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From Leeds to Litigation
Discovering Leeds
When I applied to law school, I had no idea what I was doing. I was on vacation, bored with my job at the Bank of Montreal, and started Googling law school options. I looked everywhere: Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. What stood out was the 2-year LLB in the UK. It was faster, more efficient, and didn’t require another undergraduate degree. Google told me Leeds was one of the best. I applied while still on vacation and submitted before I even got home.
I didn’t know where Leeds was or what Russell Group meant. I just went with a gut feeling. And honestly, it was the best decision I ever made. Sometimes the best decisions are the ones you make before you have time to overthink them. When I arrived in Leeds and started exploring the city, I realized it was the right choice. It’s affordable, diverse, and extremely student-friendly. Even the professionals who live and work in Leeds tend to be a younger crowd.
Life at Leeds
When I got to Leeds, I was surprised by how many Canadians were there. I thought I’d come back with a British accent, but that didn’t happen. My closest friends were from Toronto and Vancouver, and we’re still in touch today. You make lifelong friends with what you do at Leeds.
I knew I wanted to do things differently than I had during my undergraduate degree. I wasn’t involved in much back then, and I didn’t want to repeat that mistake. So I dove into everything: LawSoc events, mooting, negotiation competitions. I worked part-time in roles I knew I’d probably never get to do again. I bartended, worked grocery shifts at the Co-op, and even did a few modeling gigs. Leeds was busy and that gave me experiences, memories, and friendships that I’ll carry for life.
Academically, Leeds was challenging but fun. The professors genuinely cared. You’re on a first-name basis with them, and they take time out for you. That level of respect between faculty and students is something I hadn’t seen before.
Finding My Strengths
I had a funny experience with Contract Law. It was a 100% final exam, multiple choice, with no assignments or homework. You go the entire year reading the material and then show up for a final exam hoping you know everything. I thought I’d fail, but somehow it ended up being my highest mark. That led me to take Commercial Law, which I also enjoyed and did well in. I never thought I’d get into contracts. I thought I’d be a criminal lawyer. But when I came back to Canada, I ended up doing corporate work, then landed an in-house counsel role at a financial institution in downtown Toronto. My whole job became contracts. I loved it until I didn’t, and then I left. Funny how the thing you think you’re bad at can become your career, or at least a leg of your career.
Same thing with mooting. I thought it was pointless. You pretend to be a lawyer and give pretend arguments to a pretend judge who then pretends to rip you apart. I only signed up to confirm I didn’t want to be a litigator. Worst-case scenario, I’d prove myself right. But I gave it my all and ended up placing second in the LawSoc competition. I was invited to moot in London and discovered I actually liked it. Now I’m a litigator! It came in handy to try something I thought I wouldn’t like and prove myself wrong.
You get out what you put in. I gave it my all, and I got a lot back in return. I lived an entire life in my two years at Leeds, and honestly, I wish I could go back.
Navigating Post-Graduation
The 2-year LLB is intense. You’re learning the same content as the 3-year students, but in less time. As an international student, the biggest decision you’ll face is whether to stay in the UK or return to Canada. My advice is to think about it early and have a plan by the beginning of your final year.
My plan was to stay in the UK. I applied to vacation schemes and training contracts, got a few interviews, but no offers. I kept trying until my visa expired and then I came back to Canada. I didn’t want to look back and wonder if things would’ve been different if I had just tried harder.
When I returned to Canada, I started the NCA exams right away. There’s a Master’s option at York and U of T, but it’s more expensive and slower. The NCA exams are cheaper and faster. If you can make it through Leeds Law, you can make it through the NCAs.
Then come the bar exams. There are two: Barrister and Solicitor. They’re self-study and tough. Most people fail at least one. I don’t think I’m the smartest person in the room, but I learned how to learn at Leeds and how to pace myself properly. I studied full-time for about four to six weeks before each exam, wrote them one at a time, and I didn’t fail.
Articling and the LPP
At the same time, or before or after, you also have to think about articling. There are three options: traditional articling at a law firm, articling with a mentor who submits a training plan to the Law Society and vouches for you, or the Law Practice Program (LPP), which is what I did.
I think the LPP is a fantastic program. I actually turned down an articling offer to do it, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Traditional articling or mentorship usually gives you experience in one or two practice areas over ten months. The LPP touches every single practice area imaginable in four months, and then you hone your skills in one for another four months.
In the first half, you’re in a virtual law firm. The assignments are structured to meet all the Law Society’s requirements. It’s intense but efficient. You do in four months what traditional articling does in ten. The second half is a work placement exactly like traditional articling, but you come out of it super well-rounded.
I was hired back full-time after my four-month work placement, and I’m still there. That’s an accomplishment. Most articling students don’t get hired back.
Final Note
At the end of the day, everything depends on how you define success and how much effort you put into it. I consider myself successful. If I look back and point to what brought me here, it’s Leeds, putting in the work, and enjoying the journey.
If you’re thinking about Leeds, stop thinking and just go for it. You’ll grow in ways you can’t predict. Try everything, even the stuff you think you’ll hate. That’s how you find out what you’re good at. And always give it your all, because you’ll get out what you put in.
UK Law School Applications: The CV
Applying for law school is daunting! With all the focus on grades and test scores, it can be easy to overlook a key element of the application that can help you set yourself apart, the CV. Whether you have an old resume kicking around or are starting a CV from scratch, our advisors can help you to get your CV into tip top shape for your law school application.
Join the Canada Law From Abroad team to go over an important part of the application process - the CV. Our webinar will cover everything from factors you should consider when choosing what to include on your CV, how to format it, and even how to keep it updated once you being law school.
Choosing the Best UK Law School For You
Are you thinking of applying to law schools this year? Or maybe you've applied and received offers and now you can't decide which one to accept. We can help! Join our advising team as we guide you our top recommendations for things to consider when you are choosing your law school. Choosing the right school for you is a fundamental decision that can have lasting impacts so we are here to help you every step of the way.
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UK Law School Applications: The Reference Letter
Asking for a reference letter can be very nerve-wracking for students! This can be especially true if you have been out of school for a bit, you studied part or all of your recent studies online, or you feel your class sizes or structure made it difficult to get to know any of your teachers very well. Not to worry! We are here to help!
Join the Canada Law From Abroad team to go over an important part of the application process - the reference letter. Our webinar will cover everything from factors you should consider when choosing a referee, how to approach a teacher or instructor about writing a reference for you and what the reference letter should include. UK law school applications going through UCAS have a very specific format that they need to use so we will make sure you know how to notify your referee about that as well!
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Meet UK Law Schools in Toronto
Entry is free and welcome to anyone interested studying in the UK, whether you have already applied or are just interested in more information! Registration can be found at the bottom of the page.
UK LAW SCHOOL FAIR
During the event, you will have the opportunity to meet a number of representatives (including Law academics) from UK Law Schools that have made the trip to Canada in order to speak to students in person. You will also be able to talk to our student advisors (who have studied in the UK themselves) about anything you have questions about. You can book a meeting with an advisor and you can go around to speak to the universities that are at the fair throughout the evening. When you arrive, you will have to "check in" at the information desk. After you have done that, you can walk around the room as you like and talk to universities, advisors and gather information.
ALUMNI MIXER
We will also be having a social meet and greet after the fair. This will be an opportunity to network casually with representatives from the law school, other students, and most importantly Canadian alumni who have completed their law studies in the UK already. It will be a great chance to hear a bit more about their experience during their time in the UK and while transferring back to Canada and seeking employment.
The Alumni Mixer will take place right after the fair so you don't even need to travel in between. Most students will stay for both the fair and alumni mixer but if you're only able to attend one, that's fine! Just let us know with your registration which activities you plan to attend.
1-2-1 ADVISING SESSION WITH AN ADVISOR
During the evening, you will have the opportunity to chat with one of our advisors. If you want an advising session (15 minutes where you can sit and talk one-on-one with an advisor about your application or questions), this must be booked in advance. When you register for the event, you will receive more information on how to book this.
Advising sessions are very popular and fill up very quickly, so sign up early! If you are unable to book an appointment with an advisor, let us know at events@canadalawfromabroad.com, we can put you on a waitlist or try to find an alternative option for you.
UNIVERSITIES IN ATTENDANCE
All of our university partners will be present at the fair! You can see a complete list on the right of this page. To speak with a university, just go to their booth and feel free to ask them any questions you may have. Don’t be nervous about approaching them – they are very friendly and eager to get to know you! You may even end up having one of the representatives as a professor during your law degree!
TOP TIP: Think about any key questions or concerns you have before the event and write them down. You can bring your list with you to reference when you speak to each university and even take notes to reflect on when the fair is over!
If you don’t have any specific questions that come to mind, just ask them to tell you about their programme, what extracurricular activities are available, such as mooting or law societies, or what sets their university apart from other law schools. If you are trying to narrow down your choices between a few law schools, this is the perfect chance for you to speak with them each and to ask them about the most important factors for you in choosing your law school.
This is a unique opportunity to talk to the universities at your leisure! It doesn’t have to be only about the law school in particular. Maybe you aren’t sure about living in university accommodation and want to hear about private options near campus. Maybe you love sports or the arts and want to ensure you’ll have the best chance of continuing with your activities during your studies. Maybe you want to really embrace being in the UK and are looking for a smaller town/university with a “quintessentially British” feel. Or maybe you are really looking forward to the city life and travelling during your studies and want to make sure you’ll have great access to travel links. The representatives from each university will be perfect to provide you with insight into all these things.
REGISTRATION
To come to the event(s), please use the form below to register your interest. This will notify us that you plan on coming and means we will be able to inform you of any updates to the program and to send you a reminder closer to the fair. If you aren’t sure whether you’ll be able to attend, that’s okay you can register now and then notify your advisor later on if you won’t be able to make it. You’ll still be able to benefit from our free, specialized help and advice.
If you would like to schedule a session with an advisor during the fair, we recommend that you sign up early because these advising sessions fill up quickly! If you haven’t signed up and decide to attend at the last minute, or maybe one of your friends is interested in studying law as well and decides to join you, there will still be an opportunity to register at the door. If you have signed up in advance however, it will be faster for you to access and we’ll be able to help you immediately.
You will be able to come and go as much as you like during the evening after you register. You can of course bring parents, siblings, friends or even your teacher along with you. Everyone who is interested and could benefit from studying in the UK is most welcome to make the trip even if you are just starting to consider studying in the UK in the future. This is not just an event for those who have applied or decided to apply, but for everyone who wants to learn more about study opportunities in the UK.
