September Social @ The Toronto Music Garden
Co-Directors: Malika Bhambra, Amanda Milligan
September 10, 2021
March 2020 - March 2022
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of our annual events were unable to proceed as usual. As a result, from March 2020- August 2021, and October 2021- March 2022, a majority of socials, and educational events (i.e Law Week, Careers in Law, Legal Academia) were either cancelled, administered online, or restricted to a limited capacity; due to Ontario’s provincial regulations.
In light of the University of Toronto’s COVID-19 plan for the Fall of 2022, our Events Team for the 2022/23 school year is thrilled to welcome members back to UTPLS, in-person!
Wine & Cheese Fundraiser
President/Vice President: (P) Anna Nabutovsky, (VP) Maria Hutt
January 16, 2020
The Wine & Cheese Fundraiser is an annual networking event held in January of each year. It is designed to bring students and legal professionals together in addition to raising funds for our Association.
The Wine & Cheese has now run for two years, in 2019 and 2020. It has been held both years at Arta Gallery, an art gallery located in the Distillery District, boasted live music from Vivamus Magna Quintet, appetizers, art displays, networking, a free LSAT Prep Course raffle, and a silent auction (with items such as consultations with law school admissions staff and job shadowing opportunities with lawyers).
Photography by Maria Smirnova.
International Law School Panel
June 17, 2019
This panel was held to inform undergraduate students about options they may have to attend law schools in the UK, US, and Australia! Speakers discussed differences in application processes, what makes a successful applicant, differences in lifestyles and living conditions, as well as the financial differences between countries and options. A video copy of the event is available here. A text transcription of the event is available here.
Law Day
September 14, 2018 & September 13, 2019
Law Day is UTPLS’s annual legal conference. The primary focus of the conference is to introduce students to the Pre-Law Students’ Association and its many portfolios and opportunities! Representatives from the various facets of Pre-Law are present to answer questions and generally inform students regarding how they can get further involved with Pre-Law and with law school or legal career prep! As well, students have the opportunity to meet and speak with law school representatives from Canada, the US, England, and Australia, and LSAT providers. This affords them the ability to receive assistance regarding their law school applications.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our Events Team for the 2021-22 school year held Law Day as a full-week online Law Week Event, where student could virtually meet recruiters from international, and Canadian schools!
Annual: Clubs Carnival & Street Festival
The UTPLS is proud to attend the UTSU’s Clubs Fair and Street Festival annually. Representatives from the UTPLS Executive team attend to greet incoming (and continuing) UofT students and introduce them to the UTPLSA!
Pictured: (1) UTPLS Clubs Carnival at Front Campus Fields in 2019. (2) Left to right: Bahador Tayebi, and David Baldridge.
Annual: Careers in Law Panel
UTPLS holds an annual panel discussion on available careers in the law. This event features guests from a breadth of legal fields including: Immigration Law, Criminal Law and Foreign Policy. Panelists discuss their careers, career paths, and the details of their work.
“10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Going To Law School” with David Quayat
March 7, 2019
Applying and entering into law school can be challenging, which is why we invited David Quayat, to speak to students about his experiences in law school and in his legal profession to help guide students on their path to becoming a great lawyer! A video recording of this event is available here.
David Quayat is Crown Counsel with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), where he conducts trials and appeals on a range of issues including narcotics, terrorism, and regulatory offences. Prior to joining the PPSC, David practised internationally, including in Washington, D.C., and was legal counsel to a number of foreign states in a variety of international trade law matters, including before the World Trade Organization. He has also litigated cases in Canada and the United States related to diplomatic and sovereign immunity. David has published a number of articles on diplomatic immunity, sovereign immunity, the North American Free Trade Agreement and international trade. He serves as the National Administrator of the Canadian Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Innocence Canada: Conversations on Wrongful Convictions
October 18, 2018 & February 24, 2020
This annual event, held as a joint collaboration, is a discussion with Innocence Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying, advocating for, and exonerating individuals who have been convicted of a crime they did not commit and to prevent wrongful convictions through legal education and reform.
The panel featured Win Wahrer and Maria Shepherd. Win is the Co-Founder and Director of Client Services of Innocence Canada. Maria is one of Innocence Canada's 22 exonerees and is on the Board of Directors of Innocence Canada.