Julie Ward

When Julie Ward finished articling at Torys LLP, she knew she wanted something different. “I’d done my JD at the University of Calgary and articled with Torys, but corporate law just didn’t excite me,” she says. “I found myself much more passionate about litigation and advocacy, anything that involved crafting an argument and standing up to present it.”

Looking to pivot her career during the uncertainty of the pandemic, Ward took advice from mentors who encouraged her to pursue further study. Osgoode’s Professional LLM in International Business Law offered exactly the mix she was searching for, bridging her corporate background with her growing interest in regulatory and dispute-resolution work. “It combined what I already knew with what I wanted to do next,” she recalls. “It gave me exposure to arbitration, negotiations, and the regulatory side of business law.”

Among her most memorable professors was Germán Morales Farah, whose courses in international business and arbitration left a lasting impression. “He was fantastic,” she says. “His classes were so practical and engaging, and they gave me a framework I still use when reading arbitration clauses or cross-border agreements today.”

Since graduating, Ward has built a thriving litigation career in Calgary. After starting out at MLT Aikins, she joined Code Hunter LLP, a boutique firm specializing in complex civil and regulatory matters. “I love what I do now,” she says. “Litigation combines analytical thinking with advocacy, it’s challenging and dynamic every day.”

Ward also gives back to the legal community as an editor for the Canadian Bar Association, publishing nationally on topics ranging from professional development to the realities of balancing family life in law. “My most popular article was about parenting in the profession,” she laughs. “People appreciate honesty about what life in practice really looks like.”

Reflecting on her decision to pursue the LLM, Ward acknowledges it wasn’t just about credentials. “The program didn’t necessarily change my pay scale, but it made me more marketable, more well-rounded, and more confident,” she says. “And older partners love to see it, so many tell me, ‘I wish I’d gone back for a master’s.’”

Her advice to others considering the program is clear: don’t settle. “If you’re in a gap between roles or unsure of your next step, don’t take a job you don’t want,” she says. “Use that time to study, build relationships, and level up. You’ll come out stronger and better prepared for the next opportunity.”