Hi future 1Ls,
As Kaitlyn has already told you all, my name is Laura Smith and I was just recently hired to help her plan your Orientation Week. I’m really looking forward to being a part of this process, as Orientation was fantastic last year and I want to make sure that we give you a comparable, if not even better, experience!
Your first year of law school is an exciting, challenging, tiring, but rewarding time. To be honest, there probably aren’t enough adjectives to describe the variety of emotions you will feel this year. You will drink A LOT of espresso, attend lunch-time lectures for the free pizza and find yourself actually enjoying the speaker, learn about negligence in Torts, riparian rights in Property and sentencing in Criminal Law and Procedure; you will also find yourself at a bar with your old friends about to make a law-related pun that only your classmates (some of whom will become friends for life) would find funny!
In retrospect, I think that one of the things I wish I had known beforehand would be how to deal with the expectations. Personally, I wish that I had been better at balancing expectations with the reality of law school. When I say expectations, I'm referring to my own and those that others had of me. Being a type A personality, as I’m sure many of you are, I had and still have high standards for myself academically and in other aspects of my life. You undoubtedly were used to getting high marks in your undergrad and I’m not saying that won’t happen here, but it is necessary to readjust what you have always defined as a “high mark.” For instance, if your expectation for yourself has always been to score in the mid-to-high eighties, try to be accepting of the fact that sooner rather than later you will be thrilled if your factum comes back with a grade of 78%. That’s just how it is here. However, by no means am I saying not to set high standards for yourself. But please take this as a helpful warning that academic excellence will be defined differently than you have grown accustomed to over the years. If you accept this now, you will benefit in the long run, I promise.
Many of us previous 1Ls, including Kaitlyn and me, managed to enjoy a social life while going through first year. What can be difficult, however, is the fact that you will deal with the classic “old friends” and “new friends” dilemma. It can be very challenging to explain to your roommate and best friend that you’re cancelling your dinner out on Friday because everyone from school is going to the Rugby Party and you really want to go. But you owe it to yourself to make new friends because (a) you will meet some fantastic people and (b) they can relate to what you’re going through. So take those chances to meet new people and be honest to your old friends that you likely won’t be as available this year as you have been in the past, but that they shouldn’t take it personally. I can’t even begin to explain how guilty I felt sometimes because I just didn’t have the time to be the perfect friend, student and daughter all at the same time. It does get easier though and eventually your friends and family will understand that you are the same person you’ve always been but you just have a lot more on your plate.
Basically, embrace the experience! We are all very fortunate to have this opportunity to be students for a little bit longer and UBC Law is one of the best places to spend it. Remember to find a balance and have realistic expectations of yourself and your first year of law will be unbeatable.
Can't wait to meet you all!
Written by Laura Smith
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A Closer Look at The Drive
In light of my Vancouver Guide finally being complete, I have asked Catherine Kim, a second year UBC law student, to write today's blog about one of her favourite neighbourhoods in Vancouver. After living in Vancouver for nearly her entire life, I'm sure you'll find her expertise on this area to be much more enlightening than mine! Happy reading!
Undoubtedly one of the most colourful neighbourhoods within Vancouver, Commercial Drive represents a mosaic of restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Where Commercial Drive meets Broadway represents not only the eastern most stop of the 99 B line but also a traffic hub to get to downtown Vancouver, the suburbs and beyond. Commercial Drive & Broadway is also minutes away from Trout Lake, a great place to catch some sun, watch happy dogs play. Trout Lake also features a marketplace on Saturdays. (Kaitlyn's note: this is also where the Mature Students and Family BBQ will be taking place this year on September 11th!)
Commercial Drive itself is rich with culture and history. The Drive is commonly viewed as a meeting place for the eclectic, free-spirited, open-minded and adventurous. Many will find the Drive offers something for everyone.
For an escape from the culinary quotidian, Commercial Drive is an ideal starting point for the adventurous and thrill-seeking diner.
For deliciously fun mexican, try Me & Julios! Their soft taco platter offers a choice of a variety of meats including beef, chicken, fish and shrimp. This restaurant is also known for their Sunday brunch goods - the huevos benedict (eggs benefdict) with veggie hash is especially noteworthy. For a taste of Ethiopa's best, try Harambe! This restaurant offers different colourful savoury meats served on a bread spread - it comes out looking like an edible painter's pallet. Eating with your hands has never been so delicious.For vegetarians and vegans alike, Cafe Deux Soleils offers an array of burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads. Reasonably priced and generously portioned, the Cafe also offers entertainment in the evenings including "Poetry Slam" nights and Thursday "Open Mic" nights.For the pizza and pasta lover, try either Marcello's or Lombardos - both restaurants are known for their great thin crust pizzas.One of the Drive's most famous restaurants is Havana. Havana offers Cuban influenced dishes with everything from pulled pork sandwiches, jerk chicken salad to paella. They also offer a great plantane appy with a great accompanying dip.For the carnivore and barbequed meat lover, the Memphis Blues BBQ is a MUST. The platters at Memphis Blues offers an array of barbequed meats of your choice along side corn bread, potato salad, coleslaw and possibly even fries. Their poutine also features barbeque sauce instead of gravy!For a taste of Montreal's finest poutine, try Belgian Fries. Belgian friers offers an array of different kinds of poutine topped with a variety of meat, veggie and cheese accents. The collection of mayos and dips to choose from is also impressive. Oh and the place also features a bunch of unique desserts such as deep fried ice cream and deep fried mars bars. For some Caribbean flavour, try the Reef. Known for its colourful jerk meat seasonings, the Reef knows how to dress their meats.
Commercial Drive also represents the home of many beverage hot spots. For a taste of a variety of beers and fun tapas, Stellas is a must. It's loud in there though, so not the most conducive to deep, thought-provoking conversation. As the home of Little Italy, Commercial Drive offers an array of quaint Italian cafes that start along First Ave as you walk northbound. The many italian eateries also offer great gelato, paninis and biscotti. Many of these eateries are great sports bars to "boot".Commercial Drive is also a coffee lover's dream. In addition to the Starbucks, Blenz & Tim Hortons, lower key coffee shops such as Prado & JJ Bean offer a great place to read, people watch and converseCommercial Drive also offers a range of boutiques and stores particularly for the keen vintage shopper. In addition to Mintage, the Drive offers boutiques such as Barefoot Contessa filled with dainty trinkets. In addition to smaller scale record and bookstores, if you're in need of home decor, Wonderbucks is a great place to find common household goods and also very very reasonably priced non-tacky wall hangings etc.
People often find hours and hours can go by on the Drive so If you are in town before school starts and are looking for a vibrant and novel place to spend an entire afternoon or evening, be sure to visit the Drive.
Written by Catherine Kim
Undoubtedly one of the most colourful neighbourhoods within Vancouver, Commercial Drive represents a mosaic of restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Where Commercial Drive meets Broadway represents not only the eastern most stop of the 99 B line but also a traffic hub to get to downtown Vancouver, the suburbs and beyond. Commercial Drive & Broadway is also minutes away from Trout Lake, a great place to catch some sun, watch happy dogs play. Trout Lake also features a marketplace on Saturdays. (Kaitlyn's note: this is also where the Mature Students and Family BBQ will be taking place this year on September 11th!)
Commercial Drive itself is rich with culture and history. The Drive is commonly viewed as a meeting place for the eclectic, free-spirited, open-minded and adventurous. Many will find the Drive offers something for everyone.
For an escape from the culinary quotidian, Commercial Drive is an ideal starting point for the adventurous and thrill-seeking diner.
For deliciously fun mexican, try Me & Julios! Their soft taco platter offers a choice of a variety of meats including beef, chicken, fish and shrimp. This restaurant is also known for their Sunday brunch goods - the huevos benedict (eggs benefdict) with veggie hash is especially noteworthy. For a taste of Ethiopa's best, try Harambe! This restaurant offers different colourful savoury meats served on a bread spread - it comes out looking like an edible painter's pallet. Eating with your hands has never been so delicious.For vegetarians and vegans alike, Cafe Deux Soleils offers an array of burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads. Reasonably priced and generously portioned, the Cafe also offers entertainment in the evenings including "Poetry Slam" nights and Thursday "Open Mic" nights.For the pizza and pasta lover, try either Marcello's or Lombardos - both restaurants are known for their great thin crust pizzas.One of the Drive's most famous restaurants is Havana. Havana offers Cuban influenced dishes with everything from pulled pork sandwiches, jerk chicken salad to paella. They also offer a great plantane appy with a great accompanying dip.For the carnivore and barbequed meat lover, the Memphis Blues BBQ is a MUST. The platters at Memphis Blues offers an array of barbequed meats of your choice along side corn bread, potato salad, coleslaw and possibly even fries. Their poutine also features barbeque sauce instead of gravy!For a taste of Montreal's finest poutine, try Belgian Fries. Belgian friers offers an array of different kinds of poutine topped with a variety of meat, veggie and cheese accents. The collection of mayos and dips to choose from is also impressive. Oh and the place also features a bunch of unique desserts such as deep fried ice cream and deep fried mars bars. For some Caribbean flavour, try the Reef. Known for its colourful jerk meat seasonings, the Reef knows how to dress their meats.
Commercial Drive also represents the home of many beverage hot spots. For a taste of a variety of beers and fun tapas, Stellas is a must. It's loud in there though, so not the most conducive to deep, thought-provoking conversation. As the home of Little Italy, Commercial Drive offers an array of quaint Italian cafes that start along First Ave as you walk northbound. The many italian eateries also offer great gelato, paninis and biscotti. Many of these eateries are great sports bars to "boot".Commercial Drive is also a coffee lover's dream. In addition to the Starbucks, Blenz & Tim Hortons, lower key coffee shops such as Prado & JJ Bean offer a great place to read, people watch and converseCommercial Drive also offers a range of boutiques and stores particularly for the keen vintage shopper. In addition to Mintage, the Drive offers boutiques such as Barefoot Contessa filled with dainty trinkets. In addition to smaller scale record and bookstores, if you're in need of home decor, Wonderbucks is a great place to find common household goods and also very very reasonably priced non-tacky wall hangings etc.
People often find hours and hours can go by on the Drive so If you are in town before school starts and are looking for a vibrant and novel place to spend an entire afternoon or evening, be sure to visit the Drive.
Written by Catherine Kim
Friday, July 9, 2010
This Just In!
A Helping Hand
I know you have probably all been wondering to yourselves… there’s actually only one person planning our Orientation Week? Will Kaitlyn really be able to pull it off all on her own? Well apparently all of us here at UBC Law have also wondered the same! As with many things in life, Marvin Gaye really did have it right… it takes two (to put on an even better Orientation Week that is)! Starting later this month, I will have an assistant helping me plan and organize Orientation Week, Laura Smith.
I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Laura on my first day of law school as she was one of the members of my small group. After getting to know her over the past year I am positive that with her help, Orientation Week will be even better than before. Laura is an absolutely fantastic individual and I am sure that you will enjoy getting to know her over the next few months!
Get Ready to Break the Ice
July is upon us, the sun is hot, and my office is sweltering (not that I’m complaining) but relief from the heat is in sight with the icy cool events that are coming up! All puns aside, I am writing to announce that this year’s Icebreaker Events are finally in sight. This year we will be hosting events in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Vancouver. If you are on facebook be sure to join the UBC Law Orientation 2010 group and RSVP to one of the events. If not, more information will be sent to all of you via email and posted on the UBC Law Orientation Website. I know that many of you are in the same boat as I was last year and are living no where near these locations. If you are still interested in meeting up with current UBC Law students, send an email my way and I will do my best to put you in touch with other students in your area.
Tourist Time
If you want to learn more about the amazing city you will be living in for the next three years check out My Vancouver Guide which is finally up on the UBC Law Orientation Website.
Well Class of 2013, that is all the exciting news for now! Hope you all have a great weekend and don’t forget your sunscreen!
Your Orientation Coordinator,
Kaitlyn
I know you have probably all been wondering to yourselves… there’s actually only one person planning our Orientation Week? Will Kaitlyn really be able to pull it off all on her own? Well apparently all of us here at UBC Law have also wondered the same! As with many things in life, Marvin Gaye really did have it right… it takes two (to put on an even better Orientation Week that is)! Starting later this month, I will have an assistant helping me plan and organize Orientation Week, Laura Smith.
I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Laura on my first day of law school as she was one of the members of my small group. After getting to know her over the past year I am positive that with her help, Orientation Week will be even better than before. Laura is an absolutely fantastic individual and I am sure that you will enjoy getting to know her over the next few months!
Get Ready to Break the Ice
July is upon us, the sun is hot, and my office is sweltering (not that I’m complaining) but relief from the heat is in sight with the icy cool events that are coming up! All puns aside, I am writing to announce that this year’s Icebreaker Events are finally in sight. This year we will be hosting events in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Vancouver. If you are on facebook be sure to join the UBC Law Orientation 2010 group and RSVP to one of the events. If not, more information will be sent to all of you via email and posted on the UBC Law Orientation Website. I know that many of you are in the same boat as I was last year and are living no where near these locations. If you are still interested in meeting up with current UBC Law students, send an email my way and I will do my best to put you in touch with other students in your area.
Tourist Time
If you want to learn more about the amazing city you will be living in for the next three years check out My Vancouver Guide which is finally up on the UBC Law Orientation Website.
Well Class of 2013, that is all the exciting news for now! Hope you all have a great weekend and don’t forget your sunscreen!
Your Orientation Coordinator,
Kaitlyn
Friday, July 2, 2010
School's Out for the Summer...Now What?
The best way to start your summer after 1L? Dive right in and enjoy the time off!
1L breezed by in a flash and the next thing you know it’s May, the sun is shining, and there is nothing but a world full of possibilities in store for the next four months. With all those options it can be difficult to decide what to do over your glorious summer break. For those of you not originally from Vancouver, you may also be wondering whether you should spend your summer at home. Lucky for you, today’s blog is devoted to outlining some of the ways my fellow law students have spent their summers after 1L. Read on for some inspiration!
Working for Law Firms
One of the big questions you may have is: when am I supposed to start working for a law firm? Although I will not fully get into answering that question, I will say that it is very rare for students to work for law firms right after 1L. Some firms in Alberta and Ontario hire a few students fresh out of their first year (note: this happens fairly early in the fall). However, this is generally not the case in BC. If you are interested in more information on these opportunities try reading: http://www.law.ubc.ca/careerservices/info.html#6 and speak with someone in the Career Services Office!
Working for UBC Law
The Faculty of Law offers some summer student positions (which vary from year to year) with the Alumni Association, the Career Services Office, Student Services, and of course, the Orientation Coordinator. I have to admit, I feel incredibly fortunate to have landed this amazing opportunity to plan your Orientation Week. Summer positions with UBC Law are fairly relaxed and perfect if you want to take a few weeks off during the summer. If any of these jobs interest you I would definitely recommending applying in February and March!
Research Assistants
Numerous law professors offer part and full-time research assistant positions during the summer. These are often posted on the Career Services Website but many students are also successful in finding these positions simply by approaching professors who specialize in areas that they are interested in.
Fellowships
First year students will have the opportunity to apply for fellowships, such as the BLG Fellowship (http://www.law.ubc.ca/news/2010/feb/02_18_10_blg.html These allow students to work on a specific research project alongside a professor throughout the summer. Start your applications early as they are highly competitive!
Student Organizations: ProBono Students Canada, Canadian Journal of Family Law, Law Revue, Innocence Project, Centre for Feminist Legal Studies
Many student organizations hire summer students to work on a variety of projects to prepare for the upcoming year. These positions vary from year to year and are often posted on the Career Services Website. Usually these summer jobs are given to students who have actively participated with an organization throughout the school year.
Working for Law Firms
One of the big questions you may have is: when am I supposed to start working for a law firm? Although I will not fully get into answering that question, I will say that it is very rare for students to work for law firms right after 1L. Some firms in Alberta and Ontario hire a few students fresh out of their first year (note: this happens fairly early in the fall). However, this is generally not the case in BC. If you are interested in more information on these opportunities try reading: http://www.law.ubc.ca/careerservices/info.html#6 and speak with someone in the Career Services Office!
Working for UBC Law
The Faculty of Law offers some summer student positions (which vary from year to year) with the Alumni Association, the Career Services Office, Student Services, and of course, the Orientation Coordinator. I have to admit, I feel incredibly fortunate to have landed this amazing opportunity to plan your Orientation Week. Summer positions with UBC Law are fairly relaxed and perfect if you want to take a few weeks off during the summer. If any of these jobs interest you I would definitely recommending applying in February and March!
Research Assistants
Numerous law professors offer part and full-time research assistant positions during the summer. These are often posted on the Career Services Website but many students are also successful in finding these positions simply by approaching professors who specialize in areas that they are interested in.
Fellowships
First year students will have the opportunity to apply for fellowships, such as the BLG Fellowship (http://www.law.ubc.ca/news/2010/feb/02_18_10_blg.html These allow students to work on a specific research project alongside a professor throughout the summer. Start your applications early as they are highly competitive!
Student Organizations: ProBono Students Canada, Canadian Journal of Family Law, Law Revue, Innocence Project, Centre for Feminist Legal Studies
Many student organizations hire summer students to work on a variety of projects to prepare for the upcoming year. These positions vary from year to year and are often posted on the Career Services Website. Usually these summer jobs are given to students who have actively participated with an organization throughout the school year.
LSLAP
Another employer of first year students is the Law Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP). The number of summer students they take on varies from year to year and more information on LSLAP's hiring process is given out when you sign up. Working for LSLAP provides students with invaluable law-related experience and with a large student-run team, it can be a lot of fun!
WorkSafe BC
WorkSafe BC also hires some first year summer students. These positions are an excellent way to gain law related experience while working alongside actual lawyers. Check the Career Services Website and attend the WorkSafe BC info session in January for more information.
Internships
If you are interested in volunteering overseas then I would highly recommend joining Canadian Lawyers Abroad (find them during the clubs fair in your first week of school) and applying for an internship. With positions across the globe, an international internship can make for a great summer adventure. One of my friends is currently volunteering in Ghana…I will be sure to share updates on her experience with you when she gets back!
Summer Courses
Many students choose to take summer courses to lighten their workload in the year to come. Summer courses vary each year and generally run from mid-May to mid-June and then again from mid-June to mid-July. For more information see: http://www.law.ubc.ca/current/jd/summer.html
Homeward Bound
Many students who left home to attend UBC Law do return to spend their summers with their friends and family. Also, many students return to summer jobs they have held in previous years. Either of these options provide a refreshing change of scenery so be sure to keep them in mind!
Holidays!
Last but not least, many students choose to skip town and savor the freedom of travelling throughout Canada, BC, or overseas. As many students are tight for cash, venturing out on weekend getaways to one of BC’s campgrounds or tourist destinations (see My Vancouver Guide) is also very popular.
There are so many ways to spend May to August so keep your eyes open for opportunities throughout the year and be sure to attend the Career Services info sessions. These will provide you with more in depth information on summer opportunities after 1L. In the meantime, don’t get too ahead of yourself, keep your focus on the upcoming year, and just enjoy this summer while it lasts!
Hope you had a fantastic Canada Day!
Your Orientation Coordinator,
Kaitlyn
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