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Unlearning the Adversarial Instinct: Rethinking Why the ‘Americanised’ Approach Didn’t Resonate
Abarna Kamalakumaran | April 20, 2026
This article traces my shift from a litigation-centred understanding of dispute resolution toward an appreciation of arbitration and ADR as more collaborative and globally responsive systems of resolving disputes. I reflect on the academic, international, and practical experiences that first introduced me to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and shaped my growing interest in arbitration. Insights from the 2025 Queen Mary University of London International Arbitration Survey (conducted with White & Case) further reinforced this perspective, particularly concerns that the increasing adoption of litigation-style advocacy, “guerrilla” tactics, and overly adversarial conduct may undermine the efficiency and collaborative ethos that arbitration seeks to preserve.
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The NCA Process: Who Told You It Was Easier?
This article addresses a persistent stigma in the Canadian legal market: that students who pursue law degrees abroad did so because they could not gain admission to a Canadian law school. It pushes back on that assumption by examining the legitimate and varied reasons people choose the UK path, and demystifying the NCA licensing process. The argument is this: studying abroad is not the easier route, and understanding that before you leave makes all the difference when you return.
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Transition from Law Student to Articling Student
Hanaa Ameer-Uddin | March 06, 2026
From the first day of law school many of us walk in with the same goal in mind: secure an articling position. We study into the night to get good grades, join student clubs and moot competitions, all in the hopes of standing out during interviews. But once you finally land your articling position, a new question arises, how do you actually prepare for the transition from law student to articling student? In this article I share my experience navigating the shift and offer practical advice for both students and supervising lawyers to help make the articling term a successful and meaningful one.
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How to Secure an Articling Position Outside of the Formal Recruitment
Hanaa Ameer-Uddin | January 09, 2026
Are you a 3L and still have not lined up your articling position? You are not alone. Finding an articling position takes creativity, perseverance, and planning ahead. Many in-house organizations and small firms often don’t know a year in advance whether they need an articling student, so they may not participate in the formal recruitment. Job postings by career development offices may not always list all of the available positions. This article shares tips and personal anecdotes from Hanaa Ameer-Uddin, articling student at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada.
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Beyond Fines and Regulations: The Urgent Case for Criminalizing Ecocide
Maryama Farah | January 09, 2026
For decades, the global response to environmental destruction has been a complex web of regulatory frameworks. These systems, detailed and often technocratic, have primarily operated on a principle of licensing harm and penalizing infractions with fines. But what happens when those fines are simply absorbed as a “cost of doing business”? The result is a system that has, by and large, failed to stem the tide of widespread, long-term environmental damage.
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A Historic Visit: Supreme Court of Canada at Bora Laskin Faculty of Law
Nidhi Verma | January 09, 2026
The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law marked a truly historic moment on November 17 and 18, 2025, as it welcomed the Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) to campus as part of the Court’s 150th anniversary celebrations. The visit, which concluded the SCC’s national anniversary tour in Thunder Bay, Ontario, was both a celebration of Canada’s highest court and an unforgettable experience for students, faculty, and staff.
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Spotlight on Articling Student Hanaa Ameer-Uddin
Ambertari Cape | November 27, 2025
Hanaa Ameer-Uddin graduated from the University of Ottawa and now articles at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Her interest in corporate law traces back to growing up in a family of entrepreneurs; from a young age, she noticed the impact of business decisions on people’s lives. In this conversation, she walks us through her path from undergrad to articling and shares practical advice for law students finding their way.
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A Foreign-Trained Lawyer’s Summer Program Experience
Tomiwa Ogundipe | July 15, 2025
Originally from Nigeria, Tomiwa Ogundipe obtained her LLB from the University of Lagos and her first LLM from Harvard Law School. Currently an LLM Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School, she has practiced law in both Nigeria and the US. With an interest in business law, she summered at Borden Lardner Gervais LLP last year and will be articling there in 2025. In this Q&A, she offers insights, anecdotes and advice from her summer program experience.
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What the CBA Charity Law Conference Taught Me About the Future of Giving
When I first signed up for the CBA Charity Law Conference, I expected to learn a few technical updates and maybe connect with others working in the sector. What I did not expect was to walk away thinking differently about forests, international partnerships, and the power of law to shape how we care for people and the planet.
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Rachel Lewis, JD Candidate 2025 - University of Ottawa | March 21, 2025
While students from diverse backgrounds often feel underrepresented within law schools, there is limited dialogue regarding the experiences of Indigenous, Black, Asian and other diverse law professors in this context. This matter should not be silenced or overlooked. A diverse faculty allows students to see their identities reflected. Diverse perspectives enrich legal education by providing varied teaching approaches, research topics, and perspectives. It also provides a foundation for aspiring legal scholars to critically engage with principles, intersectionality, and broader implications of the law’s interaction with society.
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Lais Gomes | February 06, 2025
Nicole Bedford's documentary highlights the resilience of women facing tragedies like the École Polytechnique shooting and milestones in Canada’s gender equality, such as the 1929 Persons Case. Despite progress, violence against women is rising. The film stresses the impact on children and the need for trauma-informed legal practices. Breaking the cycle requires open conversations and lasting change.
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Learning from Auer v. Auer: Key Insights for Administrative Law
Julia Singer | February 06, 2025
I attended a program on Auer v. Auer, where experts discussed its impact on administrative law. The decision clarified how courts review regulations, building on previous cases like Vavilov and Katz. It helped me connect my coursework to real-world legal challenges, deepening my understanding of key concepts and their future applications.
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Highlights of Recent Charter Litigation
Claudio Klaus | October 07, 2024
This short article provides an overview of discussions from the 23rd Annual Charter Conference, focusing on recent developments in Canadian Charter litigation. It covers court cases involving educational institutions on issues like free speech, property rights, and privacy. It also addresses the Federal Court's decision on the Emergencies Act concerning the 2022 convoy protests and highlights the need for public engagement by legal professionals to combat misinformation.
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Yicheng Ru, JD candidate, University of Ottawa | April 18, 2024
The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act in Ontario and the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act in Australia aim to bolster labour standards and safeguard workers. Australia's amendment strengthens flexible work rights and dispute resolution, addressing work-life balance, gender equity and legal protection. Ontario can learn from Australia's reforms to improve its own labour laws.
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ESA’s Shortcomings: Navigating the Gap in Employee Rights and Independent Contractor Inclusion
Yicheng Ru | February 08, 2024
ESA plays a crucial role as the minimum safeguard for employees in Ontario, such as the minimum wage (Part IX) and notice of reasonable period (Part XV). Despite being the “floor” of employee protection, many ESA provisions fail to offer sufficient safeguards for their working arrangements.
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Maneuvering through the NCA Process and Self-Studying: my learning journey
Nancy Bediako | February 08, 2024
Once back in Canada (after graduating with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Liverpool and spending a summer basking in the warm English sunshine and reveling in the World Cup celebrations), reality set in, and the need to chart a course became apparent. The first step was to understand the National Accreditation Committee (NCA) and navigate the process of successfully passing the NCA exams. Regrettably, my initial plan was met with unexpected obstacles.
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Navigating the 1L Recruit: A Story with the Benefit of Hindsight
Alyssa Marchese | February 08, 2024
Last year, I was that ‘swamped’ law-school student – exhausted, perplexed about my desires, identity, and the secrets to navigating the unfamiliar terrain of the 1L recruitment. Yet, I emerged successfully, and through this article, I aim to divulge the insights gained, the retrospective wisdom I've acquired, and the mindset I would embrace if I were to do it all over again.
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Why You Should Take the Chance and Apply for an Exchange!
Sapphira Thompson-Bled | February 08, 2024
Are you looking for law school experiences that could influence the rest of your life, or trying to find those that could lead to lifelong memories? Well, if you are debating between what opportunities to participate in during your law school journey, I would strongly urge you consider signing up for an exchange.
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Shaping Canada's Future through Law and Advocacy in the Era of AI and the 4th Industrial Revolution
Yoann Emian | January 23, 2024
Through informed advocacy and collaboration with technologists and policymakers, lawyers must be ready to navigate the complex realm of AI, ensuring that as technology advances across sectors, so does justice.
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Alanis Ortiz Espinoza | November 01, 2021
Alanis Ortiz Espinoza, secretary - Ontario Bar Association, Student Section Executive, shares her journey as a law student in the United Kingdom, her approach to gaining legal experience while building a professional network in Canada, and some helpful advice for NCA students.
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Interview of Professor Scott Franks, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law at Ryerson University
Oksana Romanov | January 27, 2021
In this interview of Professor Scott Franks by Oksana Romanov, he discusses his LLM research that investigated barriers and opportunities in the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action in law schools.
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The OBA Award of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution
Oksana Romanov | January 27, 2021
Oksana Romanov writes about her experience at the OBA Award of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution, held on December 3, 2020. Oksana also provides valuable insight on what excellence and mentorship means in the legal profession.
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