Ultra Vires Volume 27, Issue 2: October 2025

Ultra Vires

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO FACULTY OF

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Ultra Vires

Sakina Hasnain and Puneet Kanda

BUSINESS MANAGER

Sam Zhang

NEWS EDITORS

Rachel Chen and Sahara Iman Mehdi

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR S

Adria Lao and Jocelyn Mattka

FEATURES EDITORS

Julia Allen and Asra Areej

ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITORS

Tyler Lee and Mia Jain

OPINIONS EDITORS

Abby McCormick and Mariam Patsakos

ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITORS

Emma Malcho and Alexandra Broun

DIVERSIONS EDITORS

Kiwan (Paul) Kim and Madura Muraleetharan

ASSOCIATE DIVERSIONS EDITORS

Juliette Lee and Charlize Yao

PUZZLE EDITORS

Matthew Farrell and Navya Sheth

ASSOCIATE PUZZLE EDITOR

Zach Gorman

RECRUIT EDITOR

Yuha Khan

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Cherry Zhang

ASSOCIATE EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Taban Isfahaninejad

ONLINE EDITOR

Siegfried Kahama

STAFF WRITERS

Allie Fong, Matthew Grace, Harleen Grewal, Jake Rogers, Jeanine Varney, and Grace Xu

RECRUIT REPORTERS

Alexia Lee, Melanie Mah, and Yebin Shin

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kabir Singh Dhillon

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Bilqis Meer

LAYOUT EDITOR Fox

Letter From The Editors

October

22, 2025

SAKINA HASNAIN (3L) & PUNEET KANDA (3L)

Happy Halloween!

Hopefully the SNAILS on the cover didn’t scare you away. (That’s Students Not In Actually Law School and trust us, it’ll be the most important acronym you'll learn during your time at U of T Law). With the semester in full swing, our darkest nightmare of SNAIL infestations have been becoming a reality. (Don’t worry, this issue has a guide on how to eliminate SNAILs).

If anything, the SNAILs infestation is just a reminder that the spookiest time of year is upon us: dreaded in-firms looming around the corner, the

panicked feeling upon realizing you’ll have to outline soon (who are we kidding, only 1Ls outline this early), and 3Ls facing the chilling reality of their last real Halloweekend before working for the rest of their life (or panic-realizing they failed to 3LOL). Whatever your current horrors may be, we offer this issue to help survive these last few days before reading week. Inside this issue, we’ve got something for everyone. Been too busy last week to see what’s been going on around the school? Catch up with our Grand Moot Recap, perspectives on the new EDI programming

or learn more about the Necessity Cruelty exhibit presented by the Museum of Human Predation in the Bora Laskin Law Library. Itching for the upcoming recruit issue? Check our coverage of the New York and Articling Recruits to see where your peers are headed. Still getting familiar with the law school? Learn more about the best study spots around campus, or find your ideal crying location. Need something to keep you awake in class? Let Saucy do the heavy lifting with the latest intrusions. And, if all else fails, we’ve always got our trusted puzzles.

As always, if you have any comments, are looking for ways to get involved with UV, or just want to say hi, we promise we don’t bite. You can always reach us at editor@ultravires.ca or @ultravires.ca on Instagram.

P.S. Wish Sakina a happy birthday tomorrow!

Until next issue, Puneet & Sakina

Co-Editors-in-Chief Ultra Vires Vol. 27

October SLS Update

A note from the President of the Students’

Law Society

support student initiatives, and submitting requests early helps us make thoughtful and equitable decisions about how these funds are distributed.

Please remember that non-equity group events must be open and accessible to the entire student body. Equity groups are encouraged to first explore the funding available through Student Programs Manager, Sako Khederlarian.

Halloween Festivities

October has been full of spooky spirit thanks to the Social and Finance Committee (SFC)! From our pumpkin carving contest (expertly judged by Dean Brunnée) to a Halloween movie lunch yesterday, we have loved seeing everyone’s creativity come alive.

Tomorrow, Thursday, October 23, is Spirit Day—wear your boldest orange and black for a chance to win a special prize.

Mark your calendars: our annual Halloween Party is happening Thursday, November 7th at El Mocambo! Tickets are on sale now—do not wait, they will disappear faster than free coffee in the atrium. We can’t wait to see your best costumes on the dance floor!

Advocacy

Great news—SLS has renewed our Headspace subscription! The first 100 students to sign up will receive a free, year-long membership to the mindfulness and meditation app. The sign-up form will be going live this week, so keep an eye on your inbox. A huge thank-you to Chantelle Brown-Kent, Student Mental Health and Wellness Program Manager, for making this initiative possible.

Upcoming SLAC Initiatives

This Thursday, October 23, we’ll be joined by Milisa Burns (former lawyer and award-winning life coach) and Barbara Frensel (business and leadership coach) for a thought-provoking Salon-style gathering on the Taboo and Power of Pride. You can expect deep engagement, meaningful conversation, and personalized insights to help you meet your challenges as a student and incoming professional.

Dean’s Committees & Student Voices

The Dean’s Committees are up and running, and some have already begun meeting. We are ex-

cited to collaborate with faculty and administration to ensure student perspectives are not just heard, but acted on.

As always, the SLS wants to hear from you. If you have ideas, feedback, or just want to see what we are up to, connect with your student reps, reach out to a member of the executive team, or join us at our weekly meetings. This is your community, let’s keep shaping it together.

Elections

We are excited to announce that the SLS elections have officially concluded, and we now have our newly elected student representatives! Thank you to everyone who stepped forward to serve. Your leadership and commitment keep our community strong.

This year’s the SLS consists of the following:

• President: Chelsea Musanhu (3L)

• VP Student Life: Sakina Hasnain (3L)

• VP Academic: Kabir Singh Dhillon (3L)

• VP Social: Robyn Cumiskey (3L)

• VP Finance: Andre Lanoue (3L)

• 3L SLAC Reps: Ethan Kibel, Emily Ernst, Harjaap Brar, and Jimin Lee

• 3L SFC Reps: Olivia Lep, Amanda Hacker, Sydney Ofiara, and Sophia Cornacchia

• 2L SLAC Reps: Jayden Daniels, Omar Saleh, Srivani Edupuganti, and Ethan Sabourin

• 2L SFC Reps: Danya Assaf, Paul Kim, Sam Zhang, and Alexandra Kouri

• 1L SLAC Reps: Layla Razek, Angelina Siew, Jocelyn Mattka, and Daphne Embry

• 1L SFC Reps: Ethan Tucker, Ishaan Mclachlan, Emma Malcho, and Norah Rahman

• Officers: Robin Kovacs (Administrative Officer), Falah Khokhar (Chief Returning Officer), Bilqis Meer (SFC Communications Officer), Ye Bin Shin (SLAC Communications Officer), Melanie Mah (SLAC Equity Officer), Sahara Mehdi (SFC Equity Officer), Annie Wang (SFC Secretary), Rachel Bernardo (SLAC Secretary), Tenzin Shomar (Treasurer), Jia Deng (Treasurer), and Sam Zhang (Graphic Designer)

Grand Moot 2025 Recap

Mooters

addressed an innovative problem exploring the relationship between a self-governing Indigenous Nation and Canadian Law

ALLIE FONG (3L)

OF THE ONTARIO COURT OF APPEAL, HONOURABLE JUSTICE ROBERT CENTA OF THE ONTARIO SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE SHEILAH MARTIN OF THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA. CREDIT: ROSEMARY QUINLAN

On September 29, 2025, the annual Grand Moot took place at U of T Law. The room was full of students, professors, and lawyers eager to see the four mooters take on a complex and challenging problem involving Charter applicability and double jeopardy in self-governing Indigenous communities.

This year’s Grand Mooters were Akash Jain (3L) and Sarah Zaitlin (3L) for the appellant and Ikran Jama (3L) and Matthew Farrell (3L) for the respondent. The distinguished panel hearing the appeal was composed of the Honourable Justice Sheilah Martin of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Honourable Justice Rénee Pomerance of the Ontario Court of Appeal, and the Honourable Justice Robert Centa of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

The moot problem, Kate Sheth v Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke, was written by Co-Chief Justices Navya Sheth (3L) and Kate Shackleton (3L), with the assistance of Bench Clerks and the inaugural team of Junior Bench Clerks.

The problem was set in the fictional country of Flavelle, where Kahnawà:ke is an Indigenous reserve in the province of Falconer. It is one of the eight communities that make up the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation, which is one of the six nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

The Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk people) of Kahnawà:ke are governed by Haudenosaunee law. While Kahnawà:ke had no self-governance agreements with the country of Flavelle or with the prov-

ince of Falconer, it had framework agreements with Falconer which enabled offenders of minor crimes to be referred to the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton. The Skén:nen Aonsón:ton is a restorative, peacemaking process whereby the community can “resolve conflict in a way that reflects their traditions and teachings.” In addition, the Kahnawà:ke Justice Act, implemented by the community decision-making process (“CDMP”), created the Court of Kahnawà:ke with “original general jurisdiction within the Territory in all civil, criminal, and penal matters.”

Kate Sheth, a non-Indigenous woman, was driving home from Kahnawà:ke under the influence when she veered off the road and damaged the Kahnawà:ke community garden. She was arrested outside the reserve, charged with impaired driving under the Criminal Code, and given a $1,000 fine and a one-year driving ban. Later, unaware of her section 11(h) Charter rights, Ms. Sheth voluntarily participated in the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton process. It resulted in a $500 fine and an obligation to spend four weekends learning about the community garden, as well as helping to replant it. Ms. Sheth was barred from the reserve until she completed the requirements.

After learning about her constitutional right to be protected from double punishment, Ms. Sheth decided to challenge the constitutionality of the punishment imposed through the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton process. Her appeal raised three issues: (1) whether the Charter applied to Kahnawà:ke, (2) if so, whether her conviction in the Kahnawà:ke

Court and participation in Skén:nen Aonsón:ton process violated her section 11(h) Charter right to be free from double jeopardy, and (3) if yes, whether Kahnawà:ke would be shielded by section 25 of the Charter based on a right to self-government over criminal matters.

Speaking first for the appellant, Akash Jain argued that the Charter applies to Kahnawà:ke and that the breach of Ms. Sheth’s section 11(h) rights were not shielded by section 25 of the Charter. Jain argued that the Charter applies to Kahnawà:ke because it is a “government by nature,” based on its delegated authority from the federal government under the Indian Act. In response to a question by Justice Pomerance, Jain asserted that since there is no constitutionally protected rights regime in Kahnawà:ke, “it’s especially important that we implement the Charter in this case”. Next, he argued that the Charter should apply because the text of section 32 does not explicitly exclude its application. In response to a question from Justice Martin about reconciliation, Jain asserted that applying the Charter would affirm the legitimacy of the Kahnawà:ke governance structure and that “like all governments, they should be subject to the Charter.”

Sarah Zaitlin argued Ms. Sheth’s section 11(h) rights were infringed because the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton is criminal in nature and imposed a criminal punishment. She received an immediate question from Justice Centa asking how Ms. Sheth could now assert a Charter right, given her voluntary

participation in the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton process. Zaitlin responded that Ms. Sheth could not have waived her section 11(h) rights since she did not know they existed in the first place. Later, Justice Martin asked whether the restorative nature of the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton meant it was outside of the punishment model. Zaitlin responded that the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton had both restorative and punitive elements, which should be considered together, given the Supreme Court’s articulation in R v KRJ that punishment must be defined liberally. Zaitlin went on to say that the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton had all the hallmarks of a criminal proceeding even if it lacked the “window dressings” of Western criminal proceedings.

Turning to the respondents, Ikran Jama argued that section 32(1) does not apply to Kahnawà:ke and that, even if the Charter applies, section 25 would shield any infringement. On the first issue, she asserted that there was no delegated authority. She argued that the Kahnawà:ke had always rejected the Indian Act’s legitimacy and that the lawmaking authority rested with the community and not with the band council. In responding to a question from Justice Martin, Jama said that while Kahnawà:ke is a government, “it is not the kind of government that was ever meant to be captured within the scope of section 32(1).” Jama further argued that there was an irreconcilable conflict between Ms. Sheth’s section 11(h) rights and Kahnawà:ke’s right to self-govern over criminal matters because Kahnawà:ke would always be prevented from exercising that right. Lastly, she asserted that imposing the Charter would undermine the principle of reconciliation and that the question was “whether we apply the Charter or respect Indigenous values, knowledges, and capabilities.”

Matthew Farrell finished the respondents’ submissions and argued that Ms. Sheth’s section 11(h) right was not infringed. He argued that because she was not charged with an offense, she was not punished, and even in the alternative, the punishments would not be duplicative. Farrell asserted that the voluntary nature of the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton was “categorically opposed to the coercive nature” of criminal law. Justice Centa asked how to reconcile there being criminal matters that are not criminal in nature to which Farrell responded that Kahnawà:ke had the right to “govern over criminal law, just in a fundamentally different way from Flavelle.” He went on to argue that restoration was the primary purpose of the sentence under the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton. Further, even if it were considered punitive, Ms. Sheth’s punishments would not be duplicative because the Criminal Code and the Skén:nen Aonsón:ton dealt with fundamentally different behaviours.

After a brief recess, the panel returned and gave the mooters glowing feedback. Justice Martin began by saying the problem was “unbelievably difficult,” and that she was impressed by the mooters’ sophisticated argumentation and understanding of the problem, and that she “loved” how all mooters responded to questions.

Justice Pomerance commented that the “written facta were absolutely tremendous” and that each mooter had “tremendous style,” “poise” and “mastery of the material.” Finally, Justice Centa remarked that the mooters performed “spectacularly” and there was “nothing more they could ask for.” He finished by addressing the 1Ls in the room, encouraging them to take the opportunity to reflect on the performance and have it inspire their own learning.

Afterwards there was a reception where the mooters, judges, and audience members mingled and celebrated another successful Grand Moot. As always, the Grand Moot programming is only possible due to the hard work of the mooters, the Moot Court Committee, the Bench Clerks and Junior Bench Clerks, the administration, coaches, and the support from its generous sponsors. It is a full community event that showcases some of the brightest talent U of T Law has to offer. We cannot wait to see what next year’s Grand Moot will bring!

THE 2025 GRAND MOOTERS (FRONT ROW); MATTHEW FARRELL (3L), IKRAN JAMA (3L), SARAH ZAITLIN (3L), AND AKASH JAIN (3L); THE GRAND MOOT JUDGES (BACK ROW); HONOURABLE JUSTICE RÉNEE POMERANCE

Animal Law Program

Launches at U of T Law

First of its kind in Canada, program creates opportunities for discourse and academic study in animal law

ALLIE FONG (3L)

On September 12, 2025, the Animal Law Program officially launched at U of T Law. Hailed as the first of its kind in Canada, the Animal Law Program will expand the course and seminar offerings related to animal law, create student fellowships, as well as increase the research and practical opportunities for animal law at the school. The program has been generously supported by donations from the Hadley Family Foundation.

Animal law is a complex area of law that examines the legal and regulatory frameworks that regulate non-human animals. It focuses on the ways animals are viewed, treated, and protected (or not protected) under these frameworks. The theory of animal law is heavily influenced by evolving concepts of animal rights and overlaps with various areas of law such as property law, criminal law, constitutional law, and family law.

Current topics in animal law include

amendments to British Columbia’s Family Law Act , which added factors considering the animal’s best interests when deciding who keeps companion animals in family law disputes, and the constitutionality of “ag gag” (agriculture gag) laws that prohibit some of the practices used by animal rights activists to investigate slaughterhouses and farms.

There are currently two courses in animal law offered at U of T Law. The core animal law course, Animals and the Law (LAW253H1F), has been offered since 2021 and is taught by Professor Angela Fernandez, the Director of the Animal Law Program.

This fall, a new seminar course was introduced called The Laws of Human and Animal Relations (LAW327H1F). The course is taught by M.H. Tse, the inaugural postdoctoral fellow in animal law who also organized the exhibit: “Necessary Cruelty: The Legal Technology of Domestic Predation”

on display at the Bora Laskin Law library until November 21.

I spoke with Professor Fernandez over video call about the history of animal law programming at U of T Law and how she became involved in the field.

Professor Fernandez joined U of T Law in 2004 with a focus on legal history. Her interest in animal law began while working on a project examining Pierson v Post (the infamous property case involving a saucy intruder and a dispute over a fox). After receiving questions about the animal perspective of the case, she started thinking about how the fox was treated by the law and the treatment of animals as a broader legal, ethical, and moral issue.

Since then, Professor Fernandez has been heavily involved in the expansion of animal law programming and events at U of T Law. Since 2013, she has organized the Working Group on Animals in the Law and the Humanities. Since 2021, she has overseen the

FEATURES

production of the Canadian edition of Animal Law Digest in collaboration with the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy. The Animal Law Digest is published twice a month and provides updates on legislation, litigation, advocacy, and academia related to animal law in Canada. She also oversees U of T Law’s Animal Research Guide, which provides a collection of resources for researching animal law.

Professor Fernandez says there has been a “tremendous” and “positive” response to the launch of the Animal Law Program. She noted that the funding will allow for hiring a program coordinator to help organize and run more in-person events and programming. She said that some future goals would be a specialization or focus area designation in animal law and a long-term goal would be the establishment of an interdepartmental centre. More information about the Animal Law Program is available on the Faculty of Law website.

New York Summer 2026 Recruit Results

At least 36 U of T Law students secured work in New

York City

YUHA KHAN (2L)

This year, one of the largest groups of U of T Law students secured employment in the Big Apple compared to past years. 44 students responded to Ultra Vires’ informal recruit survey, with 36 students reporting they accepted a position to work in New York next summer.

Of the 36 successful candidates, 34 were 2L JD students and 2 were 3L JD/MBAs.

Ultra Vires continues to collect information on whether successful candidates secured their offers through U of T’s official On-Campus Interviews (“OCI”) process or by directly applying to law firms’ websites (“Pre-OCI” recruiting). Most recruitment took place through the pre-OCI process this year, with only three respondents reporting they received an offer through OCIs. Notably, only three firms participated in the OCI process at U of T this year. These trends reflect the growing prominence of pre-OCI recruitment.

In light of the New York recruitment process taking place earlier compared to previous years, UV asked participants when they received their offers. 22 students (61.11%) secured their offer in June 2025, seven (19.44%)

students obtained offers in May 2025.

The earliest reported offer was made in February 2025 and the latest in July 2025. Two students acquired offers in both March and April of this year.

Survey respondents also provided a variety of tips for students interested in the New York recruit. A common theme shared by participants was the importance of applying early, given that law firms are opening applications earlier than in previous years. Additionally, several respondents advised applying to 1L positions, which can broaden your chances at landing a position in 2L. Two students indicated that they received 2L Summer Associate positions from their 1L interview process.

On the topic of networking, respondents provided mixed advice. Some students emphasized the importance of coffee-chatting with the “right people”. Others indicated they did very little networking prior to receiving an offer.

Finally, one respondent advised participating in the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program for those interested in pursuing IP law, as some IP-focused firms primarily hire through this process.

Toronto 2026-2027

Articling Recruit Results

YUHA KHAN (2L)

This year, at least 160 students secured articling positions across 32 employers participating in the Toronto Articling Recruit. This number represents an increase from the 128 students hired by 52 employers reported last year by UV. Osgoode students secured the highest number of students hired, with at least 37 students securing articling positions.

University of Toronto placed the second highest with 20 hires, and University of Ottawa held third place with 18 students securing positions.

ually.

** NCA (National Committee on Accreditation) candidates include students from Bond University, University of Leicester, University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow, Trinity College in Dublin Ireland, and Pontifical Catholic University of Rio De Janeiro.

* The Ministry of the Attorney General responded as an aggregate to the survey. The numbers reported represent the students hired by various branches/ministries which did not respond to the survey individ

Editor’s Note: The 32 employers represented a 34 percent response rate. In total, Ultra Vires reached out to 97 employers. The remaining employers either did not hire any articling students, did not wish to participate in the survey, or did not respond in time for publication.

Finding a 2L Summer Job Outside of the Regulated Recruit Post-Recruit Advice from the CDO

CAREER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE (CDO)

If you have been unsuccessful in obtaining a 2L summer position during the regulated recruits, please know that you are not alone—remember that typically, only about half of 2L students will find employment through the 2L Toronto recruit. In short, you are in great company if you are still looking for a 2L summer job and there are many exciting opportunities to be explored! We are here to help—the Career Development Office (CDO) can support you in exploring your career options while still prioritizing the academic experience and your extracurricular activities, preparing for an effective job search, and taking steps to fulfill your career goals, whatever they may be.

1. Schedule an Appointment with the CDO/Review Resources

The CDO will work with you to plan your next steps and develop your job search strategy. This includes support with review of your application materials, networking advice, interview preparation, and job search strategies.

If you interviewed during any of the recruits, you can also reach out to the employers with whom you interviewed to ask for feedback. Sometimes, they can offer you some constructive feedback to help you in further interviews. They also may be aware of other employers who are looking for law students. If you need help processing or understanding employer feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to the CDO.

There are also so many resources available in the Resource Library on UTLC that could be helpful to you in your search. You can take a look yourself or meet with us to refine your review.

2. Review and Refine your Resume and Cover Letter

Ask your friends/family or the CDO to assist you by reviewing and providing feedback on how to improve your application materials. Resist the temptation to assume that your materials need to be reworked from scratch—this is often not the case. However, it is always a good idea to take the opportunity to have one more careful review over your materials and to ask yourself whether they can be improved in any way. With the benefit of more time, there are usually opportunities for refinement!

3. Research Potential Employers

Take some time to reflect on where you would like to work in the long AND short term. There are several directories and databases that you can use to broadly research legal employers by practice area, location, and other criteria:

• UTLC – select the Employer tab

• Canadian Law List (http://www.canadianlawlist.com/)

• Martindale (martindale.com )

• Lexpert (https://www.lexpert.ca/)

• NALP Canadian Directory of Legal Employers (http://www.nalpcanada.com/)

• Set up a profile on LinkedIn and start following interesting organizations/companies/lawyers to learn more about the area in which you would like to work.

• Join the OBA/CBA (it is free for students!) and check out their practice area resources. You can also perform an historic search on UTLC to see which employers have typically hired outside of the recruits each year and look into them.

4. Keep an Eye on Job Postings

The CDO continues to receive postings throughout the academic year – all of these jobs are posted to UTLC. These positions are for jobs located across the country, and include a wide variety of practice areas.

You can also find law student jobs on a number of websites, such as:

• www.legaljobs.ca

• Glassdoor (www.glassdoor.ca)

• LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com)

• Indeed (http://www.indeed.ca)

Once you have an idea of where you would like to work you can also check those employers’ websites regularly for job postings.

5. Network, Network, Network!

A number of legal employers do not participate in any of the regulated recruits. This leaves a hidden job market, as many smaller firms and firms outside of major cities don’t advertise summer jobs although they are willing to hire a student. For this reason, it is very important to extend your job search beyond advertised positions. Reaching out to your network of contacts can open doors to the hidden job market while allowing you to learn

more about career paths and options. Networking is particularly valued and appreciated in the legal profession, and it is used both as a means of engaging clients and to facilitate lateral career moves.

In order to tap into the hidden job market, it is important to tell others (professors, previous employers, friends, neighbours etc.) that you are looking for a position. You never know who will be able to help!

Start by identifying your list of contacts and letting them know about your job search. Expand your network of contacts by seeking out new contacts in the legal profession and by meeting lawyers who work in practice areas that interest you.

Additionally, attend conferences and events: professional associations, such as the Law Society of Ontario and the Ontario Bar Association, have events where you can meet practicing lawyers, and the Faculty of Law, student groups and the CDO hold workshops with guest speakers throughout the school year.

To expand your network of contacts, also consider setting up “informational interviews”/”coffee chats” to meet with lawyers and other students for information and advice about their careers/summer jobs. This will help you to learn more about what they do, and how they found summer employment and developed their careers.

You can reach out to network with alumni or request a mentor through the U of T Law Connect website (U of T Law Connect) or simply reach out to lawyers you have seen on panels or discovered through other methods such as on LinkedIn.

6. Practice your Interview Skills

Many people find interviews challenging but, with practice, interview skills and techniques can be refined. While most of us will never develop a passion for interviewing, we can achieve a solid level of competence in presenting ourselves well. Reflect on your past interview experiences – what would you like to do differently in the future? Look for patterns in your interviewing style and ask for feedback. Contact lawyers where you applied or interviewed and ask for their comments on your interview or application package. Also, maintain the practice of taking notes after each interview. This will help you to identify areas to polish for the next time.

Whether you would like to discuss interview

Student to Student: “Failing”

the 2L

preparation strategies, possible interview questions, or to receive tailored feedback through a mock interview, you can book an individual appointment with the CDO.

7. Remain Focused on Academics and Keep the Job Search Manageable

Remember that grades will continue to be very important in your job search—for that and so many other reasons, remain focused on academics. Think about steps you can take to keep your job search on track and manageable while you continue to prioritize academic and extracurricular commitments. You can’t predict when or where you will find a position, but you do have some control over the job search process. You can control the process by, for example, setting a target to attend a certain number of networking events and informational interviews per month. Setting small and measurable goals for yourself will allow you to monitor your progress and break the task into manageable chunks.

Do you find it easier to devote a larger block of time to working on applications and networking? Or do you prefer to schedule several smaller ‘job search sessions’ interweaved through your other activities? Do what works best for you, keeping in mind your prior experience and preferences.

Anticipate and prepare for possible challenges but remain flexible! For example, do you find it difficult to keep motivated, to attend networking events, or to practice interview skills? Whatever the challenges may be, identifying them in advance gives you the opportunity to develop proactive strategies to address them. If you sense that your motivation is waning, think about steps you have taken in the past when you needed to increase your motivation level. Assess what worked well for you and whether there is anything else you would like to try.

8. Stay Positive and Give yourself Grace Searching for a job can be a stressful and challenging process, so remember to look after yourself: take breaks, relax with activities you enjoy (e.g. yoga, listening to music), and ask friends and family for support. And remember, the CDO is here to support you with every step of your job search— never hesitate to schedule an appointment with us! Good luck!

Recruit Advice

for students unsuccessful in the 2L Toronto Recruit

SURVIVOR (3L)

With reading week approaching, we are entering a time that most 2Ls dread the most – the 2L Recruit. Last year, I spent countless hours seizing every opportunity to coffee chat and have mock interviews with the CDO, upper-year students, friends, and anyone else I could get my hands on in preparation for in-firms. My greatest fear was the possibility of failing the Recruit. Of course, the worst did happen, and I had a very silent 5 pm. I felt humiliated. I was so confident that I would secure a job, but I ended up being the only one among my close friends who was unsuccessful. I swore my friends to secrecy, instructing them that if anyone asked about me, they were to lie and say they had forgotten the name of my firm.

To make matters worse, someone in my year decided to make a relatively public list of where everyone ended up, including people who had failed the recruit and at what stages. Hot Tip: Try to consider people’s feelings and not be this person – there’s no reason to track your entire cohort’s results from the recruit. While it felt as if my world was ending, I ended up securing a job the following week – life goes on.

So here is my last-minute advice on what NOT to do during the recruit, and some tips for if you do find yourself unsuccessful.

1. Don’t Treat the Recruit Like It’s Life or Death

While the Recruit is an important process, your success in it is not the be-all and end-all of your legal career. Throughout the entire Recruit process, I operated under the belief that if I were unsuccessful, it would mean I was a failure. This mindset heightened my anxiety during an already stressful situation. Despite having a successful first day during the in-firm process, I ended up sobbing in my car the entire drive home due to the overwhelming stress. My anxiety, along with my performance and emotions, continued to decline on Days 2 and 3 as I felt that things weren’t going the way I anticipated.

As I mentioned, I secured a 2L position the week after the Recruit. If you find yourself unsuccessful, it’s okay to take the day to mourn and wallow in your sadness, but be ready for the post-2L Recruit. There will be a number of firms posting 2L positions on LinkedIn and UTLC immediately after the Recruit. These firms often have short deadlines, so you don’t want to miss out on these opportunities because you were indulging in self-pity.

Opportunities will continue to arise Throughout the remainder of the year, you can expect to see job postings from various firms across Toronto and the GTA. If these opportunities do not interest you, consider reaching out to other firms. For those open to relocating, there is also the 2L Ottawa Recruit,

which accepts applications at the beginning of second semester. Additionally, the Articling Recruit offers another chance to secure a position that aligns with your interests.

Remember, your 2L summer does not define the trajectory of your legal career. If you’re unsatisfied with where you have ended up, there are opportunities for change. Many individuals who were unsuccessful in the Recruit have gone on to work at those firms as associates.

2. Debriefs

My friends and I kept each other updated throughout the in-firm process. Whenever we had overlapping breaks, we would take the opportunity to call and discuss our experiences. While sharing these experiences can be a helpful way to relieve stress, I would recommend debriefing with someone who isn’t actively going through the process.

You will likely be interviewing with some of the same firms as your friends, which means that talking to them may increase your stress rather than alleviate it—especially if you’re not hearing back from those firms while they are. If you believe this information could impact your performance or emotions, it may be better to save these debriefs for after the Recruit has ended.

If you find yourself unsuccessful, discussing your experiences with friends and upper-year students can be helpful. Even though I was the only one among

my close friends who was unsuccessful, I found comfort in discussing my experience. After all, we had all just gone through the same exhausting process. Upper-year students are also a valuable resource! They have connections with people who have been in your position and have gone on to have successful summers. These upper-year students can provide advice and connect you with others to help you navigate the job hunt.

3. Reach out to Firms and the CDO

Many students who are unsuccessful in the Recruit are often unsure about what went wrong. If you find yourself in this position, consider reaching out to the firms you interviewed with to ask for feedback on where you could improve. Firms are generally open to providing constructive advice, which can be invaluable as you continue your job search.

In addition, the CDO is an excellent resource. Theresa, Aglaia, and Lindsay have worked with countless students in your situation and can offer tailored guidance for the post-2L Recruit, the 2L Ottawa Recruit, and beyond.

At the end of the day, the Recruit is just one part of your law school experience; the result does not define you or the trajectory of your career. You’ve already accomplished so much by getting this far, and there will always be firms, mentors, and classmates willing to help you out! Good luck!

Making the Most of the Peer Mentorship Program

Tips on facilitating a fruitful mentor-mentee relationship

MATTHEW GRACE (2L)

The Peer Mentorship Program (PMP) at U of T Law is an excellent resource for 1L students and upper-year students alike. For newcomers to the law school, it can serve as one of the primary connection points between the mentee and the legal profession at large, and for mentors, it is a unique opportunity to make a difference in the law school community. The PMP is one of the excellent things about being a law student at U of T because it is a remarkably useful experience for both mentors and mentees.

1. Reach out to each other often

It is common that mentees have some hesitation when attempting to contact their mentors. However, proactive communication is a key foundation to strengthening a mentorship relationship. It is important to remember that mentors volunteered themselves to participate in the PMP; they are aware of the difficulties of being a 1L student and are also aware of what they can reasonably contribute to a mentorship position. As such, while hesitance to reach out to mentors is understandable, just know that mentors have made a commitment to supporting you by virtue of volunteering to be a mentor in the first place. Follow up with your mentor and do not be afraid that they might be busy. They will communicate with you how they might support you as long as you reach out. For mentors, it is equally important to regularly

communicate with your mentee. A lack of communication does not necessarily indicate that a mentee is not interested in the support you have to offer, they might just be experiencing some of that aforementioned hesitancy in reaching out to you. The mentor-mentee relationship is a two way street, and it benefits from mentors regularly checking in on their mentees as well.

2. Mentors offer more than just support in navigating your courses

One common pattern in the relationships facilitated by the PMP is that mentees reach out to mentors for course notes and then do not seek mentorship in any other capacity throughout the year. Mentors can offer other forms of academic support, such as providing a second set of eyes on an assignment or an email you are drafting. They can also offer some advice on navigating the exam writing process or more generally on how to effectively study. They can even share their insights on navigating the legal profession at large. Course outlines are but one of many ways mentors can provide academic support.

Mentors may also provide different forms of social support to mentees. Beyond having also experienced 1L at U of T Law, mentors hold unique life experiences that might be of interest to mentees. If you are not sure how a mentor can support you, a simple chat over coffee is a great way to facilitate a

Necessary Exposure to Necessary Cruelty

A Conversation with M.H. Tse

ANNA NUECHTERLEIN (3L)

By now, you have likely experienced the exhibition, Necessary Cruelty: The Legal Technology of Domestic Predation, presented by the Museum of Human Predation and displayed in the Bora Laskin Law Library. I had the privilege of learning about the exhibition from Man Ha (M.H.) Tse, one of its creators and the inaugural postdoctoral fellow in Animal Law at the University of Toronto. Necessary Cruelty responds to the legal paradox that, while Canadian law prohibits unnecessary animal cruelty, it concurrently enables and justifies cruelty deemed necessary to inflict upon animals raised for consumption. The exhibition itself is an immersive expression of what M.H. describes as a “zone of necessity”—a discrete enclave where practices that are cruel in fact are not considered cruel in law. The zone is physically brought to life by occupying the enclosure-like contours of the library’s entrance.

During our tour, M.H. explained the intentionality behind the use of the library space and the various typographies in the exhibition. The large blocks of text displayed across the north-facing windows describe forms of animal cruelty that are permissible: “It will be lawful to immobilize you in metal chutes, boxes, headlocks, and headgates.” Its broad spatial coverage is evocative of vast exposure to harm. In the smaller, more confined spaces, statements articulate razor-sharp limits on cruelty in an otherwise broad and permissive legal regime. The warm-tinted background underlying the text contrasts with its chilling content, inviting feelings of dissonance.

The main text is written in Garamond, a typeface originating in the 16th century, reflecting the archaic and enduring nature of these laws. The smaller portion of text is set in Blackletter typeface, representing the sharp and precise contours of these narrow restrictions on harm. Both antique typefaces are juxtaposed with the exhibition’s title typeface: Franklin Gothic Ultra, a hyper-bold and dominating font which gained popularity during the post-World War II industrial era. The use of these different typefaces highlights the relationship between archaic (yet contemporary) practices and the modern impetus for mass consumption.

The physical objects placed throughout the exhibition are meant to be perceived as legal artifacts. M.H.

explained that Necessary Cruelty represents a museum set in the future, displaying today’s practices as relics of what she describes to be our “violent past.” These legal artifacts include “Animal Protection Zone” signs, found in agricultural and industrial sites, which paradoxically mark spaces governed by special legal rules where animals are bred, processed, and slaughtered. The tools encased in the glass display box on the back wall of the exhibition are those used to facilitate mass animal consumption as efficiently as possible.

The exhibition is at once subtle and confrontational. Visitors could just as easily pause to deeply engage with it as they could find themselves absentmindedly studying within its boundaries, unaware of its embodied presence. M.H. explained that both are valid ways to interact with the exhibition: it is not intended to be coercive or impose a particular moral prerogative. Rather, it invites students, staff, and faculty to engage with realworld concepts – which may feel painful, uncomfortable, or inaccessible – at their own pace. The exhibition’s objective is to start a dialogue about the legal exceptionalism of our treatment of animals raised for consumption – a corner of the law that is only just emerging from the shadows yet is intimately connected to our everyday lives. By framing the exhibition as a future museum, M.H. and her collaborators have constructed an imaginative detachment that enables a more distanced perspective for those who may find these concepts distressing to confront in the present.

I had a thoughtful discussion with M.H. about how she hopes visitors will engage with the exhibition. She expressed that animal law has long been peripheralized and trivialized, and she seeks to bring this important area into the broader legal discourse. Indeed, the more exposure we have to contemporary animal law practices, the better we can come to our own conclusions about their ethical and legal legitimacy. While M.H. is not set on elevating a specific moral agenda, she hopes that viewers will consider how systems of “necessary cruelty” imposed upon animals connect to other forms of oppression and subjugation, such as colonial violence and environmental degradation. In her own powerful words: “This way that we have of extracting, holding,

more familiar relationship. They can be a sounding board for your personal queries or a confidant for your rants. There is something between you two that is the reason behind your match within the PMP, whether that be similar career goals, backgrounds, or life circumstances, so use that as a springboard into a friendly relationship. Importantly, you should clearly communicate what you are comfortable with sharing, and consider what they are comfortable with hearing.

3. Mentors (and mentees) can be great connectors

Mentors have at least a year’s experience in dealing with law school and the interesting characters that arise therein. While networking is an effective benefit from the PMP, mentors can connect mentees with people to address specific challenges. Beyond professional development, mentors are more aware of who in the law school is the best person to provide you with support in many circumstances. While the PMP did a great job at matching mentors with their mentees, they may not be equipped with the answers to every challenge, so do not be afraid to ask them to connect you with someone who might be able to help otherwise.

For mentors, mentees can stand as your connection with the operations of the law school beyond your circle. Upper-year students can become hyperfocused on their own development, whether that be

in courses, externship placements, or recruit activities. Having a mentee means that mentors can get insight from someone who is experiencing the foundation of the legal education program at U of T. Conversations with mentees can even feel grounding for mentors and can serve as a nice break from the stresses that come from being an upper-year student.

4. Mentor relationships span beyond just this year

The special thing about the mentor-mentee relationship is that you can both dictate the nature of your relationship. Just because the “official” PMP relationship is over, this does not mean you are not allowed to reach out to your mentor anymore. Your peer mentor can still be a great resource for navigating experiences beyond 1L, such as OCIs, preparing for a moot, or deciding on which upper-year opportunities to pursue.

The PMP is an excellent chance for the students at the law school to grow closer with one another, and just as their mentors helped them, many upperyear students are happy to share their hard-earned wisdom with you.

keeping, and using life itself as this endless instrument of generation, it really has shaped the world on every level. It has shaped the surface of the planet. It has changed our ways of organizing territory.

And so, understanding the legal structure that we have created to enable this extractive relationship is really important – even if you don't care about animals – to understand the sort of legal infrastructure for how we extract from others, humans and animals alike, and from the earth.”

Necessary Cruelty coincides with the establishment of the first Animal Law Program at the University of Toronto. However you choose to interact with the exhibition, it symbolizes an incremental yet significant step

toward affirming animal law as a scholarly field deserving of centrality and critical engagement. The exhibition serves as both an important exposure to current animal law practices as well as a catalyst for imagining a better and more just future, where structural violence is a relic of the past.

Acknowledgments I would like to thank M.H., for her generosity and thoughtful conversation, and her collaborators: Rachel Wallace, Yshia Wallace, Anne Campbell, and Petrina Ng, for their artistic vision in bringing Necessary Cruelty to life. If you have not yet visited the exhibition, it remains open until November 21, 2025.

PHOTOS FROM THE NECESSITY CRUELTY EXHIBIT AT THE BORA LASKIN LAW LIBRARY. CREDIT: DARREN RIGO

Reflections From Anishinaabe Law Camp 2025

Embracing a posture of humility through land-based learning

ROMINA HAJIZADEH

(2L)

From September 11 to 14, students from U of T traveled to Mnjikaning (Chippewa of the Rama First Nation) to participate in the annual Indigenous Law in Context: Intensive law camp. Rather than reading from physical casebooks and sitting in lecture halls, this intensive allowed participants to look to the Earth as our law professor and as a source of law in and of itself. This year brought together students, professors, and staff from several schools, including Osgoode, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Queens University, and University of Victoria (UVic), as well as members of the Law Society of Ontario.

Participants were welcomed to learn Anishinaabe law through various land-based learning opportunities. This included participating in various ceremonies, including the sunrise ceremony that opened our first full day at Mnjikaning, as well as singing together, listening to talks and stories on Anishinaabe art, language, and governance, and taking moments on breaks to engage with and learn from the land on our own time. Just like last year, we also had a fantastic session on the Rama Farm, and this year some students had the opportunity to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony.

A beautiful element of land-based learning is that no two peoples' experiences will be entirely the same. We were told aptly on day one of Law Camp that we take for us what is meant for us. The feelings we’ve felt, questions we’ve asked, and lessons we’ve all learned were thus deeply influenced by our own lived experiences and understandings of what law is.

To hear a bit about the array of experiences from law camp, some students have generously offered some of their reflections for this article: “At Chippewas of the Rama First Nation, we learned Anishinaabe law through fire teachings, stories, and the Seven Grandfather Teachings—principles that reminded me of the values I grew up with in Hinduism. Both traditions see law not as command but as conduct, something lived through relationships—with others, with the land, and with the more-than-human world. Listening to community members speak about wampum belts and the return of sacred items, I was struck by how responsibility, reciprocity, and respect form a shared moral grammar across traditions. It felt grounding to study law outdoors—to learn from the cold, from the sunrise, from the animals. It was the first time in law school I felt that learning wasn't about mastering rules, but about under-

standing how to live rightly among others.” – Amit Nehru (3L)

“The days at Rama felt less like an academic exercise and more like a return—a remembering of what law, life, and learning truly mean. Each teaching, whether by fire, water, or story, reached beyond intellect and into spirit. I arrived as a student seeking knowledge and left as a listener, a brother, and a small part of something vast. Around every circle—in laughter, silence, and song—I saw that the law is not written in books but breathed in relationships. The camp taught me that humility, not hierarchy, is the beginning of wisdom, and that love is the highest form of governance. I carry those teachings not as lessons completed but as fires still burning—reminders that every river I cross, every word I speak, and every client I serve will always carry a piece of Rama within them.”

– Marin Shehaj (3L)

“Law camp was a challenging experience—not because I’d never camped before (turns out it’s way less scary than I’d thought), but because it showed me the limitations and biases in the way I thought about law. Weeks after the camp, I’m still thinking through the implications of what I learned, as the lessons come back to me in new ways. I cannot recommend it enough.” – Navya Sheth (3L) –

Just like my classmates who shared their reflections, I have also returned from law camp with many questions, thoughts, and reflections that I am still digesting. One thing I will start off with saying is that I cannot recommend this course enough. It has honestly been one of the most challenging experiences I have had in law school, but with that, it has also been one of the most rewarding.

Just like explained in his article about his experience last year, being in Anishinaabe Law Camp re-oriented me towards viewing my education from a non-extractive lens. While at Law Camp, I realized very quickly that I have become so accustomed to taking a self-centred, extractive, and ultimately anxious approach to my education. The strategies I’ve employed in the classroom, including vigorous note-taking and anxious outlining, have all been done with an eye for what I can do to achieve the best results possible. Consequently, my focus was never primarily on my learning and how my learning can be used to support others. Needless to

say, when we arrived at Mnjikaning and were told not to take notes, I instantly panicked. I quickly worried about how I would be able to remember every little detail about the camp when writing my reflections after the fact. But this panic quickly subsided with Professor Borrows’ reminder to “not let our education get in the way of our learning.”

Mnjikaning didn’t just reorient me in my approach to learning. It also instilled in me the importance of understanding law as a verb. I think that it’s relatively easy for us to see the law as something external to us, especially in our common law system with our defined branches of government where legislators draft laws, the executive implements them, and judges interpret them. This worldview can and does have consequences for the way that we regulate behaviour, handle disputes, and, ultimately, the position we perceive ourselves and others to have in the legal system.

Anishinaabe law invites us to see every living being—including the powers of the wind, water, fire, and rock, as well as other living beings like plants, animals, and other humans—as sources, teachers, and practitioners of law. This consequently calls us to, among many things, embrace a posture of humility in how we interact with the world around us. I feel incredibly privileged and fortunate to have seen firsthand how this posture of humility impacts our relations, both at Mnjikaning and now, back at the law school. In particular, I’ve seen how many of us have become more mindful in the way we conduct ourselves, recognizing how every action and move we make has direct and indirect impacts on everything that surrounds us.

Words will never be enough to describe this experience. All I can say is I am so grateful that I was able to participate this year. I feel immensely privileged to have left Mnjikaning with an open heart and mind to the way law is lived in everything that surrounds me, and I strive to maintain this orientation throughout the remainder of my legal education and future practice.

Miigwechiwendam,

Romina Hajizadeh

OUR TENTS SET UP AT MNIJIKANING, JUST BEFORE SUNSET. CREDIT: ROMINA HAJIZADEH

AN ART PIECE BY CHIEF LADY BIRD ON RAMA FARM. CREDIT: ROMINA HAJIZADEH

A BRANCH OF A TREE HANGING OVER LAKE COUCHICHING. CREDIT: ROMINA HAJIZADEH

Reflecting on the 2L Recruit

Critically asking ourselves: Are we really getting what we want from the 2L recruit?

JONATHAN KU (3L)

This piece was originally published last year in Volume 26 and has since been reworked with renewed perspectives following the author’s 2L summer experience. I chose to approach the 2L recruit with a healthy dose of skepticism. I know my political values and I know that most legal careers don’t offer me the kind of work that I care about. Most won’t involve advocating for the little guy, because our legal system remains deeply inaccessible and inequitable. Racialized and low-income people are not only unable to afford representation: they are often targeted by the state and clients who have the means to assemble an army of lawyers. If we believe that a fair process is necessary to produce a fair result, then the problem is easy to spot (and you don’t have to be Chief Justice Wagner to realize this). As long as inequality persists in our society, injustice does too, because our legal system distorts itself to serve the interests of the wealthy and exclude everyone else. The game gets stacked against the average person.

So what about people like me? What about people who came to law school with the goal of helping vulnerable people through challenging times? If that sounds like you, opting out of the 2L recruit is the only choice that makes sense.

It’s easy to sympathize with the perspective of someone who says, “Look, the 2L recruit is an easy path to a comfortable life. If I can secure a Bay Street job, I’m set.” It’s easy to understand that thought process when tuition only seems to go up, when the cost of living in Toronto is doing the same, when the culture at the school seems to revolve around preparing us for Big Law, and when, ultimately, the salaries of a corporate law career are a powerful incentive on its own. Those are certainly problems that we should care to address—collectively, as members of a broader public.

But none of those reasons touch on the motivation I described earlier, common to many of us who chose the path of law school. The feeling of wanting to fight for the little guy is easy to sympathize with because I believe it tells us what we know to be obvious: that a legal career can never simply be a means to an end. To practice law is to make a political statement, to profess your ethical values, and to pledge your allegiance to a cause.

Ultimately, and unfortunately, the 2L recruit is not designed for those whose cause is social justice. The clientele and case catalogs of the most prestigious corporate offices speak for themselves; and you won't hear them amplifying the voices of society's marginalized. At best, these firms might carve out time for pro bono work amid their bread-and-butter of mergers and acquisitions for multinational conglomerates. At worst, the summer position you secured in the recruit might involve actively using the skills you learned to bend the law against the everyday people who live in your community: the tenant who fears eviction with nowhere else to go, the service worker abused and exploited by their boss, or the newcomer family trying to build a life in this country but about to be torn apart by deportation. Who fights for them, and the millions of other decent, regular people, if those in our position don’t choose to?

To say that 2L recruit opportunities with legal aid, public interest, and non-profit organizations are scarce is an understatement; many simply aren’t posted during the main recruit period at all. That doesn’t mean these positions don’t exist. Plenty of options open up as the year progresses, and even more are available once articling rolls around. But it does create the illusion that corporate careers are the only option, so inevitably, the summer before 2L starts, people devote significant time

and energy into making themselves the perfect candidate for those careers. And they do so despite a nagging feeling that the jobs they are moving heaven and earth to secure—the countless hours editing cover letters, sending applications, preparing for OCIs, and doing mock interviews, then doing real interviews, attending dinners, using first-choice language, performing perfection as a candidate, and on and on—won’t ever let them fight for the people in their communities.

While the 2L recruit process is a powerful force, designed to move you through that conveyor belt, it’s worth taking a step back and thinking about what really moves us. When I did this, and thought about what I wanted my legal career to look like, it moved me out of applying in the 2L recruit. Well, almost. I applied to about ten positions, but it was easy to select them because so many options did not resonate with the reason I wanted to be a lawyer. Rather than mass-apply with a generic cover letter and treat the recruit as a numbers game, I spent more time on fewer applications. I focused my attention on the offers I got, knowing even more opportunities would open up later.

To be clear, I am hopeful that one day the 2L recruit will be better-suited to people interested in public interest careers. Abstaining, alone, is not the goal, and we should all demand more from our school administration in terms of serving students who can’t all be expected to want a job on Bay Street. But for now, it’s enough to devote more time to reflecting on why we are here and what the nature of a legal career is, because whatever it is, it isn’t apolitical.

If your path to law school grew, even partially, from the belief that our legal system could be a tool to help people, then you don't just owe it to others to be a more conscientious

law student. You owe it to yourself to be more skeptical about the path the 2L recruit represents, and to think more critically about what the opportunity to practice law truly offers you.

I originally wrote this piece for the annual Ultra Vires recruit issue that was published last year. Re-submitting it now, as a 3L, I am glad I took the time to really reflect on what I wanted my legal career to look like. Strictly speaking, I did participate in the 2L recruit, but I chose to apply to only about ten positions. It was easy (at least, it was quick—even among these ten I still had reservations about the exact politics of the organizations I would be employed by) to apply to this handful of positions because so many of the other options simply did not resonate with the reason I wanted to be a lawyer: to represent the underrepresented.

I wrote the piece to encourage people to stay true to their values, in the belief that many of us come to law school because we want to be agents of change and want to advocate for real people dealing with real problems. Even if I am wrong, then, at a minimum, I think we would all benefit from a recruit culture that encourages us to reflect more critically on what we want our legal careers to mean for us, politically. It might be an easier path through law school to ignore the reality that our legal system isn’t actually great at helping the average person, and that it might take some conscious effort on our part, as the next generation of lawyers, to change that reality. But I think it’s a truth worth confronting head-on, before you spend years, if not decades, committing yourself to a profession that will probably be equal parts glamour and gloom. After all, these careers are not exactly known for enabling a work-life balance.

Editor’s Note: Jonathan Ku is a steering committee member of the University of Toronto Law Union.

Panel Review— Lawyering for Social Justice

UTLU hosts progressive lawyers, filling a critical gap in CDO programming

KABIR SINGH DHILLON (3L)

On September 23, students gathered to attend the Lawyering for Social Justice Panel hosted by the University of Toronto Law Union (UTLU) in collaboration with the Law Union of Ontario.

Four accomplished lawyer panelists spoke about their journeys navigating the profession. Ameena Sultan practices in the areas of refugee and immigration at Sultan Law; Benjamin Ries practices housing law at the South Etobicoke Community Legal Services; Jackie Esmonde practices labour and constitutional law at Cavalluzzo LLP; and Riaz Sayani is a criminal defence lawyer at Savards LLP. This event filled a notable gap in the law school’s career programming,

which overwhelmingly disregards critical reflections on what it means to be a lawyer striving to act on their progressive values within a colonial legal system. Students were exposed to diverse perspectives on how to develop a legal practice aligned with public interest goals. Each of the panelists spoke candidly about the challenges and opportunities of representing clients within a legal system that continues to harm marginalized communities. They shared visions of social justice lawyering that honour the high stakes for clients who may be at risk of losing homes, jobs, social connection, or the ability to live or move freely, while recognizing the

limits of legal work as a driver of political transformation. With these limits in mind, it was inspiring to learn about how lawyering can buttress social movements and organizing that is actually happening on the ground. Particularly timely were their reflections on the ways in which Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the repression of Palestine solidarity action in Canada has intersected with and shaped their work over the past two years, as well as the risks and rewards of taking principled stances in their professional lives and beyond. For students early in their professional careers, these perspectives provide an important window into the daily work of lawyers driv -

en by their values. Ameena, Ben, Jackie, and Riaz each shared nuanced insight into areas of legal practice that are politically and morally challenging, and they discussed how this work is at once fatiguing and energizing. Students can continue to look to them and other mentors in public interest law for ways to stay connected to social movements while continuing to care for themselves and each other.

The UTLU is a group committed to using legal education to counter the perpetuation of oppression through the law, and works towards social, political, and economic justice for all. I encourage readers to attend future events!

Fear of Peers: “Sonder” and an Obscure Sorrow

Realizations while navigating 1L

JAKE ROGERS (1L)

The subjectivity of human experience can make simple existence feel novel. We all live within our own vantage points, and each moment is shaped by the unique configuration of what preceded it. Yet, some feelings and realizations are so pervasive that the invocation of their name can summon stories from almost anyone nearby. Wanderlust, the urge to travel and nostalgia, a longing to return to a past time, are such feelings. Others are just as common, but have names too obscure to elicit anecdotes so readily.

In 2018, I learned of an epiphanic realization that falls into the latter category while sitting in my high school lounge, watching a trailer for the second season of Atlanta. The song behind that trailer, “Too Fast” by the R&B group Sonder, piqued my interest. Then, after I listened to it on repeat for a few weeks, I became curious about what the group’s name meant. I thought that they might have made it up. However, once I googled it, I found more than just articles about the group; I also found its origins in John Koenig’s The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows , where it was defined as “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your

own.”

I have thought about sonder often since that moment in 2018. As a matter of fact, I thought about it in a basement classroom of the Jackman Law Building on the first day of orientation during a makeshift lunchhour Q&A. During that period, I asked an orientation leader, “What was the most intimidating thing about law school that turned out to be a non-issue?” “The people,” they responded. I wasn’t expecting such a loaded answer. It was terse and open-ended, but was eventually narrowed in application to feelings of imposter syndrome through subsequent comments. Nevertheless, that initial open-endedness gave my mind some room to run, and I thought about how everyone at law school is doing something challenging. The stories I had heard from graduates and upper years, where 1L sounded like a biblical trial in which everyone was pitted against each other, also arose. Looking back, I likely misinterpreted the answer because of my own peer anxiety. But, without a name for the overarching theme of the thoughts that occurred—the communal aspect of law school—I doubt my initial reaction would have been to consider the complexity of ev -

eryone’s experience rather than just my own. Without sonder, that experience would just be one memory amongst a myriad of others from orientation, rather than a standout that encapsulates certain aspects of the peer anxiety I had as the year began. Now, a month and a half into law school, sonder has become a near-daily phenomenon. It comes to mind whenever I am presented with evidence of how common peer anxiety was amongst my classmates when they were entering law school, with concerns ranging from the curve to the potential hyper-competitiveness of the community often arising in conversation. It results just as frequently from countervailing evidence: that people are friendly, that the atmosphere is less cutthroat than rumoured, and that cooperation is genuine. After all, law school brings together a striking diversity of backgrounds, interests, and views, which deserves respect as an integral aspect of the student experience. As a result of this diversity, notions of a homogeneous, self-interested, and cutthroat cohort can hardly reasonably survive contact with reality.

However, I can still understand why the misconceptions are so widespread amongst

incoming 1Ls. Applicants are immersed in a constant stream of accounts of law school life. From forums and subreddits to coffee chats and family advice, opinions about what law school entails are often inescapable. With that ubiquity, the most that can be expected of anyone is that they hold onto the more accurate opinions, thus maintaining optimism about their social prospects. Yet, doubt is natural, and there are times in life where all one can do is weather the storm—entering law school might be one of those times.

So, to conclude, I believe that realizing how everyone has a life as vivid and complex as your own can quiet peer anxiety. Sonder, in naming that realization, serves as a reminder of the complexity of the law school environment and how many stereotypes about law students and the 1L experience, which might cause one to fear their peers, collapse under closer scrutiny. More than a band name and more than an obscure neologism, sonder is a word worth knowing, especially for the anxious 1Ls who have only recently found reassurance that their social life in law school might not be as sad as they—understandably—thought it would be.

U of T Law’s New and Improved EDI Programming

No, really, an EDI program

SAKINA HASNAIN (3L) AND SAHARA I. MEHDI (3L)

Earlier this year, when the Faculty of Law announced it was changing the school’s equity, diversity, and inclusion (“EDI”) programming, there were few people more skeptical than the two of us. After experiencing the boilerplate 1L sessions in 2023, followed by the explicitly Islamophobic content last spring, who could blame us?

For the past 15 years, the Faculty of Law has offered equity, diversity, and inclusion training as part of the 1L curriculum. When it first began, the EDI programming was considered monumental and progressive. In recent years, it has been criticized for being subpar, lacklustre, and elementary at best.

This has been disappointing for the many students who understand the value and importance of EDI training, especially while studying law. During our 1L EDI training two years ago, attendance for the mandatory Friday morning sessions dropped significantly as the year progressed. The concept of EDI training has great potential, which, as far as we’ve seen, our school has yet to achieve.

Last spring, the dissatisfaction with the school’s EDI programming reached a breaking point when the administration assigned selected content from an online course on Coursera. To students’ horror, this course included highly racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Arab mod-

ules. Following the vocal outrage of the student body, equity groups, the SLS, alumni, and the legal community at large, the school eventually retracted the modules. While the administration expressed regret, it did not acknowledge the prejudicial nature of the content disseminated. It did not apologize to the students affected, nor did it agree to demands for consultation with relevant equity groups for all future EDI content. (Read more in our Volume 26 article U of T Law’s take on EDI: Exclusion, Discrimination & Islamophobia.)

After this incident, the administration halted EDI programming for the rest of the year. Following this premature cessation, the school struck a working group to overhaul the EDI curriculum at the law school. The working group met several times over the summer to reimagine what the EDI training would look like for this year’s 1Ls. Its members included Dean Jutta Brunnée and Professor Chris Essert as co-chairs, along with now Associate Dean Richard Stacey, Professors Abdi Aidid and Galit Sarfaty, and Assistant Deans Ada Maxwell-Alleyne, Brittany Twiss, and Sara Faherty.

We wanted to see if the working group’s mandate to establish a new EDI program at the school was simply a perfunctory response to try and salvage the school’s reputation, or if it was an actual attempt at growing from their past mistakes. We attended the mandatory

school

session and interviewed members of the working group, and in a surprising turn of events, we were truly impressed with their work so far. The working group took past complaints seriously and thought critically to imagine an EDI curriculum that is of the same calibre as the Faculty of Law.

Professor Aidid explained that the working group started from scratch by exploring the core purpose of EDI training. “The first set of discussions were big picture questions,” He said. “What should the program achieve? What do we think students need to know? What are some of the ways that we can build on what worked?”

Members of the working group stressed that student feedback from previous years, along with results from the recent UofT Quality Assurance Process survey, was the foundation for their work. In our conversations with the working group, its members reflected on this feedback, acknowledging that the previous EDI training had been lacking.

“I think what was missing was making it distinctively legal,” Professor Essert said. “Students said that explicitly, but also students said, ‘Sometimes this feels not really very hard. This is the University of Toronto. We’ve all done EDI training in our undergrads or jobs. We’ve all seen the drawing of the three people behind the

fence… Can you give us something better? We want to be challenged.’”

From there, the working group developed its own EDI programming. Rather than outsourcing the material, the Faculty worked to develop their own content, by law professors for law students, that would be presented by the Faculty itself.

The first session of the new programming, held on Friday, September 26, focused on the connections between professionalism and EDI. Professors Essert, Stacey, and Aidid began the morning by highlighting the importance of EDI considerations. In the afternoon, students participated in breakout discussions led by members of the Faculty. A key theme throughout the day’s discussions centred around how EDI considerations are not only important in and of themselves, but also necessary for being an effective lawyer.

“These issues are important, and of course, I think they're important, but I'm not sure how much what I think personally matters. We think they're important because we think they're important legally,” Professor Essert said. “We think that it's a foundational, fundamental part of the way that anybody who comes out of this law school needs to be able to work and think and act as a lawyer, whatever part of the law they end up working

in.”

“Our primary objective was to integrate it into the legal curriculum and to make it clear that EDI is not something that you think about after you’ve finished your legal training. It's something that is important to making you a good lawyer,” Associate Dean Stacey said.

“I don't think it's an optional commitment for lawyers or members of any democratic society. I resent that we think of identity as an afterthought in professional settings,” Professor Aidid said. “As a lawyer and a legal scholar, I recognize that these considerations are absolutely vital to understanding the law.”

The working group also stressed its goal of ensuring that the new material would be specific to the law school, especially after the harm caused by last year’s external EDI modules.

“I think we learned some very important lessons from that,” Associate Dean Stacey said. “It's very difficult to have a universal one-size [fits-all] approach to EDI programming. We needed something that is tailored to our community of aspiring legal professionals.”

“The central organizing goal was thinking about these issues in the same way that we think about all the other issues in the law school,” Professor Essert said. “We teach you a way to think about problems. We don't teach you the answers to problems. We want to give you a set of considerations and tools that you can deploy when new problems come up in the future. So that's what we're thinking about—the way that these issues integrate with substantive law, with legal practice, and legal professionalism.”

This critical approach taken by the Faculty of Law is refreshing, especially given recent political developments just south of the border. Despite the pattern of American academic institutions defunding their EDI initiatives, Assistant Dean Maxwell-Alleyne stressed that the Faculty of Law will not be following suit.

“There’s an institutional historical commitment to

continue to integrate EDI into how we teach law and how we think about law at this Faculty,” She said. “The increasingly hostile environment for EDI in the States was not lost on us; we are aware of that, and I think we felt that it was a good thing to double down on our efforts.”

“It might have been easier to say ‘Let’s just tone this down, this is controversial, it’s two steps up and one step back,’” Assistant Dean Faherty said. “Nobody has ever said that here; we’ve always said, ‘How can we do it better next year?’”

Last year, a writing component was added to the EDI curriculum to compensate for the Legal Research and Writing course being moved to the winter. This year, students will also have an opportunity to receive individualized feedback to improve their legal writing. This change also incentivizes greater engagement with the EDI content itself.

“You're at a law school and there are things happening in provincial legislatures that involve pending legal challenges and that animate these issues,” Professor Aidid said. “You have a privileged opportunity to explore, study, evaluate, and contend with them.”

At the first session, we found a marked departure from previous EDI programming. The session anchored itself within the law and legal education, stressing at the outset why EDI considerations, especially as lawyers, are critical. The speakers effectively and engagingly drew these connections and facilitated thoughtful discussions, both in the main session and breakout groups.

The final mandatory session is scheduled for Friday, October 17, and will include Prasana Balusandaram, the Director of Downtown Legal Services, along with Justice Jill Copeland, Justice Rita Maxwell, and Justice Shaun Nakatsuru. A speaker series will follow with four sessions from November to February featuring guest speakers discussing legal issues affecting marginalized communities, such as 2SLGBTQ+ rights, anti-Black

racism, Islamophobia, and anti-Semitism.

Assistant Dean Maxwell-Alleyne says while this list of topics is not a complete representation of all important EDI issues, she hopes they will continue to explore more relevant issues in the following years. Despite the speaker series not being mandatory for 1Ls like it was in years past, the working group hopes the wider law school community will engage with this critical material.

“I think the incentive is supposed to be the interest that we think will be triggered and generated and enhanced by what we're doing now,” Professor Essert said.

“There’s a professional obligation to understand the context in which legal issues emerge,” Professor Aidid said. “If you're an employment lawyer and someone shows up and asks you about a potential unlawful termination case, and you're not willing to probe things like the possibility of it being sexist or ableist, then you're actually not doing your job as a lawyer. You're not doing the appropriate diligence.”

Assistant Dean Maxwell-Alleyne also said the Faculty is encouraging students to submit their feedback, whether by completing the surveys at the end of the sessions, emailing her individually, or just stopping by her office to chat.

“We’ll make missteps this year, we’re going to get feedback from students this year that will give us insight on how we can improve,” she said. “But know that this recommitment, this refocus, speaks to how committed we are to giving our students a great EDI experience.”

Given the past shortcomings of EDI programming, the student body may be skeptical about this ‘renewed commitment’ to EDI. The initial announcement, which lacked any accountability for the administration’s past mistakes, felt like an empty promise to us as well. After all, neither Dean Brunnée nor the administration at large ever apologized for the dissemination of the Islamophobic modules.

That being said, we do applaud the work done by the

R IGHTS R EVIEW

Faculty of Law as well as the working group’s receptivity to feedback. We also celebrate their commitment at a time when it is no secret that EDI is under attack. Further, while we maintain that a truly authentic commitment to EDI would include an apology for the Islamophobic content disseminated last year, we appreciate the presence of senior faculty, including Dean Brunnée, throughout the session to demonstrate a true dedication to this work.

We hope the Faculty of Law will continue its commitment to EDI beyond this specific programming. We look forward to seeing how conversations about EDI will proliferate class discussions and extracurricular activities. With the new donation to the school, we are eager to see how EDI considerations will translate into action and increased diversity within the Faculty itself.

We want to remind students that we should not have to settle for the status quo. It was critical feedback and advocacy that brought us to this point. This means it is vital for us to continue to engage with this new curriculum and advocate for better programming and continuous improvement. Looking at the steps the Faculty of Law has taken so far, we are hopeful that we can work together to do so.

“Give us a chance,” Associate Dean Stacey said. “We want this to succeed. I hope the students want this to succeed. We are trying to build on years of work, learning from our mistakes, and we are trying to build something that we honestly think can be the best version of this, certainly at a law school. So, give us a chance and tell us what you think because we will try to make it better based on what you tell us.”

We gave the new EDI programming a chance, and are glad we did so. We ask you to do the same.

The next speaker series is on November 6, 2025, from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM in Room J125. It is open to the entire law school and will feature Johanna MacDonald, a lawyer and community advocate with The 519.

The International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law An independent student-led publication

2025-2026 Rights Review Editorial Board

Co-Editors-in-Chief: Rachel Brouwer (2L) and Mackenzie Birbrager (2L)

Senior Editors: Jeffrey Ma (3L) and Joy Cudjoe (2L)

Junior Editors: Jackie Tan (2L) and Sanaea Suntok (1L)

Having spent much of my childhood moving from country to country before immigrating to Canada at the age of eight, I grew up fascinated with travelling, other cultures and the increasingly interconnected nature of our world. That fascination gradually evolved into a passion for international law, particularly international humanitarian law and its role in protecting vulnerable communities. When it came time to plan my 1L summer, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to begin exploring this interest and gain meaningful exposure to the field. I was fortunate to secure an internship with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva for the summer, which was made possible by the IHRP self-initiated fellowship that helped me fund my time abroad.

I worked with the Human Rights Liaison Unit (HRLU) which operates within the Division of International Protection (DIP) to lead and coordinate UNHCR’s human rights engagement at the global level. The HRLU’s core objective is to maximize the use of human rights mechanisms and the international legal framework to strengthen the protection of UNHCR’s persons of concern. This includes facilitating engagement between human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies and UN special procedures, and UN-

HCR’s field operations to enhance colleagues' engagement with the mechanisms and their ability to advocate effectively through these channels.

Key Tasks and Projects

Drafting Oral Submissions to Treaty Bodies

One of the first projects I worked on involved reviewing confidential comments and written submissions to UN treaty bodies, specifically those prepared by UNHCR for the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) concerning five countries: Mexico, Thailand, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Botswana. My role was to analyze the detailed submissions and distill them into concise, confidential oral briefings to be delivered by my supervisor during the closed sessions with the Committee. Through this work, I gained exposure to a wide range of legal and policy issues, including the principle of non-refoulement, access to asylum procedures, gender-based violence in displacement contexts, complementary pathways for migration, and the protection challenges facing refugee and asylum-seeking women. This task deepened my understanding of how international legal standards are applied in diverse regional contexts and sharpened

my ability to synthesize complex legal information for advocacy purposes.

Coordinating UNHCR’s Engagement at the Human Rights Council

A central responsibility of mine throughout June was supporting the logistical and thematic coordination of UNHCR’s participation in the 59th Human Rights Council Session, held at the Palais des Nations. During the session, I attended numerous plenary dialogues and side events, taking detailed notes and reporting on key developments. This strengthened my note-taking and multitasking abilities and deepened my understanding of a broad range of international human rights and legal issues, spanning both thematic and country-specific situations. Following each session, I drafted and reviewed briefing notes to share with colleagues, supporting their advocacy efforts while keeping teams informed of developments relevant to their work.

Ad Hoc Research

I was also responsible for conducting legal and human rights research on Zambia and Tanzania in light of emerging protection concerns in both countries, specifically pertaining to cases of refoulement. My work

focused on three key areas: the Universal Periodic Review, UN special procedures, and treaty bodies, to identify strategic opportunities for human rights engagement. The goal was to provide colleagues in the field with actionable insights and tools to strengthen the protection of individuals in need of international protection. In doing so, I explored how various human rights issues intersect, including the heightened risks faced by women migrants and the need for gendersensitive protection measures tailored to their specific vulnerabilities. I further researched risk assessment tools, looking at previous models that have been successful in different contexts to help draft the proposal for a prototype AI-powered digital technology risk assessment tool that would be used in migration contexts. This tool would make the use of digital technology in migration contexts safer and more ethical by assessing risks that the technology may have on a certain migrant or refugee population.

Inter-agency Consultations and Meetings with Stakeholders

I also participated in inter-agency consultations and meetings with key stakeholders to strengthen coordination on shared human rights priorities. For in-

By Maryam Helmy (2L)

The International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law

An independent student-led publication

Reflections

stance, I joined a meeting with UN Women to discuss areas of intersection between our mandates, particularly around the protection needs of displaced women and girls. I also took part in a consultation with the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, where I provided a briefing on challenges faced by UNHCR’s persons of concern. These engagements aim to ensure that the voices and protection needs of refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons are meaningfully reflected in broader human rights reporting and advocacy.

Database of UNHCR Treaty Body Submissions

During my final month, I developed a centralized da-

tabase to store all of UNHCR’s confidential submissions to UN treaty bodies, also known as “Confidential Comments”. The database is designed to allow colleagues to easily filter and search across years, countries, regions and session numbers, thereby streamlining the preparation of future submissions. This facilitates strategic engagement with treaty bodies and ensures that future reports are aligned with UNHCR’s position and broader advocacy goals. In doing so, I strengthened my attention to detail and problem-solving skills as I had to solve any technical issues that came up and ensure the database was both practical and user-friendly.

My time at UNHCR was incredibly enriching, eyeopening, and intellectually stimulating. Each day brought exposure to new human rights challenges, offering a deeper understanding of how international legal frameworks can be used to address them as well as where those frameworks fall short. What stood out most to me was how interdisciplinary the field of international protection truly is. I’ve been especially intrigued by the intersection of AI and human rights, an area I hadn’t expected to engage with in this context. Having worked at an AI firm in the past and possessing a strong passion for human rights,

it’s been rewarding to see how my interests are complimentary. This internship has also given me the chance to connect with professionals across a wide range of roles, both within and outside UNHCR, broadening my perspective on the many career paths available in this field. I've discovered opportunities I hadn’t previously considered, many of which align closely with my skills and aspirations. Outside of work, I was lucky enough to hike the mountains of beautiful Switzerland and take selfies with wild cows. I am extremely grateful to have undertaken this lifechanging experience and I look forward to the many opportunities that lie ahead for me in the future.

A SUMMER INTERNSHIP IN THE CITY OF PEACE AND JUSTICE ADVANCING GENDER JUSTICE AT THE INTERSECTION OF LAW, POLICY, AND DEVELOPMENT

By Yasmin Rajwani (2L)

This summer, I was fortunate to have the support of the IHRP to complete an internship with the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) in The Hague, Netherlands. The IDLO is an intergovernmental organization which promotes the rule of law as a driver of peace and sustainable development. Through programs centering on access to justice, rights awareness, women and girls’ rights, and effectively engaging with customary and informal justice systems, the IDLO seeks to champion people-centered justice as a means to realizing more peaceful and inclusive societies. Given my background studying and working in global development, and my interest in gender justice, customary and informal justice, and the importance of strong and sustainable justice institutions and processes, I was keen to work with the organization for the summer. While the organization is headquartered in Rome, Italy, it also has offices in major diplomatic centres and countries across the globe. My IHRP fellowship was based in The Hague, Netherlands. Situated in The Hague office, I worked within the Gender Team, a small but mighty team forming part of the organization’s broader Research and Learning department. The department primarily works on research and advocacy initiatives, creating and disseminating publications on a range of topics at the intersection of law and development, and exchanging with academic institutions and policymakers on key rule of law issues. On top of supporting this critical work, the Gender Team’s legal advisers are called upon to provide crosscutting support on thematic and substantive issues relating to women’s rights and gender justice. The team fulfills this role as needed for a variety of teams and colleagues across its Headquarters in Rome and offices in New York, Geneva, and The Hague.

Throughout my time in The Netherlands, I was able to work on various tasks, gaining exposure to a mix of legal research and analysis, communications, policy advisory, and programmatic work. No day was quite the same, and there was plenty of work to be done!

Supporting Analyses of National Frameworks for Violence Against Women and Girls

Over the course of my summer, I was able to support numerous colleagues in field offices where the IDLO operates, including in Moldova, Niger, and the Philippines. I was responsible for researching and drafting analysis on legal commitments, national jurisprudence, and rule of law issues, with particular attention to the national context of women and girls’ justice needs. It was fascinating to immerse myself in the legislative and legal developments in this area of law across the national contexts. As I conducted my analysis, I also enjoyed noting the interactions between developments in national jurisprudence and regional and international human rights commitment.

As part of my work on the Niger analysis, I coordinated with field colleagues from the country office to collaboratively research and draft reports. These reports were informed by open-source information and on-the-ground consultations. It was a pleasure being able to connect directly with and hear from our country colleagues in the field (thank you, Teams!), as it helped to contextualize the high-level policy and research task into the local country context. I was particularly grateful to be able to interact with colleagues, research, and draft in French, putting my Frenchlanguage skills to good use! Through this work, I became more familiar with the legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and stakeholders involved in addressing women’s rights and combating violence against women and girls in these particular country contexts.

It was a highlight of my internship experience to support in hosting delegations of judges, lawyers, and key justice system actors from various countries in our office. These visits resulted in rich, often multilingual exchanges on the state of the judiciary in national contexts, the role of customary and informal justice mechanisms, and the need for cross-jursidictional collaboration and institutional strengthening on gender justice.

Pitching a Case for Investment in Women’s Justice

Another key task I worked on throughout my internship was conducting medium-term research to curate an evidence-based case for investing in women’s access to justice. This work was intended to inform IDLO’s policy and programmatic objectives. After sifting through various international analyses and datasets, I had the opportunity to present a key compelling business case for investing in women’s rights and access to productive assets lines of logic to my colleagues prior to the end of my internship.

While completing this task, it was alarming to note the stark gaps in research, international and regional commitments, and data sources available on women’s rights and gender-based violence. In a world seemingly less compelled by a human rights narrative, a lack of robust data and analysis to supplement this advocacy work is problematic.

Mapping a High-Level Event on Online Violence against Women and Girls

An interesting area of work I explored during my internship was the evolving regulation of online gender-based violence. Given the infancy of issues relating to online gender-based violence and the ambiguities that exist in understanding its risks, this work was both fascinating and challenging. I was grateful to be at the forefront of the emerging understanding of this issue by support-

ing a concept note for a high-level, multi-country diplomatic event on the subject happening this fall in The Hague. In this work, I was able to familiarize myself with diverse national and regional regulatory frameworks on online sexual violence and harassment -an emerging area of law in the gender and law space.

Supporting the Organization’s Policy Reporting and Strategic Planning

Throughout the summer, I was fortunate to be able to take advantage of the unique position of The Hague Office, and the organization’s UN observer status. I was able to attend and report on various policy events relating to the justice needs of women and girls, highlighting key takeaways for the organization, crafting briefing notes for senior management, and highlighting areas of action for our policy advocacy. On the programmatic side, I synthesized previous project documentation, donor priority outlooks, and national and regional human rights commitments to support my colleagues in conceptualizing a Gender and Social Inclusion Framework to be used across IDLO’s programmes.

I feel grateful to have been able to complete this internship on fascinating thematic subjects in The Hague, the world capital of peace and justice. Aside from immersing myself in the Dutch experience–cycling everywhere, enjoying one too many stroopwafels, and exploring the rich museums across the country–a highlight of my time was meeting colleagues and like-minded professionals in the fields of international, criminal, and human rights law. Attending special events and delegation visits at our office provided a meaningful opportunity to learn more about the important legal developments taking place in The Hague and beyond, as the need for global justice and accountability becomes ever more pressing. Thank you to the IHRP for making this internship possible!

A SUMMER AS AN INTERNATIONAL LAW FELLOW WITH THE EARTH LAW CENTER HIGHLIGHTS

Law’s Relationship with Nature

We’re accustomed to thinking of environmental law in terms of regulations that constrain human activity to protect ecosystems. But what if law recognized Nature not as an object of protection, but as a subject of rights? What if rivers, coral reefs, and forests had the legal right to exist, regenerate, and thrive? And humans had corresponding duties to respect those rights?

This idea is at the heart of the Rights of Nature movement, which calls for recognizing legal personhood and inherent rights for ecosystems, species, and Nature as a whole. Around the world, countries are beginning to incorporate these ecocentric principles into legislation and court decisions: Bolivia, Panama, and Uganda

AND REFLECTIONS

have recognized Nature’s rights nationally; Ecuador has enshrined the Rights of Nature in its Constitution; and the Parliaments of Aotearoa New Zealand and Spain have granted legal personhood to specific water bodies. Here in Canada, the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit and the regional municipality of Minganie recognized the Magpie River (Muteshekau-shipu) as a legal person with nine specific rights.

The Rights of Nature movement is part of a growing body of legal thought and practice known as Earth Law, which seeks to align law with the planet’s ecological realities. Earth Law includes other related frameworks such as the crime of ecocide, the rights of future generations, and the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environ-

ment. The principles behind both Rights of Nature and Earth Law are not new. They draw deeply from Indigenous legal orders and worldviews that understand humans as part of a living web of relationships, bound by reciprocal responsibilities to land, waters, and other beings. These movements reflect a growing effort within modern legal systems to learn from and align with these relational approaches to governance.

Finding My Place in the Movement

Before law school, I spent a decade working as an environmental scientist and consultant with Indigenous communities in northern Canada, where I learned that environmental protection and social justice are inseparable. The communities I worked with regularly confronted the limits

of existing laws to protect their lands, waters, and ways of life. I came to law school wanting new tools to bring to my work. Tools that could help push for the transformative legal change needed to truly reduce harm and restore relationships.

When I first learned of Earth Law and the Rights of Nature movement, I knew it was an area of law I wanted to immerse myself in. I expected it would take years, but thanks to the support of the International Human Rights Program, I was able to begin that journey much sooner. I spent the summer as an International Law Fellow with the Earth Law Center (ELC), one of the leading organizations working with governments, Indig-

Continued on page 16

By Zoë Barrett-Wood (2L)

The International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law

enous nations, and communities to co-design and implement laws and governance systems that recognize Nature’s legal rights. ELC also provides strategic litigation support, education and training, toolkits, and global advocacy to shift legal systems from anthropocentric to ecocentric frameworks.

The Ocean

My summer began with a deep dive into ocean law. I helped draft our Rights of Coral Reefs Toolkit, a comprehensive guide “to equip policymakers, advocates, and legal professionals with bold legal strategies to protect coral reefs” and strengthen marine governance. The toolkit outlines pathways for enshrining reef rights in national laws, supported by model legislation, case studies, and practical guidance for implementation. My contributions focused on the human rights and intergenerational justice dimensions of reef protection, including sections on human environmental rights, the rights of future generations, and the spiritual and ethical foundations of environmental stewardship across world religions.

After completing work on the toolkit, I joined ELC’s delegation to the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where we launched the toolkit and hosted an event on Rights for Reefs. Thanks to another organization ELC works with, Nature’s Rights, I was able to secure a pass for the Blue Zone, where I witnessed international environmental diplomacy up close. Together with the ELC team, I connected with delegates from several states interested in exploring Rights of Nature approaches for coral reef protection, and began discussions for a potential regional initiative in Central America. While the high-level pan-

By Tourang Movahedi (2L)

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at the International Bar Association (IBA), a global organization that brings together lawyers, law societies, and bar associations to strengthen the rule of law and advance the legal profession worldwide. I primarily worked with the Legal Policy and Research Unit (LPRU), which conducts research and develops initiatives relevant to the global legal community. The unit also supports IBA committees in their projects and fosters engagement on pressing global issues such as modern slavery, climate change, and fraud. One of my main projects focused on researching developments in international environmental law, raising awareness of potential legal implications for lawyers and their clients, and promoting environmental law education tools for the profession. Promoting Climate Conscious Lawyering

The IBA urges lawyers across the world, acting in accordance with their professional conduct rules, to consider taking a climate-conscious approach in their daily legal practice. As such, the LPRU has initiated numerous projects aimed at building climate literacy within the legal profession by creating toolkits and webinars that keep climate change at the forefront of lawyers' minds. One initiative was the IBA’s participation in the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB62). I had the opportunity to attend an IBA panel, which was composed of government, corporate, and public sector lawyers. Lawyers from around the world, and in different practices, highlighted how climate risks are increasingly affecting their day-to-day practice. The IBA highlighted a variety of legal climate education tools developed by bar associations and organizations to help lawyers integrate climate action into their work. These tools can be found on the IBA Climate Registry, which showcases the actions that bar associations worldwide are taking to address climate change through climate-conscious lawyering.

Exploring the Implications of the ICJ Advisory Opinion on State Climate Obligations

An independent student-led publication

els and negotiations were exciting to watch, my most meaningful learning came from the youth leaders, Indigenous advocates, scientists, and civil society representatives who gathered outside the formal sessions to exchange ideas and imagine new paths forward.

Research and Writing Projects

A highlight of the UNOC was meeting Astrid Puentes Riaño, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment. Thanks to the endless support from my supervising lawyer, ELC’s Executive Director Grant Wilson, I connected with Astrid’s team at the Laboratorio por la Justicia Ambiental y Climática and worked with them on an analysis of three major international advisory opinions on climate change (from the ICJ, IACtHR, and ITLOS). My analysis focused on how each opinion addressed marginalized communities and the evolution of the human right to a healthy environment.

Alongside ELC’s International Legal Counsel, Gayle Carda, I co-authored the Oceans chapter for ELC’s forthcoming Earth Law textbook (second edition). My sections focused on ecocide in the oceans, rights for marine species, marine protected areas, and Indigenous-led ocean governance initiatives, situating each within emerging ecocentric legal frameworks. Knowing that law students are being introduced to this material gives me hope that ecocentric approaches will enter the legal mainstream and inspire new generations of lawyers to carry this perspective into their work.

Rivers and Lakes

Early in the summer, I contributed to Ecocentric Structures to Protect Lough Neagh, a discussion

paper outlining legal options for granting personhood and guardianship to the biggest freshwater lake in the United Kingdom. The paper was presented at the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast, and is being used to guide efforts to achieve “self-ownership” of the lake. Later, I joined ELC’s Executive Director, Grant Wilson, at a remarkable conference in Bosnia, where environmental defenders gathered to collaborate on strategies for protecting Europe’s last wild rivers. For a week, we camped on the banks of the Una River, sharing stories, knowledge, and plans for collective action. The experience was intellectually and emotionally transformative, providing a glimpse of what international environmental work can look and feel like when rooted in community.

Through the connections we made at that conference, ELC was invited to develop a scoping plan for the legal recognition of the Una River, in collaboration with Patagonia Europe and regional NGOs. I conducted background research on river governance frameworks in Bosnia and Croatia and will continue working on this project through the academic year, as we prepare a report for November and an event for February 2026.

Another major freshwater project that I am still helping with is an amicus brief for Ecuador’s Constitutional Court in the Dulcepamba River case. The Court selected this case to develop precedent on the Rights of Nature. Our brief, which we’re working on with NGOs in Ecuador and the US, argues that the Hidrotambo dam violates Ecuador’s constitutionally protected Rights of Nature and that the dam must be removed to truly respect the rights of the river. The dam has disrupted the river’s ecological flow, flooded surrounding communities, and caused the loss of human lives. Working on this brief has

CLIMATE-CONSCIOUS LAWYERING

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY INTERNSHIP AT THE IBA

In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) released its long-awaited advisory opinions on State climate obligations. In many ways, the ICJ advisory opinion marked a turning point for environmental law, as it has clarified, once and for all, the international climate and human rights obligations of States, and the consequences for breaches of these obligations. Significantly, both opinions placed a particular emphasis on the responsibility of states to monitor the activities of private corporations within their jurisdiction. While neither of the advisory opinions are legally binding, nevertheless, they are highly persuasive legal opinions that could shape domestic strategic climate litigation and state regulatory action. Given the significance of the opinion, I was tasked with preparing a legal memo, highlighting aspects of the opinion most relevant to the day-to-day practice of public and private lawyers. My research findings were incorporated into a summary report that was shared with multiple IBA committees, contributing to the development of an article and an upcoming webinar aimed at raising awareness about the advisory opinions. After taking a special interest in the opinion’s implications for investor-state disputes, I published a newsletter article on the topic.

Sounding the Alarm on Nature-Related Risks and Directors’ Duties

The IBA has also been examining the legal ramifications of ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and the depletion of natural resources on corporations. As part of my research, I explored a recent legal opinion commissioned by the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative. The opinion warns that under Canadian corporate law, company directors may face liability if they fail to identify, manage, and disclose climate and nature-related risks. Ignoring biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, or related harms, can expose directors to lawsuits, governance claims, and investor action. With the upcoming IBA Annual Conference being in Toronto, our team sent an internal memo raising awareness about this legal

reminded me of the profound connections between environmental integrity and human wellbeing, and between environmental destruction and the violation of human rights. I’ll be following this case closely to see how a country that has enshrined the Rights of Nature in its constitution puts it into practice.

Reflections

This fellowship confirmed that Earth Law and Rights of Nature movements are aligned with my values and will likely play an important role in my future work. It reinforced my belief that recognizing Nature’s rights strengthens the protection of human rights, and has given me hope that the world can continue moving in this direction.

The experience has also shaped how I approach law school. I’ve chosen courses that will strengthen my ability to contribute to ecocentric law and legal reform, and my time in class now feels more grounded in the world outside these walls. I frequently find myself connecting what I’m studying to the topics I engaged with over the summer.

This summer I was reminded that the heart of any meaningful movement lies in relationships. We exist and thrive through our connections to one another, to the natural world, and to the places and people that give our lives meaning. The rivers and seas I worked beside, and the extraordinary people I met along the way, will remain a source of strength and inspiration as I continue this journey.

I am deeply grateful to the IHRP for supporting this fellowship and for making it possible for students like me to learn from organizations and communities at the forefront of transformative legal change.

opinion. I also had the opportunity to help our team plan a panel at the annual conference, which will focus on trends in nature-related legal risks and how lawyers can help clients stay ahead of the regulatory curve.

Reflection

My internship gave me a clearer understanding of the IBA’s role in supporting national bar associations and encouraging lawyers to engage with business and human rights concerns. Before the summer, I assumed that issues like climate change were peripheral to the daily work of lawyers. Throughout the summer I came to appreciate how international human rights issues can shape the day-to-day practice of lawyers. This highlighted for me the importance of the IBA’s work in ensuring that lawyers are equipped

with the knowledge and skills to address these challenges.

Looking back, what I enjoyed most was working alongside international lawyers with different specialties on a wide range of international issues. Although working on multiple projects with a breadth of topics was sometimes challenging, I am grateful for the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in so many areas of law. This exposure helped me realize my interest in regulatory and environmental law. Living in London, with its vibrant legal community, and connecting with professionals from diverse backgrounds also deepened my appreciation for the broad range of career paths I could pursue in the future. I am really grateful to the IHRP and the IBA for supporting such a rewarding summer experience.

LONDON SIGHTSEEING. CREDIT: TOURANG MOVAHEDI

Intra Vires

Totally real news from an totally undead law school

KATE SHACKLETON (3L) & SAKINA HASNAIN (3L)

Tis the Season: ITC Emails are Back!

After years of lurking on Canlaw Forum and observing mental breakdowns over mysterious acronyms like ‘PFO,’ 2Ls will finally share the quintessential law school experience of awaiting call day.

Worlds Collide: From Recruit to Halloweekend

In light of OCIs, some students have been embracing recruit traditions in a whole new manner. With the end of recruit coinciding with Halloweekend, one group of 2L students allegedly lured a 1L into the basement as a corporate virgin sacrifice. Meanwhile, some upper year students hosted an exorcism claiming that the school was long overdue for a cleansing. They also announced they would be casting spells to help the law school look within and find its true name.

PATH offers immersive Haunted House experience!

Venture on this new exhibit where you can hear the (real) tears of rejected candidates and encounter last souls who never escaped the PATH as they attempted to travel from Osler to Blake’s. For major scares, you might also opt to visit the Neo coffee bar near St. Andrew station where rumour has it that students are trapped in an inescapable cycle of coffee chats. Whatever you do, don’t attempt to voyage into the Ghost Town north of the Bay Adelaide centre. The former Hudson’s Bay basement is allegedly teeming with the 1% of U of T law grads who failed to secure an articling position.

MISSING: J’s Java

Following the recent donation, students were anticipating an uptick in free caffeine. Sadly, it hasn’t materialized. Some reports allege that the noticeably sparse and shorter J’s Java are because the majority of the $80 million were used up in the celebratory

lunch. Where else did you think the money for not pizza was coming from?

New Dean Sweepstakes: Intra Vires Betting Tips

Feeling Lucky? Try your odds with the Dean’s Draw! With various bets floating around for the new Dean, we have decided to share our own predictions and their prospects.

Justice Abella: Unless the halls of Harvard are rosier.

(Former?) Justice Russel Brown: Known to be looking for work. He’ll fight for us.

Shaffer: Let’s be honest, this is just wishful thinking.

Theresa: Very polished resume and cover letter. Interviews super well. If her CDO appointments are any sign, you won’t catch any glimpse of her once she’s Dean.

Essert: A fan favourite for some while others think he hasn’t sufficiently manifested an intention to acquire the role.

Aidid: Maybe if we all rank him first, at

Ultra Vires Fall Reading List

Find your next fall read

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

A fascinating exploration of wills and estates set in locations ranging from New England to California. This pleasant tale of generational wealth is sure to transport you to the beautiful Salinas Valley, so make sure to pick this one up when you don't want to worry about those maps that you have been putting off making for weeks!

Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce

As the consensus heavyweight of the modernist epic crafts a narrative that is part indecipherable fictional language and part allegorical existential crisis… wait, why does this sound like my torts hypothetical from last week?

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Can shared personal development be the basis for a finding of common law partnership? No. Should it be? Also, no. Sally Rooney shows you why in this unconventional bildungsroman that—unsurprisingly—comes to a sudden end once the two main characters finally learn how to talk about their feelings.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

In this narrative, which is almost as thrilling as Lord Denning found cricket, the private nuisance of a green light is lawfully installed on a Long Island property in an opulent old-money neighbourhood. It eventually leads to a diminishment in the amenity value of both the narrator’s property and his cousin’s. Ultimately, this loss leads to severe

anguish as the character of the neighbourhood undergoes change, leaving the protagonist without an adequate remedy. If only he had just sought an injunction when he could!

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

An American in Paris tries to keep two futures alive at once, an impending marriage that promises respectability and a love affair that demands honesty. As the protagonist does so, most of the action takes place in small spaces: bars, kitchens, and the cramped room that becomes both refuge and a pressure cooker. While this is laid out, Baldwin’s sentences are clean and unsparing—the novel reads like a patient inventory of desire, shame, and the prices we pay to stay legible to ourselves and others. By the end, what began as a mere possibility contracts into a dire consequence. All things considered, the promises made in Giovanni’s Room look a lot like an oral agreement without consideration, unenforceable in daylight and void for mutual mistake about identity.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

In this seminal work of high fantasy, a nigh-omnipotent antagonist with nefarious aims, Sauron, seeks the safe return of property he lost, and never intended to abandon, following a dispute with a rival collective. A fellowship then embarks on a journey to ensure that he never achieves this aim. Needless to say, the fellowship is lucky that Wicks Estate v. Harnett is clearly of no precedential value in Middle-earth….

Love Poems by Pablo Neruda

A sensuous collection where bodies turn into coastlines, and evenings into witnesses.These lyrics move from whispered address to tidal sweep, always returning to the stubborn fact that longing leaves behind evidence. Read it for the clean

least a quarter of us will get him as Dean.

Locker Thief: Few have shown the same degree of persistence. And you know what they say, if you can’t beat’em, join’em. Have the locker thief on our side. Deploy them to any school that dares to rival us.

Fox (The Famously Saucy Intruder): Iconic. Infamous. Saucy. What more could we want?

U of T Law Re-re-renamed

We are proud to announce that U of T Law is now getting a new new new name. Following a generous donation of $80,000,003, the school will now be known as the Shackleton, Hasnain & Khan Faculty of Law. The namesakes would like it to be known that this name change (and reordering) is a totally unanimous decision and not due to any infighting between Shackleton, Hasnain & Khan. It still remains unclear how Hasnain, Khan and Shackleton acquired the money for this donation or their previous donations.

urgency of the voice and the way ordinary images, sea, fruit, and rain, take on the weight of confession. After all, it is intimate without feeling small, and lush without losing clarity. The kind of book you keep within reach for both ache and comfort. Highly recommended for people

who need something more interesting in their love life than the “law student” title on their Hinge profile.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Simply an excellent book.

JAKE ROGERS (1L)

The Best Study Spots Near the Faculty of Law Study spots for all of your studying preferences

JEANINE VARNEY (1L)

I love studying in libraries, but the Bora Laskin Law Library stresses me out.

The closest library to the law school is just across Queen’s Park Circle at Vic, with the E. J. Pratt library. It has several floors, and closes at 11:30 pm most days. Other close options are the Kelly library at St. Michael's College, or the University College Library. At the Kelly library, the first floor is more multipurpose and can be louder, but the upper floors are quieter. It also closes at 11:30 pm everyday. At the University College library, you are illuminated by light coming from the beautiful stained glass windows.

I prefer to study in an empty classroom environment, but many of the law classrooms are full all day.

Again, University College is your solution. At the basement level of University College, there are numerous classrooms that are usually empty during the day that you could study in. Despite being in the basement, they tend to have windows, so there is some natural light.

I like gothic architecture and windows. Hart House is the place for you! There are many rooms, like the Map Room or the Reading Room. You can also check out the Hart House library on the second floor. On the stairs between the first and second floor there are alcoves with benches near windows, which gives a nice atmosphere of dark academia on dark fall nights, or light academia watching snow fall in winter. Plus, if you get hungry or thirsty, there is always the Arbor Room in the basement of Hart House.

I want to get away from law students, but still want a more social atmosphere

Check out the A. B. B. Moore Foyer, on the first floor of Old Vic. This room has couches and comfy chairs for you to sit and study, but has more socialization because it is not an exclusive space for studying

It's a warm fall day and I want to go outside.

We all know that Philosopher’s Walk can be a great place to be outdoors during the fall, but U of T has a plethora of other spaces for outdoor studying if the weather is warm enough. There’s the Clark Quadrangle within University College, the quad at St. Mike’s, and my favourite in fall, Elmsley Lane at St. Mikes. There is also a winter crafts fair on Elmsley in early December, so keep your eyes peeled. I also like to study, and especially write next to the waterfall at Vic next to the E. J. Pratt Library, though it currently isn’t turned on.

I’m hungry, but I still need to study.

The Acacia Cafe at Wycliffe College is the place for you! It has the perfect atmosphere for studying, and getting a meal or some coffee. The cafe has large wooden tables that allow you to spread out your books and laptop, and has the option to eat in or take out. I recommend the butternut squash soup.

It’s cold outside and I want to stay in the law school.

If you like quiet spaces and wood decor, Flavelle house’s Fireplace Lounge is the place for you! It has a calming atmosphere and you can surround yourself with the beautifully carved wood paneling and fireplace while you study. If you prefer a bunker-like space, check out the lounge-like space with couches deep in the basement across from the multi-faith room between the Jackman Law building and Flavelle House.

I want to go to the other side of campus to get away from the law school.

In farther flung spaces, I would recommend the Student Commons Building at 230 College St. It has numerous study spaces, important university services like the Sexual Education Centre. The student commons building has a mix of types

of study spaces, with ones that are louder and ones that are silent. A branch of the Acacia Cafe has recently moved into the building, and there are a variety of small restaurants across College St.

I want to go off campus, but still study at a library.

Three branches of the Toronto Public Library that are close are the Lillian H. Smith branch, the Yorkville Branch, and the Toronto Reference Library. Immediately kitty corner from the

Student Commons building, is the Lillian H. Smith Toronto Public Library branch, which has study spaces, printing, and other services, in addition to books. Also near campus are the Yorkville and Toronto Reference Library branches, about a 15 minute walk northeast of the law school. The Reference Library has significant study spaces and a Balzac’s Coffee, and the Yorkville library also has places to study in an elegant atmosphere. If it's a nice day, I would also check out the park next to the Yorkville library branch and fire station.

Study Room Round-Up

Spoiler Alert: You need to do better

STUDY ROOM CONAISSEUR (3L)

Every year as the semester starts to get real and panic begins to set in, study room bookings spike. Law students rush to book study rooms, strategically maximizing their two booking limit, and coordinating with their comrades. Whether it be to fool themselves into thinking they’re studying, a totally not last-minute coffee chat, a salacious tea-filled session, a solid crash-out, or the rare lock-in, peak study room season is not too far away. Lots of vital considerations are at play with study rooms—which room to pick, who to trust with the privilege of sharing the room, and most of all—what to name it.

Well, as an experienced upper year, I’m here to tell you that yes, your booking name matters. It is a direct reflection of your capabilities. You can be lame and put your initials, or you can choose to be more. To do more. To unlock your true potential.

For the past month, I’ve been noting your names. And now, it is time to reward those who have brought me joy.

1. After Party at Dennings

An original name, creative, and law-related. 10/10. Plus, with the number of bookings you’ve had, you’re either super locked-in or consistently locked-out. Either way, I’m here for it.

2. PoG

CLASSIC. My number two may not be your number two, but too bad because this is my list. A constitutional slay.

3. OCI don’t want to // OCI would never

Great puns. Really see what you did there. Even though there were two separate rooms with this name, I’m still going to count you as original. It’s punny, it’s insightful, it’s emotional, it’s raw. Amazing work. Keep it up. Can’t wait to see your in-firm renditions.

4. We are slaying inshallah

Inshallah you will slay. I support your manifestation. I didn’t see you reappear ei -

ther so I’m assuming you did slay. Great work.

5. Multiple Tortfeasors

I love me a good law pun. But I hated torts. Maybe you could have been higher but trauma won instead.

6. Name ur rooms better I agree. Thank you for saying what needed to be said. But, given that it was surrounded by initial bookings, I’m disappointed it wasn’t heard.

7. ahHHHHHHHhh Relatable. To the point. Enough said.

8. REFLECT Love the intent. Really pushing yourself to get in there and get things done. However, the aggression also tells me that you may have some trouble reflecting. Let’s reflect on that.

9. Working! Maybe REFLECT should learn from you. This feels like someone who is happy and has their life together. Your inspirational tone is what got you onto this list. I’ve already lost all my light, so thank you for keeping yours shining. Keep it up.

10. BullDogEnterprise

You made it here less because I liked you and more because I was intrigued. Who? What? Why? And you had multiple bookings so you’re real committed. So many questions.

In comparison to previous years, our room bookings are really quite lacking. I really had to scrounge for even these names. I urge you to take this article as a sign to be more creative. The reason you’re booking your room isn’t always fun, but that doesn’t mean the name can’t be. Bring joy to our collective suffering. Do better. Until next time, I’ll be watching.

THE A. B. B. MOORE FOYER AT VIC COLLEGE! CREDIT: JEANINE VARNEY.

Eliminate the SNAILS: A How 2 Guide

Keeping the library pest-free

PAUL KIWAN KIM (2L)

As I currently sit in the fishbowl, trying my best to do my readings, all I hear are snickers, yapping, and disgusting conversations about undergrad courses. Today, I want to introduce to the new 1Ls what we as a law school collectively hate the most—after ourselves of course—a S.N.A.I.L. Commonly called a SNAIL, the term is an abbreviation for Students Not Actually In Law School. As your glorious 2L overlord, I will teach you the most important lesson you will have in your three years of law school: how to identify a SNAIL.

While these factors are not exhaustive, they should serve as a good indicator for making a determination of whether an individual or group of people are SNAILS. What will I do with the knowledge that someone is a SNAIL, you ask? Well, during exam season, the fishbowl is restricted to only law students. Therefore, you may want to power-trip over being a law student by politely asking the SNAILS to go kick rocks elsewhere.

Factors to Consider in the SNAIL Test. (SCC approved-ish)

1. Check their backpacks

SNAILS will often have backpacks that have random writing on them like “Rotman,” or worse “Medical.”

2. Review what they have on the tables

An easy sign to know someone is a SNAIL is if they have the following things laid out on the table that are not typical for law students, such as a calculator or books with big numbers in them.

3. Look at their faces

If they look happy? Straight to Jail. If they look like they enjoy life? Straight to Jail. If they even moderately look like they have any optimism for the future in their eyes? Straight to Jail. Worst of all, if they look well-rested, are put-together, and have a smile on their face? STRAIGHT TO JAIL. NO DUE PROCESS!

4. Check who they are sitting with If the person is sitting next to a person and they

keep smiling at each other and flirting? They are SNAILS. How do you know, you ask? Law students know better than to intermingle with each other. It’s practically INCEST.

5. Just look at them

SNAILS literally look like they were born yesterday. They have no eye-bags and exude a disgusting and vile aura of youthfulness that law students simply cannot replicate.

6. What are they wearing

SNAILS often will wear merchandise that is nonlaw school branded. As we know, law students are all narcissists and self-absorbed and only wear law school merch. SNAILS will have merch that have the following words on them: Faculty of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, etc. Be on the look-out.

7. Feel their aura

SNAILS often give off an aura of timid energy as

TORT or NO TORT?

they understand they are somewhere they’re not supposed to be. Imagine how a thief would act when stealing. That is how SNAILS behave.

8. What are they saying SNAILS have no respect for the sacred space the fishbowl is to us law students. They will often eat, chat, and laugh in the holy space. Be careful with this advice though, as 2Ls and 3Ls who have already given up on life will often be seen eating, chatting, and laughing in the fishbowl, desecrating our sacred shared space.

If you have completed the SNAIL test and have identified a disgusting, vile, filthy, loud, food-eating, chat-yapping, mess-creating, sacred-spacedefiling, youth-exuding, reconsideration-of-mycareer-causing SNAIL in our library, please contact your local pest elimination service and ask for the SNAIL removal specialist. (There’s a discount code for U of T Law students: IHATESNAILS4EVER).

The column featuring the greatest grievances of our times is back and more negligent than ever

MATTHEW GRACE (2L)

Your professor has generously provided you with a gratuitous digital copy of the casebook for your class. As a young law student hoping to make it in this world, you humbly accept this victory, but you notice that every third case in the book is the full, unedited case from Westlaw, West Headnotes and all. The page numbers don’t align with the page numbers on the PDF. TORT or NO TORT?

Your class that regularly occurs on Tuesdays from 4-6pm had to be cancelled because of urgent circumstances experienced by your professor. The class is rescheduled for Friday at 1-3pm. You are entirely available on that day and would have nothing better to do at

that time, but this would mean that you would need to come to class on a Friday. TORT or NO TORT?

The dress code at the office for my externship seminar is “smart casual,” yet my co-workers arrive wearing something more akin to “business casual,” thereby upstaging me and winning the favour of our supervisors. Their superior work ethic and intelligence notwithstanding, they continue to make me look like a doofus and “smart casual” continues to elude me. TORT or NO TORT?

At 1:40pm on Tuesday, I was sitting in the fishbowl, trying to do my readings for the

first time in three weeks, when my serene focus was broken by the sight of a repulsively happy couple smiling and holding hands as they walked down Philosopher’s Walk. I sustained serious and prolonged anxiety above the ordinary annoyances of everyday strife. TORT or NO TORT?

A 2L student that isn’t aware of anything happening in other years of law school is writing this column. It has also been a year since I’ve studied torts, and I don’t remember what a tort actually is. TORT or NO TORT?

I want a sweet treat beside my coffee from Terima. TART or NO TART?

I spun the monthly LexisNexis Star Re -

wards wheel and only received five stars. I will never achieve my dream of being able to place on the esteemed LexisNexis Star Rewards leaderboard unless more people use my referral code LN26042089. Doing so would also regretfully give each referee a whopping 150 stars, tightening the competition further. TORT or NO TORT?

Some idiot scheduled my classes from 8:30am to 8pm on Wednesdays. TORT or NO TORT?

2L. TORT or NO TORT?

The leaves of the trees in Queen’s Park have yet to change colour. This displeases me. TORT or NO TORT?

Best Places to Cry in Jackman

Crash out queens—you deserve it

JACKMAN CRIER (3L)

It happens to all of us. A less than ideal grade, wanting coffee and not having it, the stress of recruit, or just wanting a minute for a good cry. But where to go? Look no further for I, the Jackman Crier, have reviewed the best crying locations at Jackman.

Philosopher’s Walk

To really get that meta-physical introspective experience, why not venture out to philosopher’s walk? Let nature heal you as your tears flow. Bonus points for performativism and spectators asking you if you’re okay.

A Library Study Room

Just because this is the easiest choice doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. Sure, you can book a

study room to cry your heart out, but it just won’t hit the same way. Study rooms are for lock-ins, gossip sessions, or awkward meetings with the people you only acknowledge in said meetings. Don’t waste your tears here.

Couches in Flavelle Basement

Ah yes. Now we’re getting somewhere. Being in the depths of the law school where it’s always too warm perfectly embodies the low you’re already at. It’s secluded enough to awkwardly make eye contact with those passing by and, if you’re lucky enough, maybe you’ll even catch the locker thief and bring some joy back to your life. Or maybe you’ll spot another bug and realize you’re right at home.

Faith Space

Now this is a great option if you like to live on the edge. While the secluded nature of the faith space may seem like a great option, you’ll have to be prepared for the inevitable embarrassing shuffle out once someone who actually needs to use the faith space comes in. The unexpected scrambling you’re forced to do might just make you cry more.

Gender Neutral Bathroom Behind the MCC Office

The seclusion of this bathroom, along with its prime location makes it ideal. Plus, with how many people forget about its existence, you can get your cry in without anyone suspecting anything. Though, if anyone does notice how long you’ve been inside (likely the MCC), they might suspect

you suffer digestion issues. A small price to pay for those who just need to let go (no pun intended).

Basement Library Hallway from Stairwell

Now if you know what I’m talking about, you’re a real one. This is the elite crying location. Actually, don’t even hold yourself back—have that full-blown meltdown. The white walls give that slight mental asylum vibe and the door at the end of the hallway gives that slight glimmer of hope. On sunny days, the green outside can be quite healing.

With all that said, sometimes we just need a good cry. I hope you’re able to find the space where you can do so best. To you, I now say—go crash out queen, you deserve it.

Phantoms of Law School Past

HUMZA KHAN (3L)

I’m not sure if anybody else has noticed, but I think there are ghosts at the law school. Of course, it would have been easy to miss them. The 1L’s wouldn’t even know what to look for. Even for the rest of us, it can be easy to forget to look for them. I’ve noticed though. Not because of the presence of any supernatural goings-on (although some of those old basement tunnels are probably haunted). No, I’ve been focused on the absence of certain things. When a prof says something funny in class and I turn to make a stupid joke about it but nobody is there to hear it. When something goes wrong with moot stuff and I start drafting a message asking for guidance before realizing I wouldn’t know who to put in the recipient field. I know

I must be thinking of someone but they exist at the periphery of my memory. It’s hard to grasp on for long enough to remember who they were. After considerable effort, I have realized what it is. The law school is missing 200 or so students that were here last year. That’s right, the ghosts I’ve been contemplating are none other than our recently and dearly departed class of 2025. Despite being here a few short months ago, they have now departed to the undiscovered countries of “articling”, “the workforce” or “New York” from which no traveller (ok except LLM students) returns. Maybe it’s because I’m a 3L now but I fear that it is too easy to forget everyone who isn’t directly in our line of sight. I’m guilty of this as well. How often do I

think of the people I went to high school with? Undergrad? When we aren’t going to the same classes, clubs, and free pizza events with someone, do they stop taking up space in our heads?

Let me take a moment then to reflect on and remember our former classmates. The law school will miss them. We will miss out on their mentorship, kindness, chaotic energy and fun outfits. The jokes they would have made will go unsaid. The outlines they would have shared will go unshared. The tea (and matcha lattes) they would have spilled will go unspilled. I remember the class of 2025 as impressively well put together. As self-assured and full of verve. As moving through this school with the confidence and comfort

of a group that had been here and done that. I am hesitant to sound overly eulogistic. After all, they are still around, just with a degree of separation. If you’re an upper-year reading this, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on members of last year’s graduating class that you knew. Maybe even reach out to the unc in your life. It’s nice to be thought of. After all, sometime soon we will all be in the position of being former students. When that time comes, I hope that I won’t become a ghost that nobody remembers. I hope that at least someone will say That Humza guy was pretty cool. He was one of us.

Emotional Damages (In Retrograde)

Even the stars are tired of your avoidance (especially you, Aquarius)

HARLEEN GREWAL (2L)

If your heart’s pounding like you just got coldcalled, blame Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Scorpio. The water signs are holding the aux cord this month – and they’ve queued nothing but feelings. Expect emotional breakthroughs, spiritual rebrands, and maybe one ill-timed cry in Bora Laskin. It’s giving catharsis, not crisis (though the line is thin).

Buckle up: Mid-October kicks off a six-month cycle of breakthroughs – especially for Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, and Scorpio.

Aries

You’re usually allergic to vulnerability, Aries, but October prescribes “mandatory participation.” Relationships are under review and emotional maturity is now a pass/fail course. Expect buried feelings to resurface like that OCI rejection email you “never got.” Independence is cute, but accountability is sexier. Try it before Hal-law-ween—otherwise your costume might not be the only thing haunting you.

Taurus

Taurus, your productivity arc is giving the same energy as Henry N.R. Jackman’s donation: expensive, dramatic, and maybe not what anyone asked for. Career stress, relationship drama, and existential dread about your LinkedIn headline—classic Taurus. The good news? The cycle’s breaking, if you let it. Mars is fueling your ambition, but that doesn’t mean you need to commit to three study groups you’ll inevitably ghost. Prioritize what feels grounded, move slower than you think you should, and trust that rest is progress.

Gemini

Gemini, your social calendar is overflowing—trivia nights, costume parties, and that one group meeting that could’ve been an email. You’re magnetic this month, pulling people in with every half-ironic joke. But deep down, you know the jokes are doing overtime. This month, joy isn’t found in distraction; it’s found in depth. Ask yourself what you actually want— and maybe stop using “haha” as emotional punctuation.

Cancer Cancer, you’ve been treating your life like a takehome exam with no word limit—overanalyzing, overcaffeinating, overeverything-ing. Blame Mars—or your inability to sit with discomfort for more than ten

minutes. Newsflash: you can’t IRAC your way out of your feelings. Sometimes the assignment is the spiral.

Leo

October’s testing your patience harder than the Henry N.R. Jackman rebrand tested everyone’s sanity. You’re scattered, overstimulated, and ready to start over every five minutes. The fix? Eliminate distractions and pick your battles—not every situationship deserves closing submissions. Offset the chaos with small wins (think: finishing a reading, not buying a fourth pumpkin spice latte). Thug it out until the end of the month and everything will click—I promise.

Virgo

Repeat after me: nostalgia is not a green flag. October’s testing your self-control, Virgo, especially when that one situationship resurfaces with “hey, stranger.” Don’t bite. The stars are begging you to stop editing the past and start drafting a new future. Put your energy into learning something new—like how to block with confidence instead of writing 3,000-word essays in your Notes app.

Libra

Libra, you’re magnetic this month—and not just because you’re the only one still pretending to read for Admin. Everyone’s watching, and you’re leaving an impression. Whether it’s networking, flirting, or just surviving another cold call, keep your options open (career and otherwise). Don’t close doors too early— especially the ones that might open into a Bay Street office or (preferably) a well-lit bar.

Scorpio

October has you deep in your feels, Scorpio. Nothing new for a chronic overthinker, but this time hits different. You’re done replaying emotional loops like a bad Netflix reboot. Take the downtime you need and remember: not everything requires a dramatic exit. Your intensity could spark genius or a meltdown, so channel it wisely. Either way, you’re shedding old skin, not burning bridges (well, hopefully).

Sagitarrius

A new bombshell has entered the villa, Sag—and it’s you. Charisma, connections, career wins, the whole nine yards. But the universe says: calm down, cowboy. Being the main character doesn’t mean you

need a plot twist every week. Sit still long enough to realize you don’t need to chase the vibe—you are the vibe.

Capricorn

Capricorn, you’re the faculty’s golden child this month (Henry N.R. Jackman would be so proud). Career momentum is real, social energy is buzzing, and you’re finally getting the praise you deserve. Just don’t overplay your hand. Observe first, act later. You’re already in the endgame while everyone else is still setting up their pawns.

Aquarius

It’s giving comeback season, Aquarius. You’re regaining momentum, clarity, and maybe even your

personality after OCIs. Accountability is your keyword—what you say actually matters now (tragic, I know). You’re reclaiming control and momentum but resist the urge to take on seven in-firms just because you can. Power looks better on you when you’re rested, so avoid spreading yourself too thin.

Pisces

Pisces, you’re finally out of your delulu era and into your “doing things” era—well, kind of. You’re feeling everything, everywhere, all at once, which sounds artsy until you realize it’s wreaking havoc on your nervous system. Love might knock, but so will bad decisions wearing a “we’ve changed” costume. Pick peace this time—or at least take a nap before selfdestructing.

The Saucy Intruder

Be wary, it’s a hauntingly juicy edition.

Hiiiiiiiii Saucy,

After years of being locked up in my room studying to get into law school, I have decided that it’s finally time to LET LOOSE! Of course, I’m a newbie to this whole “partying” thing–if I’m being honest, I never attended a party in all of undergrad. In my defence, I was too busy studying for the LSAT and perfecting my 4.0 GPA! Anyways, I’ve decided to take EVERY CTTB as an opportunity to truly explore myself … and alcohol. Unfortunately, I think I had one vodka soda too many and ended up getting REMOVED from Petty Cash last Thursday. I woke up to messages from everyone I know asking if I got home safe … do you think they noticed that I was escorted out or are they just wondering how I’m doing like courteous friends would?

Sincerely, Scared and Not Sober

Dear Scared and Not Sober,

It’s normal to feel humiliated in your current circumstances—but who can blame you, you’re a late bloomer! While most people utilized their undergraduate experience to figure out how much alcohol they can handle, you’re only just getting started. The good news is, you’re not alone either. If you look carefully (but sometimes they will straight up be in your face), you’ll witness people projectile vomiting, drunk crying over their law school crush talking to someone else, or a classmate screaming at the top of their lungs because of mixing substances. While your humiliation will probably last for the rest of your law school career, just keep telling yourself that you’re not alone! Remember these words of wisdom, carbs are your friends while drinking, do not mix vodka and tequila, and take it SLOW! It’s okay to let loose, but not every CTTB has to be an episode of Girls (or guys) Gone Wild! Save those blackouts for your closest friends.

Keep on Partying!

Dear Saucy, I recently joined a club as a 1L executive for something that I’m really interested in! Unfortunately, it seems that the President of my club is a power-hungry tyrant that thrives on seeing us suffer. They relentlessly harass me and others on Discord, Instagram, Facebook, and somehow even found my number to text and call me. When I asked them why they were doing this, they told me that this is normal behaviour and that each club should be a 40+ hour weekly commitment and that this is what I signed up for. Is this true??? Am I supposed to be at the beck and call of my President for their every whim and receiving calls at 4 am to get their newest idea done??

Best, Bootcamp Survivor

Hi Bootcamp Survivor, Sadly, not all club experiences are made equal, and not all Presidents know how to handle their newfound power. Maybe they got confused and thought that club presidency entitled them to tyranny? I think that your best bet would be for you and your fellow club members (or fellow victims) to stand united and give your President a reality check. Let them know that your lives don’t revolve around them, but like most other law students, revolve around law school. If that doesn’t work, I don’t know what to tell you. You could quit, but if the club covers topics that you’re interested in, maybe you just have to suck it up and slowly plan a coup d’état.

Good Luck!

Hi Saucy, I ended up hooking up with my law school crush! He told me not to tell anyone, because he didn’t want the “drama” that comes with law school relationships, which I totally understood! Despite my best efforts, I accidentally told my friend group after having one too many drinks. To my horror, I found out that he was sleeping with my entire friend group! I know that I should drop him, but I really like him and think that he could be the one for me. The problem is… my friends are all thinking the same thing. We’ve decided to go about this like adults and take turns being with him and letting the best woman win him over! Do you have any advice for how I can woo him?

Love, Lustfully Deranged

Dear Lustfully Deranged,

If I’m being honest, I’m a little scared reading this. While it is normal to have a crush on one of your law school classmates, I hope that the new “norm” is not sharing lovers amongst your cohort. Even if you’re entering your mid or late 20s, I think it would be good to remind you that the love of your life doesn’t need to be from your law school. Perhaps a good old Hinge date would do you good, or maybe you could attend a group therapy session to have a professional see what’s going on with your friend group.

Seek Professional Help!

Hi Saucy,

I’ve been really disappointed to see that CTTB attendance

hasn’t been that great, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and throw a party! To really set the standard, I decided to invite every single 1L, 2L, and 3L to my parents’ home in Forest Hill. To my disappointment, not a single person attended my party … even my parents and dog decided to not come home that night. Do you think my invite got lost in their DMs? Should I reach out to all 600 of the invitees to see what happened?

With sadness,

Solo Partier

Dear Solo Partier,

I understand that this is quite the devastating scenario–no one wants to hold the title of having the worst party of the year. There are so many potential reasons for your party flopping, so I’ll only contemplate a few.

Did you send the invite from your personal account,

or did you accidentally use your burner? Or … this might be a sensitive question, but do people know who you are? If you’re not really known among your cohort and other years, I can see why your invite might have been ignored, no one wants to go to a random’s house. Or maybe alcohol was the driving factor. Did you specify whether alcohol would be provided, or was it a BYOB or no alcohol situation? The latter two options may deter law students, 2Ls suffering through the recruit process don’t need to feel like they’re attending another open house.

Anyways, who’s to say why your party flopped. If you ever decide that you want to host another party, maybe co-host with a friend! At least that way, you’re guaranteed to have an attendee! Never Give Up!

Halloween Costume Ideas for the Casebook Connoisseur

Costumes to confuse your non-law friends

JEANINE VARNEY (1L)

Lord Denning

Dress up as a judge (remember the wig!) and take your handy cricket bat and ball, because at Halloween time, village cricket is the delight of everyone. Remember to haunt Professor Essert.

The Fox

To truly embody the fox from Pierson v Post, you need a fox costume and 2 friends. Dress up in your fox costume (and make sure it’s a red fox—if you

dress up as a silver fox, we’re in a different case) and have one friend chase you throughout the law school. Once you have completed a full lap of the law school, have your other friend jump out of the bushes near the entrance to Flavelle House and grab you. (They should be wearing the saucy intruder costume from below)

The Saucy Intruder

Get an old timey-looking button-up shirt, prefer-

ably with ruffles (it is 1810), and black pants, preferably breeches. If you don’t have period accurate breeches, cut some black leggings off just below the knee and wear white knee socks. Print out pictures of condiments and pin them to your shirt. And make sure to grab your friend, the Fox, before their other friend can catch them.

Dead Snail

Take two 50 x 60 inches throw blankets and fold

the smaller side in half (hot dog style). Tuck the non folded edges in and roll the blankets up in one spiral, one at a time. Take ribbon and tie up the roll on both sides, and be sure to tie it tight about 20 cm from the ends so that the roll squeezes more fullness into the ends. When tying the roll, leave a meter length of ribbon free. Put the ribbon over your shoulders, cross it over your chest and loop it around your waist to tie in front. Make some antennae, cross out your eyes with eyeliner and carry around a can of ginger ale.

Thumbs Up Emoji

Draw a thumbs up emoji on a white t-shirt. You are now ready to enter into contracts!

Church Bell

Wear a yellow or gold A-line dress or tunic. Affix small bells to the hem of the dress/tunic and make sure to make them jingle every hour. Also carry around a small bell, like from a bicycle, and ring it incessantly.

Cabin in the Woods

Get a green shirt and a green fabric marker. Draw a cabin on the shirt. Stick green fake leaves (with adhesive, staples, or safety pins) to the shirt in front of your drawing of the cabin. You now have a cabin that is not an open and notorious adverse possession. (See Re Lundrigans Ltd. and Prosper et al.)

Haystack

Stiffen the hair on a Cousin Itt costume and don’t wear the hat or the glasses. Spontaneously combust at will.

Harrier Jet

Wear a jet costume and carry a can of Pepsi.

Supreme Court of Canada Justice

Because the Supreme Court of Canada is ditching its traditional ceremonial red robes, we law students must take up the mantle. For this costume, wear a Santa suit.

A Law Student’s Guide to Fall Recipes

Because the soul needs more than just case law this reading week season

GRACE XU (3L)

The highlight of my semester occurred this month. It was a brief encounter I had with a fellow exchange student in my dormitory’s communal kitchen, where she offered me a home-cooked stew. Although I had never tried the dish before, every bite felt like home, something made from the heart.

That’s the true magic of fall cooking. It’s not about fancy techniques, but about creating a sense of belonging and home. As reading week approaches, here are three recipes for a pie, a weekend project, and a hearty stew.

The Simple Pumpkin Pie: The 1L of Desserts

This is your foundational case. It seems intimidating at first glance, but you just need to follow a series of simple steps.

· 1 premade pie crust

· 1 (15 oz) can of pure pumpkin puree

· 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk

· 1 large egg

· 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

· A pinch of salt

The Procedure: Whisk all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Pour into the crust. Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350°F and bake for 35-40 minutes, until set. The result is a pie that proves you can, in fact, achieve a competent result. It’s a massive confidence boost for very little work.

The "Reading Week Project" Cinnamon Buns

This is your optional, but deeply rewarding, extra-curricular. Don’t begin this on a Tuesday; this is for a Saturday when you need a break from outlining.

The Dough:

· ¾ cup warm milk

· 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast (one packet)

· ¼ cup granulated sugar

· 1 egg

· ¼ cup melted butter

· 3 cups all-purpose flour

· ½ teaspoon salt

The Filling:

· ½ cup softened butter

· ¾ cup packed brown sugar

· 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

The Procedure: Mix the milk, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Stir in the egg, melted butter, flour, and salt. Knead for 5 minutes. Let it rise for 1 hour (this is your first study block). Roll the dough into a rectangle, spread with the softened butter, and sprinkle the brown sugar/ cinnamon mix. Roll, slice into 9 buns, and let rise again for 30 minutes. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes. Add a frosting of your choice and let the rolls sit until warm to the touch.

The Hearty Beef Stew

This is the answer to the creeping autumn chill and unforgiving readings. It’s inspired by a shared meal I had with a fellow exchange student from Ghana. It’s hearty, communal, and deeply satisfying.

· 2 tbsp olive oil

· 1.5 lbs beef stew meat, cubed

· 1 large onion, chopped

· 3 carrots, chopped

· 2 celery stalks, chopped

· 3 cloves garlic, minced

· ¼ cup all-purpose flour

· 1 bottle (440 ml) Guinness or 2 cups beef broth

· 2 cups beef broth

· 1 tbsp tomato paste

· 1 bay leaf

· Salt and pepper to taste

The Procedure: In a large pot, heat oil and brown the beef in batches. Set aside. In the same pot, sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 5-7 minutes. Add garlic, cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the Guinness and broth, scraping the bottom. Add the beef back in, along with tomato paste and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce to the lowest possible simmer. Cover and let it cook for at least 2 hours, until the beef is forktender.

The Serving Suggestion: Serve over a simple, thick cornmeal porridge (follow the package directions for "firm" polenta). It’s messy, hearty, and the ultimate edible argument for taking a break, sharing a meal, and remembering there’s a world outside your textbooks.

Sudoku Puzzle

MATTHEW FARRELL (3L) & NAVYA SHETH (3L)

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.

6 5 9 1 9 4 9 3 6 4 4 7 1 6 2 5 2 1 7 1 3 6 7 3 8 9

september sudoku

By Navya Sheth

Connections Puzzle

The terms in the 16 boxes below can be grouped into four categories. Each category will be based on a common trait shared by each term within that category. To complete the game, group each phrase into the correct category such that you have four groups of four terms apiece.

For easier gameplay, scan the QR code and play online! This will allow you to know when you have successfully identified a category.

The solution can be found above under the Sudoku Puzzle.

ZACH GORMAN (1L)

Connections Solutions: Names starting with body parts: Armani, Foot Locker, Facebook, LEGO; Brands with green logos: Starbucks, WhatsApp, Spotify, TD; Defunct companies: Enron, Oldsmobile, Blockbuster, Hudson’s Bay;

Sponsors of Toronto venues:Rogers, Scotiabank, Budweiser, Coca-Cola

The Ultra Vires Cross word