Tim Pavlov

For Tim Pavlov, pursuing Osgoode’s Professional LLM in Canadian Common Law marked the moment he could finally return to the career he loved.

Originally from Kazakhstan – a civil law jurisdiction – Pavlov had practiced in the Office of the Prosecutor before moving to Canada. But when he arrived, the process for internationally trained lawyers to qualify in Canada was daunting. “At the time, the law society had its doors closed for civil-law lawyers,” he recalls. “You basically had to start from scratch. Despite my love for law, I decided not to pursue a legal career here.”

That changed when Pavlov learned about Osgoode’s then-new Canadian Common Law program. “It was a great opportunity to go back to practicing law without starting over,” he says. “It provided the flexibility to work full-time while fulfilling the qualification requirements to become a lawyer.”

While working full time, Tim Pavlov balanced his studies with the demands of professional life. After completing the program, he went on to finish the licensing process and was soon called to the Ontario Bar. “It wasn’t easy,” he admits. “But the flexibility Osgoode offered made it possible for me to keep working while achieving what I truly wanted: to be a lawyer again.”

Pavlov particularly valued the mix of academic rigor and practical insight. He remembers Professor Girard, who taught Property Law, for his passion and depth of knowledge, and Professor Stan Benda, Constitutional Law instructor, whose “living tree” metaphor for Canada’s evolving legal framework still shapes how Pavlov approaches regulatory change today.

After completing the program and his bar exams, Pavlov articled at an energy company before joining Torys LLP, where he developed a regulatory and transactional practice in insurance law. He later transitioned to Stikeman Elliott LLP, where he is now a Senior Associate, continuing to focus on regulatory and transactional work in the insurance industry.

“The program opened doors that would otherwise have stayed closed,” he says. “It gave me the credentials, the confidence, and the community to succeed in private practice.”

Pavlov is also a strong advocate for internationally trained lawyers considering the program. “One misconception I often hear is that NCA lawyers can’t get into big firms,” he says. “That’s just not true. You never know until you try – four of the six firms I applied to replied, and one offered me a job. There’s incredible talent in the NCA pool.”

He now mentors others navigating the same journey, frequently meeting with internationally trained lawyers over coffee to share his experience. “Canada provides opportunities to those who work hard and believe in themselves,” he says. “You just have to push through the uncertainty.”

Looking back, Pavlov’s advice to internationally trained lawyers is simple: stay determined. “Don’t count yourself out,” he says. “Apply, even if you think the odds are low, you never know which door will open.”