Orientation 2025: Starting with Purpose

Orientation is one of the most important days in the program calendar. Students arrive from across Canada and the world, bringing with them a wide range of professional backgrounds and future goals. The atmosphere this year was a mix of nerves, anticipation, and curiosity – exactly the kind of energy that makes Orientation such a valuable starting point.

The purpose of the day goes beyond introductions. Orientation is designed to ensure that students have the tools they need to succeed during the program while also preparing them for what comes after. As Meghan Thomas, Director of Professional Graduate & International Programs, explained, starting a full-time program can feel daunting, especially for those returning to school after years in the workforce. Orientation provides an informative and supportive first step: a chance to learn how the program works, connect with services, and begin setting goals not only for the year but also for the future. Just as importantly, it gives students the opportunity to meet classmates who will become important personal and professional connections.

The structure of the day reflects that dual focus. Students spent part of the time preparing for the immediate demands of their courses and part of it looking ahead to where those studies might take them. Breakout sessions gave them the opportunity to focus on the path that matched their own goals. For some, that meant diving into the licensing process, understanding the steps and timelines that will guide them through the year. For others, it was about considering alternative pathways – using the program as a way to grow in their current careers, pivot to a new area of practice, or build professional networks in Canada.

Hearing from students throughout the day underscored why this approach matters.

Elizabeth Joy Cortez, a lawyer from the Philippines who practiced litigation across civil, criminal, labour, and tax law, spoke about how different Canadian legal processes feel compared to her home jurisdiction. Even on her first day, she described feeling hopeful and said the program was already giving her a clearer idea of how to prepare for success as a lawyer here.

For Abu Sayeed Mohammad Quasem, who practiced corporate law in Bangladesh for nearly 14 years, Orientation marked a return to the classroom after many years in practice. He noted how striking it was to be welcomed so warmly, saying the atmosphere felt different from other schools he had attended. For him, it was a reminder that the experience is about being part of a supportive community.

These reflections captured the larger theme of the day. Orientation is not simply about reviewing academic requirements, it’s about taking students’ ambitions seriously. The structure of the program recognizes that their goals extend beyond the classroom, whether that’s becoming licensed, expanding into new practice areas, or reimagining the next stage of their careers.

Orientation is just the beginning of a student’s journey, and its influence carries well beyond those first sessions. It’s the moment where students begin to see not just what the program demands of them, but what it makes possible.