on showing them why they’d be lucky to work with you. Because they would. And if all else fails, at least you’ll have survived in-firms without crying over blisters, and that’s a win in my book!
EMILY ERNST (3L)
CREDIT: PUNEET KANDA
The Law Review: Here’s to the Year Ahead
An overview of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review’s plans for the year
BEN BEILLES (3L) & KARINA VANDENHOVEN (3L)
We are so excited to introduce Volume 84 of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review (UTFLR).
The UTFLR recently finalized its fall hiring process and are thrilled to welcome 48 new Associate Editors and Associate Publications Editors to the masthead. This year we received over 100 applications and were deeply impressed by the quality of writing and editing on display so early in the semester.
At the core of our priorities for Volume 84 is to expand UTFLR’s role within the U of T Law community beyond the masthead. As such, we want to highlight some of the UTFLR opportunities available to the
broader student body.
Most significantly, we want you to play a role in expanding the UTFLR’s online companion journal: the Forum Conveniens. The Forum Conveniens is a low-stakes entry point for students to publish their legal writing without the long haul of a full article.
So, if you are a 1L with undergrad papers that touch on legal topics, an upper-year with small-group assignments collecting dust, or have an opinion on recent court decisions, we want to hear from you. Even if all you have is a rough idea for an article, reach out to our Executive Forum Editor at forumconveniens.lawre-
view@utoronto.ca and the Forum team will work with you to create a publishable article.
We also want to create more opportunities for all students to participate in UTFLR events. That means continuing initiatives like the author presentation panels, in which published UTFLR authors speak to the student body about their papers.
Finally, continuing the hard work of our predecessors, we want to encourage more French-language submissions to the UTFLR. The UTFLR is actively trying to expand its relationships with Franco-Ontarian, Québécois, and other French-speaking legal communi-
OPINIONS
Is the MBA Worth It?
ties. We also want to emphasize that we are looking for full-length and shorter Forum articles in French. The long-term vision is that French writing won’t just be a small corner of the UTFLR, but a consistent part of its identity.
Ultimately, our goal for the UTFLR is a journal that’s not only putting out high-quality scholarship but also finding new ways to be relevant, accessible, and sustainable within the law school. If you have thoughts, comments, or want to get involved, feel free to reach out to us at editorsinchief.lawreview@utoronto.ca.
The benefits of an MBA can outweigh its costs
AADITYA JUVEKAR (2L)
Yes, but it depends on how sensitive you are to the value drivers catered to by Rotman’s MBA program. In other words, the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management’s MBA is fundamentally a product, like any other. Therefore, by applying what I learned in my Rotman marketing course, I think you will likely find it worth purchasing if you really want to satisfy the kind of value best satisfied by incurring the costs of pursuing a Rotman MBA. For the sake of simplicity, I will share my thoughts on the kind of value that an MBA is designed to offer to 1L students considering joining the JD/MBA program, as well as its associated costs.
First, you are free to join the MBA program at almost any point during your 1L year. Once you join the JD/MBA program, your experience will be practically identical to that of a 1L JD student. However, you will no longer be eligible to participate in the 1L Toronto recruit during your 1L year. The Law Society of Ontario only permits law students who expect to graduate and commence articling two years after completing 1L to participate in the recruit. Meanwhile, by joining the JD/MBA program, you will extend your expected graduation date by an additional year. Instead, you will be eligible to participate in the 1L recruit during the second year of the JD/MBA program.
For those of you who want to participate in the 1L recruit this year, even if only to practice your networking, resume drafting, and interviewing skills, you likely won’t find value in pre-emptively disqualifying yourselves from the process by becoming JD/MBA students before the recruit concludes in late February. But, for those who want to focus exclusively on doing well in 1L without worrying about recruit, or for those who were unsuccessful in the 1L recruit and want to give it another shot, you will likely find participating in the 1L recruit during the second year of your JD/MBA program beneficial.
If you choose to join the JD/MBA program, I can’t precisely say how much of a competitive edge the MBA itself gives to 1L recruit participants (largely because I don’t have the time, energy, or access to relevant data). However, I can say that you will necessarily have some clear advantages over 1L JD students. While 1L JD students only have their 1L Fall semester grades available by the time they participate in the 1L recruit, you will have both your 1L Fall and Winter semester grades. Whether you performed consistently well in 1L or whether you improved your performance, firms will have a clearer picture as to your academic consistency and trajectory.
Furthermore, second-year JD/MBA students will be at Rotman during the time of their 1L recruits and won’t have to worry about sacrificing academic performance during their 1L years at the law school to focus on networking, resume and cover letter drafting, and interviewing. Your 1L grades are crucial because they are the only grades that will be available during the 1L and 2L recruits, in which most law students secure their summer placements and join the firms or government positions at which they will article. These advantages
also apply to the 1L New York recruit, which takes place during the 1L Fall semester. As someone who landed a 1L New York position during the second year of my JD/MBA program, I know I wouldn’t have had the time or awareness of everything that was going on at the law school to participate in a recruit during the Fall of my 1L year.
While the MBA will give you some advantages during the 1L and 2L recruits, both in Canada and the U.S., it certainly isn’t necessary for securing the highestpaying law jobs in either market. There were many U of T JD students who secured positions in Canadian and American Big Law. JD and JD/MBA students who choose to work as associates in Big Law have the same responsibilities and follow the same salary scale. That being said, an MBA can increase your competitiveness as a candidate if you are worried that you did not perform well enough academically to secure a particular legal position.
However, you should consider the additional tuition costs of becoming a JD/MBA student if all you want is to be a certain type of lawyer and are interested in the MBA solely to secure a job at a particular firm. The JD/MBA program costs roughly twice as much as the JD program, and JD/MBA students are not permitted to apply for the law school’s financial aid during the second year of the JD/MBA program. You likely won’t think that landing a position at your dream law firm right out of law school alone is worth doubling your tuition costs and spending an extra year in school. However, if you don’t want to become a lawyer or if you don’t want to remain a lawyer for your entire career, the MBA will offer many lucrative exit opportunities in a variety of industries. Your legal education and experience, along with your technical business knowledge, will be valuable to corporations and government bodies alike.
Finally, if, like me, you want to remain in law for the foreseeable future, the MBA might be valuable enough that it makes the additional time and tuition worth it. I joined the MBA at the start of 1L without knowing anything about the program, law school recruits, the importance of grades, or the difference between transactional lawyers and litigators. I certainly wasn’t aware of everything I have shared in this article so far, all of which I came to learn after completing two years of the JD/MBA program. All I knew coming into the program was that I wanted to be a lawyer, and this program seemed to offer some interesting additional knowledge that sounded impressive on paper.
Having recently completed my year at Rotman, and despite having studied business in undergrad, I learned a surprising amount about the intersection between microeconomics, business strategy, fiscal and monetary policy, capital markets, financial accounting, and datadriven decision making. While my undergraduate-level business courses explored these topics in isolation, my MBA-level business courses built off one another and, upon completion, fit seamlessly together into a coherent analytical framework. Whether used to inform your current or future investment decisions or to digest major
political and economic developments, if you want to enhance your ability to navigate the inner workings of major societal institutions, you will likely find value in a non-professional sense by pursuing an MBA. Ultimately, I’m glad I impulsively joined the MBA
program. Had I known the opportunity costs of joining as early as I did, I probably would have waited until later in my 1L year to join the MBA. However, I found the benefits of the MBA program to be highly valuable and worth the costs. You might think so too.
Ken Dryden’s Final Challenge to Us
He was not just an inspiration to me; he was — and is — a lodestar for all of us
JARED SLOAN (3L)
Just over a month ago, I caught up with my classmate Rebecca while we were both in Geneva, Switzerland, for summer internships. From what I recall of the conversation—we had just spent several hours in an English pub dutifully cheering on our Commonwealth kin in the Women’s EURO Final…so I may have been in a somewhat refreshed state. We were gabbing about life, politics, and what will become of this crazed, depraved world of ours. I asked her if she had any political heroes, and she quipped that that is a contradiction in terms. Well played, I suppose.
But I cannot share that view, because Ken Dryden will always be a hero to me.
As I write this, it has been about a day since we learned that Ken Dryden died of cancer on September 5, 2025, at age 78. His is not the kind of biography that can be reduced to a single X post, whatever the hell the character limit is these days. But for what it’s worth, I thought our Prime Minister’s formulation was equal parts beautiful and economical: “Ken Dryden was Big Canada. And he was Best Canada.”
There will never be another Ken Dryden, but I suspect there will always be a great many Canadians striving, in ways big and small, to be like Ken Dryden. Mark Carney wanted to be a goalie because that’s what Ken Dryden was. I wanted to be a law student in large part because that’s what Ken Dryden was. And I wonder how many other
kids have had—or will have—some version of the experience that I had: picking up a copy of The Game , being entranced by that gorgeous, penetrating Dryden prose, and knowing that we needed to keep reading him, keep listening to him, keep trying to think about all things—life, sports, politics, the future of Canada—a little more like he did.
Dryden had not revealed publicly that he was battling cancer, and had reportedly known for months that it was not curable.
Assuming that is true, it is quite stirring to go back and watch his final appearance on TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin , which took place on June 26, 2025—the day before the last ever episode of The Agenda. In the lead-in to the segment, Paikin notes that it was Dryden who phoned him in the final weeks of his show to pitch one more topic: What will cause people to look back at us in 50 years and think, “how could they have been so stupid?” (That phrase will ring a bell to anyone who read Game Change , Dryden’s 2017 tour de force on the need for hockey—and the NHL specifically—to address the risk of long-term brain injuries).
Of all the things he could’ve talked about at the end, he wanted to focus on empowering others—especially those in our generation—to “make decision-makers make decisions that they would otherwise resist making” (A little taste of Dryden phraseology, for the uninitiated).He advised that
those seeking change must pursue it not by being nice, but by being “really, really tough about it.” It reminded me of a quote from another of my political heroes, Chrystia Freeland (sorry, Rebecca), who I think could also be appropriately called the inheritor of Dryden’s efforts to create a national childcare system. What I admire most about Ms. Freeland is the work she did in securing approximately US$50 billion in financial support for Ukraine, backed by the profits generated by Russia’s immobilized sovereign assets. Back in 2024, when I was making noise about this proposal in these pages, I learned via an excellent Politico profile that she was doing the same on the world stage. She fought hard to push that over the line, and when I tracked her down for a few minutes at her Canada Day party this summer, she assured me that Ukraine will get all the money it was promised. But as she said in the article, “A part of me sort of thinks, wow, if the Ukrainian finance minister or the prime minister were listening to me, would they be saying, ‘Chrystia! Come on! Don’t be so nice and Canadian. We have to get this done. Our people are dying.’”
Don’t be so nice and Canadian . I imagine Ken Dryden would smile if he read that, perhaps now more than ever, because he believed in a Canada that could be both good and important, that could do what was needed if American leadership was not up to the task. On
Ukraine, and so many other things, we will face critical choices in the near future, and it is up to us to do all that is in our power to make sure our country makes the right ones.
Three years ago, when Dryden launched a course at McGill designed to inspire climate action, he gave a lecture which included the following exhortation:
But at this moment you might also say,
“Let’s get realistic. I’m a student. Really, what can I do?” Here’s what I’d say to you: When I was a Member of Parliament I would tell others that young people are important in politics because they are still young enough to be excited by the exciting, and to be outraged by the outrageous. And to solve big, hard problems you need both, excitement and outrage.
Don’t underestimate your power. Your excited, outraged, deeply personal voice makes us squirm. We know you’re right. We, the older generation, have a responsibility to pass on to you every life possibility. You’re the boss, not us. My generation reports to you. If things aren’t as they need to be, you call us to account. So push us, get on us. You have every right. Don’t ever forget that. And remember, 30 years from now your kids will hold you to account.
We were a greater country for Ken Dryden’s many gifts. And we will be greater yet if we take those gifts he has left us, and carry on his eternal quest toward the Best Canada.
A Guide to Beating Cognomos
Accept your fate, it’s not possible to beat Cognomos.
PUNEET KANDA (3L)
1. Accept Defeat
When I first heard that upper-year students were struggling with the courses that Cognomos had given them, I victim-blamed them—I assumed they had done something wrong and assured myself that there was no way I would face the same fate. Unfortunately, there is no winning against Cognomos, the web-based course allocation system supposedly powered by Nobel Prizewinning economics (still waiting for receipts to confirm that this is true). Despite Cognomos’ claim to greatness, it is almost guaranteed to leave students unsatisfied, frustrated, and forced to go through the five stages of grief.
2. Strategize
To defeat Cognomos, I planned meticulously for hours and crafted the perfect schedule. I would have Thursdays and Fridays off, enjoying an ex-
tra-long weekend every weekend. Instead, I was scheduled to have class from Monday to Thursday and was placed into ¼ of the classes I wanted for this term.
The question is, how did I get here? I ranked the smallest classes first, followed by the highly sought-after Civil Procedure with Professor Aidid, and Evidence with Professor Shaffer. I didn’t stop there; I implemented what I considered a foolproof plan (I am the fool).
My strategy was inspired by my mentor’s, who had ranked all of her required courses as “Acceptable” so that the system would reward her with classes she actually wanted when forcing her into required classes. Her strategy didn’t necessarily work out, but I thought I could alter it for my own hopes and dreams.
I was naïve to think that I could trick the sys-
tem. With Civil Procedure being my single remaining requirement, I thought it would be safe to rank it fourth – there could be no way I wouldn’t get it. It was my other classes I was worried about not getting into. I decided to rank popular classes with small class sizes high, but not as high as most people, to try and trick the system into giving me what I actually wanted. While I was correct in assuming that I wouldn’t be placed into these classes, I was incredibly wrong about getting into Civil Procedure. Cognomos put me into the 6-9 PM Criminal Procedure, a course I hadn’t even ranked. The only reason I decided to wait until 3L to take Civil Procedure was because I was waiting for Professor Aidid’s return. I was left to mourn, and I continue to do so with five out of six of my other friends who suffered the same fate.
If you think that ranking Civil Procedure as
first would have saved me, you are wrong. I have a friend who ranked Evidence first and Civil Procedure second and ended up with neither, while I got Evidence despite ranking it significantly lower. The only reason I ranked Evidence in the first place was so that we could take it together, but now we must endure our classes alone, instead of united as one. Alas, the power of friendship was not enough to beat Cognomos.
3. Never Give Up
While you may never be able to win against Cognomos, the good news is that people do change their minds about classes, and waitlists can move quickly. It’s possible to go from 10th place to being admitted into a course on the same day. On the other hand, if you don’t even have a number on the waitlist (like I did for Civil Procedure), it might be time to give up.
The “Henry N. R. Jackman Faculty of Law:” A Celebration
A transformational gift and new era of global
impact
ANONYMOUS (2L)
I have tears of joy streaming down my face as I write this. For a long time, I felt like the school didn’t do enough to honour its donors. As I’d walk through the Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP Atrium down to the Stikeman Elliott LLP locker area, I’d feel troubled, and I’d walk back up again. Something’s not right here, I’d say to myself. It wasn’t enough. I couldn’t bring myself to drink from the water fountains, which remain without a named donor. Is this how it has to be? I’m not going to even talk about the trouble I’ve had in the bathrooms. How could I ever use a toilet that didn’t have the name of a Seven Sisters firm above the bowl? It became very inconvenient. I felt that, as a school, we just weren’t doing enough to honour and appreciate our beautiful donors. Before I started 1L, I’d heard
about the Amazon donation scandal, and I think it's a shame that this donation went undisclosed. If you’re not familiar, Amazon generously gave money to pay the salary of a Faculty member and to fund research on competition law. Amazon was so generous, they even gave a list of speakers to participate in a seminar on the subject. For some reason, Dean Brunnée made the personal decision that this donation should remain unacknowledged. I can’t understand why; it costs money to produce first-rate legal scholarship, and Amazon’s contribution to the intellectual life of Canada’s best law school ought to have been properly celebrated.
The school isn’t good enough to its donors, I thought. Who could forget the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) hiring scan -
dal? As reported by Masha Gessen in The New Yorker, David Spiro, another generous donor, dialled up a university administrator and expressed concern about candidate hire Valentina Azarova’s scholarship on the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Within days of Spiro’s call, Azarova's prospective hiring was reversed. Gessen’s article gets into all this in detail. I don’t need to get into it here. But aren’t we lucky to be receiving funds from people who are so invested in the well-being of the school that they take the time to personally intervene in its hiring processes? That’s real care. That’s real love. Eleven faculty members went on the record to oppose this intervention, but rest assured, that was just a small minority.
So, I really think it’s a wonderful thing that our Faculty has taken the next step and re -
named itself after one of our beautiful, generous donors. I’m sure Hal Jackman is a very nice man. I can’t really conceive what spending $80 million feels like for someone with a net worth of $2.4 billion, but if I had to guess, I’d assume it’s probably like booking a nice vacation or buying a new car. Canada is the only G7 country without an inheritance tax, so gifts like this are the only way we could ever hope for some of the Jackman family’s wealth to serve any public good. We should be saying thank you. I just hope the renaming of the school can help us all reflect on the wonderful role donors play in the life of this institution. It’s people like them who help make this institution the vibrant intellectual community it is. I know I’m grateful—I’m sure you are too. After all, what would we do without them?
Totally real news from the Hasnain & Shackleton Faculty of Law!
Did you come to U of T with your sights set on the Big Apple? Well 1Ls, your time has come. Rumour has it that the top NYC firms have already begun recruiting for Summer 2027. In fact, sources say that at least one 1L received their offer during their second year of undergrad. We advise scheduling your coffee chats ASAP, lest you be condemned to working in Canada forever.
MCC Introduces New Moot Tryout Process
In response to criticisms about the moot tryout process being both opaque and unduly onerous, the MCC has resolved to implement a new way of doing things. Instead of asking competitive moot hopefuls to prepare submissions on Section 1 of the Charter, students
will now be asked to debate one of society’s most contentious questions: Team Conrad or Jeremiah.
Faculty of Law Mystery: What does N.R. stand for?
While the Jackman building has long been a feature of U of T Law, the entire Faculty now bears Jackman’s name. While we now know Jackman’s first name is Henry (I was previously under the impression that we were named after Aussie actor Hugh Jackman), students remain in the dark about what the N.R. stands for. After extensive investigation, the authors have uncovered the answer: New Revenue.
Productivity Skyrockets Following Introduction of NYT Mini Paywall
As dedicated puzzle fans (and procrastinators) are
Cosmic Chaos
Astrology for the booked, busy, and burnt-out
HARLEEN GREWAL (2L)
WAKE UP! The new Aries Moon doesn’t care if you’re tired and neither does your Admin prof. Whether you’re sweating OCIs, dreading cold calls, or Googling “how to IRAC” for the fifth time, October is serving main character energy. Three words for the month ahead: chaos, action, and self-reclamation. Drown out the season’s trickery and treat yourself to a little delusion (in the name of growth, obviously).
Aries
Oh Aries, October is your month. The Full Moon in your sign has you feeling invincible. High risk means high reward, and your fiery energy is practically itching for impulsivity. Just remember, sending that 2 a.m. “wyd” text after Call to the Bar isn’t the transformation the stars had in mind. Boundaries are your friend this month. Lean into that independence.
Taurus
An extra shot of self-care is your only prescription this month, Taurus. Between OCIs, readings, and obsessing over your Hal-law-weekend costumes, you’re at risk of burning out. Save yourself (and your group chat) the matcha-induced crash out and carve out some intentional me-time. FYI: doomscrolling until 3 a.m. doesn’t count. Touch some grass, take that nap, and don’t be afraid to have tough conversations.
Gemini
October has you juggling harder than a 1L trying to keep up with readings and
no doubt aware, the New York Times (NYT) recently added a paywall to the popular Mini crossword. Since law students are much too broke (due to U of T’s tuition) to afford a NYT subscription, students can no longer tune out of their lectures by completing the Mini. Forced to listen to Prof. Thorburn’s musings on criminal law, students have come to a startling realization: law is actually interesting (who knew?). Armed with this newfound awareness, students are apparently now actually doing their readings!
U of T Law Re-renamed
As you may have heard, U of T Law recently acquired a new name. However, Intra Vires is pleased to announce that U of T Law is getting a new new name. Following a generous donation of $80,000,002, the school will now be known as the Hasnain, Khan &
Shackleton Faculty of Law. It is unknown how Hasnain, Khan and Shackleton acquired the money for this donation. It definitely wasn’t illegal gambling. However, we can assure you that the book store will be holding a clearance sale on both the old merchandise and the not-yet-delivered Henry N.R. Jackman merchandise. Hasnain, Khan and Shackleton just narrowly out-bid Doug Dimmadome, owner of the Dimmsdale Dimmadone for the naming rights to the school.
Intra Vires Writer’s Room Getting Cramped
Some would say three writers is too many for one tiny section. To those we say you have no idea how much work it takes to come up with funny headlines . . . plus, there’s nothing else to do in 3L.
make it to every bar night, Gemini. Your twin energies are begging you to pick a lane: burnout or brilliance. Channel that chaos into something creative instead of that “perfect man” who thinks stare decisis is an indie band. Lean into your routine, because newsflash: transformation isn’t in the cards if you keep ghosting yourself (and your readings).
Cancer
This month dares you to look in the mirror and face what you’ve been avoiding, Cancer. No, not whether Belly chose the right Fisher brother (she did), but the bigger questions: love, career, and why you’re still paying $7.77 for RCM’s water-downed matcha. Retreating into your shell won’t save you. Be real and take risks because your crush can’t decode your “sexy eyes” from across the fishbowl.
Leo
Chaos clings to you harder than a 1L who just found out you’re summering in New York, Leo. You’re prowling in full lion mode this month but remember—not every clown in your orbit deserves a roar. Patience (or a glass of wine or two) will take you further than snapping. Pour into yourself, because here’s the truth: independence is hotter than any walking red flag. Your reflection might not text back, but at least it won’t leave you on read.
Virgo BOO! The only thing scarier than Hal-
law-ween costumes this year? Your communication skills, Virgo. Your group chat shouldn’t need the Interpretation Act to make sense of your feelings. Instead of spiralling…try having an actual conversation. Lean on your people, talk it out, and please stop diagnosing yourself via TikTok (save the psych analysis for Mustapha v. Culligan).
Libra
CONGRATS! You hit the cosmic jackpot this month, Libra. While the rest of us will be trick-or-treating for scraps, you’ll be thriving like a 3L stretching their Eurosummer into Thanksgiving. Be delusional, overshare shamelessly, and flirt irresponsibly while your friends roll their eyes at yet another “I met the love of my life” text. You ARE the moment (at least until your outline jump scares you during reading week).
Scorpio
You’re serving That’s So Raven this month, Scorpio (visions and all). Just be careful: not every “gut-feeling” is a prophecy—sometimes it’s just gastro from a cursed ginger beer. October pushes you to set boundaries, trust your intuition, and get real about who actually deserves your energy. Skip the spiral and channel that intensity into yourself…or stay delusional (honestly, it’s probably more fun).
Sagittarius
Spontaneity is your middle name this month, Sagittarius. Go to that concert, skip
that reading, and flirt with chaos. But before you self-destruct (again), staying grounded will serve you better. Channel your inner performative male for maximum success: journal in a Moleskine in Queen’s Park while listening to Clairo and pretend you just invented vulnerability.
Capricorn
It’s payoff season, Capricorn. The universe is serving in-firm sweeps, flawlessly executed cold calls, and just enough free-time to chase that project you swore you’d “get to eventually.” Pop that champagne, strut your stuff, and remember your day ones when the corks fly (they’re worth more than your 500+ LinkedIn connections).
Aquarius
If avoidance was an Olympic sport, you’d podium every time, Aquarius. Playing readreceipts and deflecting with “6…7” memes isn’t nonchalant—it’s exhausting. October pushes you to pause, reflect, and admit you have feelings (yes, even the inconvenient ones). Vulnerability won’t kill you…but bottling it all up just might.
Pisces
Pisces, October has you swimming in nostalgia harder than a 3L clutching their articling offer. Heavy is the head that wears rose-tinted glasses (especially when you’re rereading old texts like they’re case law). Spoiler: The only ghost haunting you this month is yourself. Invest in you, not another sad boi playlist for someone who won’t even text back.
The Saucy Intruder
Back with more intrusions
While you and your situationship may have ended with summer coming to a close, the good news is that I’m back. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Saucy. I’m the ultimate gossip columnist for law students, lawyers, and the victims of these two groups. From what I’ve heard, your summers have been filled with endless flings, office romances, and friendship breakups, blessing me with so much content. But just because hot girl (or boy) academia has begun, doesn’t mean that the tea is getting cold—it's only just brewing.
Dear Saucy,
I know that it’s only the first month of school, but I think I found my soulmate! The only problem is that he’s in my small group. I’ve been dying to confess my love for him, but the upperyears keep telling me it’s a “bad idea” to pursue a classmate. Am I wrong for my love? We even had a conversation last week! Not only do I get to see him all the time, but when else will I get a chance to become a power couple—we could even buy a house in Rosedale with his family’s money!
Love, The Future Mrs.
Hello The Future Mrs.,
When you say that you had a conversation last week, does that mean you have only had one conversation? I would urge you to exercise caution. Imagine you break up, or worse, he rejects you, and the whole school finds out.
Might I suggest looking to Osgoode or Western, or even heading to the streets of the financial district to look for your next target?
Next time, maybe wait until your second conversation before considering a love confession.
Yours (please don’t take this literally), Saucy
Dear Saucy,
I’m in Dubber’s small group, and I can’t
stay focused. I applied to law school, wanting to become a Crown, and I’m worried that I won’t know criminal law well enough to accomplish that. How can I start paying attention in crim so that my dreams don’t slip by me?
Sincerely, Distressed Dubberite
Dear Distressed,
If the wisdom of those who came before you could help you here, I’d gladly lay it out, but the first concession you must make is that you’re screwed. Nonetheless, here are Saucy’s three tips for surviving crim with Dubber:
1. Bring baseballs to class. Feel your attention slipping? Pitch a ball right when he pulls his infamous batting move, and see if that pulls you awake. He’ll love you for it, and you’ll definitely be more alert. Sounds like a homerun in my books!
2. Switch career prospects. You know what they say about Crown attorneys who went to U of T—there aren’t any! It’s never too early to start becoming enamoured with the hollow, steel and glass heart of the corporate world.
3. Complain to the faculty. It didn’t work for the students last year, but who said any of these tips would help? I already answered your question in the first sentence: you’re screwed.
Condolences, Saucy
Saucy,
I got super drunk at the Maddy, and I don’t remember anything. I think it’s because I mixed my 4 coolers, 3 beers, and 5 shots. I’m scared I did something crazy and that everybody knows.
Help!
Tipsee
Dear Tipsee,
No advice needed! What happens at Call to the Bar stays at Call to the Bar. You’re right, by the way—it’s the mixing. Let loose!
Dear Saucy,
With the deadline for tuition coming at me faster than anticipated, I’ve had to review my finances, and it’s not looking great. My rent, my groceries, my cat’s groceries—all of it is coming to be too much. Plus, no place will hire me with my class schedule. Any tips on alternate streams of income?
Thanks, Penny Pintcher
Dear Penny,
Why take yourself to the job when you can make the job come to you? The hushed chatter before and after assignment due dates, the downturned heads in the library weeks before exams, the butter-thick tension during recruit— you call it anxiety, but an entrepreneur would call it opportunity!
P-or-not palm readings, did-theright-Terima-barista-make-my-matcha Tarot, hey, maybe you could even get a crystal ball to help out Tipsee! For you, I’m seeing paywalls, I’m seeing subscription services, and hopefully a no liability clause. Ask not what the superstitions of your cohort will do to you, but what you can do with your cohort’s superstitions.
All the best!
Saucy
Hi Intruder,
I’m a 1L who didn’t know anyone starting law school with me. I thought I hit it off with someone over legal methods; we talked enough that I thought we were friends. But, as soon as classes started, the vibe shifted. They don’t talk to me, and it’s like we never knew each other. Am I imagining it? Do I approach them? What happened once school started?
— Allon Mylone Som
Hi Allon, Are you sure you were really friends?
It might just be a sign for the better. And if you were—well, this experience will only make you stronger. Making friends coming into law school isn’t always easy (not that I would know, I’m the epitome of popularity), but you will find your people eventually! (hopefully before 3L).
Or you can just harness the vibe. Aurafarm. Be the mysterious person in the back. Allure them back to you. Harness the power of friendship loneliness!
Hey Saucy,
This past summer, I worked with a fellow student, and I have to confess. I can’t stand them! They talked big, but definitely weren't a team player in any sense. The thought of having to article together for an entire year makes me light-head-
ed. I don’t know how I’ll survive! Anxious Regards, Doomed Articler
Dear Doomed,
First of all, I am truly sorry for your pain. Not all of us manage to hit the coworker bestie/work wife jackpot, and I know it’s not easy being surrounded by idiots.
As much as I wish we could all resort to sabotage and revenge, I will not recommend doing so (totally not for legal reasons). Instead, I recommend rising above. Use your competence to show their incompetence, your drive to show their lack thereof, your personability to show their impersonability. Channel your hatred into drive. And if that doesn’t work, rally up the rest of the students to stage an ostracism. Never back down—never give up!
A (Really Not) Definitive Ranking of Law School Classrooms
Ranking the classrooms on their extremely unique features
JEANINE VARNEY (1L)
This highly scientific ranking of the Faculty of Law classrooms is based on a number of factors: general vibes, temperature, seating arrangement, windows, and crowd control. Additionally, many of the law school classrooms are twins, so they will be judged together.
Vibes: self explanatory.
Temperature: Is it cold? Is it hot? If not, good!
Seating arrangement: Can you get into and out of class without distracting the whole room or walking in front of the professor just because you wanted to refill your water bottle? How much do you have to squeeze to get into a middle seat in your row and are you confined forevermore in the middle because you can’t squeeze past the people on either side of you in the middle of class?
Presence of windows: Windows have three purposes. To give natural light and scenery, to make sure you don’t fall asleep after that allnighter, and to tell you if it's raining. If they can perform those purposes without adding problems like laptop screen glare, that’s good!
Finally, crowd control. For some of these classrooms, I timed how fast it took for a 70-80 person class to mostly vacate a room.
1. FL219
FL219 is a very nice classroom that, more than many classrooms, has a “lived-in” feel. The wood paneling grounds the classroom and the paneling, combined with the modern light fixtures, gives a pleasant mix of old and new. From my observations, the classroom did not have any temperature abnormalities. The seating arrangement is typical for a classroom designed for small
groups and, due to the larger space of the classroom, it has very easy maneuverability. Additionally, it has windows but they do not provide a distraction. In short, FL219 feels like a corporate boardroom with a heart that has no major flaws with its design.
2. J225 and J230
J225 and J230’s main point of interest is the windows. The windows give a green, leafy view that provides enough natural light, but does not contribute to computer glare. The rest of the classroom is normal in its layout and features, has a good amount of maneuverability, and a decent temperature. The only major problems is that the rooms tend to have a rather loud air conditioning system towards the back of the room and the front of the room has noise from the Atrium.
3. P120
P120 is the start of the ‘meh’ tier of law school classrooms. It’s nondescript, with the exception of its columns which are unique in law school classrooms. P120’s nice points are that the entrance is in the back of the classroom, thus minimizing distraction, and it also seems to have slightly more space between rows than other classrooms on this list, which minimizes the squeeze dance to get to your chair. Ambient temperature, no windows.
4. P105 and P115
P105 and P115 are similarly in the ‘meh’ tier, with no real benefits, but also no real
problems. The entrance is in the back of the classroom, minimizing distractions, and an ambient temperature. .But there’s also no windows and the rows are rather narrow, maximizing the amount of squeezing to get to your seat.
5. J250
J250 is perhaps the most important classroom in the law school and is often the lifeblood for events. The main drawback for J250 is the temperature. It's a walk-in freezer of a classroom. Unlike P120, P105, and P115, the entrance to J250 is in the front, which maximizes the number of people who know that you need to fill up your water bottle in the middle of class. The rows are narrow, the windows useless, providing neither a legitimate source of light or visual interest, nor accurate weather data due to the white lines on the windows which obscure the presence of rain and other elements. J250 is also just annoyingly too small. Especially in 1L, it is used for events with the whole law school class, such as orientation information sessions. However, the occupancy of the room is about 10 people smaller than the size of a law school class, which makes the room slightly too crowded. Everyone is subject to a lot of squeezing to get into the last available seats, which will inevitably be in the middle.
6. J125 and J130
J125 and J130 are fine. Their main problem is the front entry to the room, instead of the less distracting back entries of P105 and P115.
7. FL223
The main problem with FL223 is the mismatch between potential and results. The room has many nice features: the moulding on the ceiling, the windows to the atrium, the paintings on the walls. But it is painted a depressing gray and the tone of the light in the chandeliers is too cold for the space, especially combined with the grey walls. This leads to an overall feeling of darkness and a dispiriting vibe. On the other factors it is okay: normal seating arrangement, ambient temperature. But this classroom is a clear case study in how to kill a room with potential.
8. J140
J140 is a cave. The definition of a cave is an underground chamber, and I would argue that J140 is roughly that. It is recessed under J250, giving the feeling of being underground and the window feels high up and small, making you feel like you’re in the mouth of a cave. During class, you look deep within the cave into the very soul of the professor at the very recesses of the cave, the sun at your back, unhelpful glare on your laptop screen. J140 also has problems with narrow roles and crowd control. With a similar number of students, it takes over 10 seconds longer to clear J140 than to clear J250, even though J250 is a bigger classroom. Clearly, leaving the cave is no easy feat. So, for the non-spelunkers among us, J140 is the worst classroom at the law school.
10 Things You Could Buy With Law School Tuition
How far your tuition could go …
Current Ontario resident tuition is $33,040, compared to $39,380 for non-Ontario residents, and $69,320 for international students. Have you ever wondered what you can buy with it instead of one year of your legal education?
1. So you want to buy a car …
For the cost of Ontario resident tuition, you could buy a 2025 Hybrid Toyota Corolla SE with allwheel-drive.
2. You need supplies for your non-existent year of law school …
With Ontario resident tuition, you could print out 330,400 sheets of paper at the Bora Laskin Law Library. One tree makes approximately 8,333 sheets of copier paper, so you could buy 39.64 trees with your tuition. If you’re paying non-Ontario tuition, you could buy 14,114 highlighters at $2.79 from the bookstore. With all of those, you might be able to fully annotate a casebook that you have no use for. If you're an international student, your tuition could replace your non-existent key fob 3,851 times.
3. All of this tuition talk is making you sleepy …
So you need some coffee from Terima. For the standard 10 oz brewed coffee, with Ontario resident tuition, you could buy 10,658 cups. If you’re under non-Ontario resident tuition, you could buy 12,116 cups of iced brewed coffee, and international students could buy 11,650 iced lattes.
4. You want to show pride for the law school you are not attending …
If you want to buy a t-shirt from the bookstore, it would be $19.99, which means you could buy 1,652 t-shirts for the cost of Ontario resident tuition. A non-Ontario resident could buy 656 sweatshirts. Surely, you’ll look more convincing as a U of T law student than an actual law student.
5. You need to order a transcript to apply to grad schools and employers instead …
Since you decided to not go to law school, you
need to send your transcript from undergrad to grad schools and employers. For your tuition, you could send 1,785, 2,128, or 3,747 transcripts from UofT at $18.50 apiece, depending on your level of tuition. But none of that beats a free PDF of your academic history from ACORN.
6. So you want to put your name on the law school …
After Hal Jackman’s donation of $80 million to the Faculty of Law earlier this month, many students have wondered how many years they would have to avoid going to law school to save up enough money to rename the law school in their own image. If you were hoping to save up your tuition every year, you would be able to put your name on the Faculty of Law in the year 4427.
7. You decide to study by yourself … Dejected by the fact you’re not going to law school, you decided to teach yourself the law. Never fear! With your Ontario resident tuition, you could buy 192 first year Constitutional law textbooks. You will be a Supreme Court Justice in no time!
8. Since you still want to cosplay as a law student … Your costume won’t be complete without a Macbook. For your Ontario resident tuition, you could buy 19 Macbook Air 15s.
9. Not going to law school is making you thirsty … You need a water bottle! You could get 786 Owala 24-oz water bottles at $41.99 for your Ontario resident tuition. Gotta stay hydrated (not) hitting the books.
10. Pondering all the things you could do with your tuition is making you hungry …
So you need to buy some instant ramen as you save up for law school next year. You could buy 19,550 packs of ramen to keep you sated while you consider the best use of your tuition money. The law school is always going to be there next year and it will only last longer with the $80 million donation …
JEANINE VARNEY (1L)
Fall Fun in and Around Toronto Pumpkin spice and everything nice: a look at autumn activities
GRACE XU (3L)
BEIJING - Fall in Toronto is a season that always feels too short. The season of sweater weather, colourful leaves, and pumpkin spice comes and goes before winter creeps in. For 1Ls who are new to the city or upper-year students looking for a study break, fall is the perfect time to make the most of what Toronto and its surroundings have to offer.
I write this piece from China. With a good 10,000 kilometres and a 14-hour flight separating me from Toronto, l admit I feel a little removed from the fall buzz back home. To stay connected, I have been turning to Rednote (better known as Xiaohongshu or XHS), China’s answer to Reddit-meets-Instagram, where young adults from around the globe share travel and lifestyle tips. I have also been scrolling through Toronto blogs and Instagram posts to stay inspired. Here is my take on what fall in Toronto has to offer, even from afar.
No fall season is fully complete without apple and pumpkin picking. For those with access to a car, Chudleigh’s Farm in Milton, located at 9528 Regional Road 25, is a destination that both Rednote and Destination Ontario highlight. Those who intend to go up north will need to book in advance as the farm does not accept walkins. Adult tickets go at $18 per person. Visitors can choose from classic apple varieties such as Honeycrisp, Gala, and Red Delicious, while also enjoying apple cider and seasonal baked treats on the farm.
Closer to the city, Applewood Farm is another student-friendly option approved by Destination Ontario. Tickets here are $12, with an additional $20 to secure a generous 10L bag of freshly picked apples to take home. The farm also offers pumpkin and butternut squash picking, making it a versatile fall outing. Between wagon rides and playground access, this farm touts a wholesome escape from the library grind.
For pumpkin enthusiasts, the Caledon Pumpkin Fest runs from September 20 to October 31 this year. From giant pumpkins to themed displays, it’s a celebration of all things orange and autumn. But for those
unable to venture outside the city, the law school’s very own pumpkin carving tradition is a worthy substitute. It’s a low-cost campus-based activity worth keeping on the calendar.
If apple orchards and pumpkin patches aren’t your thing, Toronto has plenty of city-bound options. St. Lawrence Market remains a classic, especially in the fall when vendors highlight seasonal produce and warm baked goods. Rednote recommendations also point to Cafe23, known for its cozy interiors and leafy back patio— ideal for soaking up crisp fall afternoons with a latte in hand.
Sports fans can also look forward to the return of hockey season. A night at Scotiabank Arena to cheer on the Leafs may be just the adrenaline boost needed before exam season rolls in. For a different kind of thrill, Canada’s Wonderland transforms for its annual Halloween Haunt between September 26 to November 1. Haunted attractions start at $10, while a bundled admission and haunt pass begins at $55. Whether it’s rollercoasters or haunted mazes, Wonderland promises an evening of heart-racing fun. And for students who may not be able to make the trip, the annual SLS Halloween Party brings the energy closer to campus, offering a lively tradition that blends costumes, music, and school spirit.
In the end, fall in Toronto can be whatever you make of it: farm-fresh and rustic, urban and cozy, or high-energy and festive. What stands out, especially when filtering options through apps like Rednote, is how many activities young people recommend that balance affordability, accessibility, and atmosphere.
So whether you’re sipping cider in Milton, carving pumpkins with classmates, or vibing to live music in Hamilton, this season is a reminder that law school doesn’t have to be all casebooks and cold calls. Fall is fleeting—make sure to step outside and catch it while you can.
Ken Ken Puzzle
ACTIVITIES PERFECT FOR THE UPCOMING FALL WEATHER. CREDIT: HARLEEN GREWAL
MATTHEW FARRELL (3L) & NAVYA SHETH (3L)
Sudoku Puzzle
This 9 x 9 grid is divided into nine rows, nine columns, and nine 3 x 3 boxes. When the puzzle is solved, each digit from 1 to 9 will appear exactly once in each row, column, and 3 x 3 box. Some spaces have already been filled; use those digits to deduce the remaining spaces.
