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Congratulations to the Schulich School of Law’s Class of 2025! In the coming weeks, we’ll feature Q&As with graduating law students who will reflect on their time at Weldon.

Today we're talking to Ella Peterson.

Why did you want to attend the Schulich School of Law?

I was initially drawn to Schulich Law by the offer of a collaborative learning environment and the chance to explore a new part of the country. These past three years have exceeded expectations on both fronts! I felt so supported by my classmates and love the culture of cheering each other on. I also made lifelong memories exploring the East Coast from surfing at Lawrencetown beach to camping trips in Newfoundland, PEI, and New Brunswick.

In what ways were you involved with the law school community?

During my time at Schulich Law, I had the pleasure of volunteering with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Nova Scotia Legal Aid through Pro Bono ÈâÈ⴫ý. In my second year, I participated in the Sopinka Moot, acting as Crown Counsel in a criminal jury trial, and ran tutoring sessions as an academic peer mentor. I also enjoyed completing an editorial assistantship with the ÈâÈ⴫ý Law Journal and working with the ÈâÈ⴫ý Journal of Legal Studies as both a student editor and author.

What does the Weldon Tradition mean to you?

The Weldon Tradition is about recognizing my privilege, using it to give back to the community and advocating for change, both as an individual and as a member of the legal profession. At school, this spirit of unselfish public service is contagious, and I found that being surrounded by classmates who were dedicated to helping others inspired us all to do more. Personally, this meant using academic writing to explore law reform in the areas of intimate partner violence and Indigenous legal issues. I hope to continue writing about these and other issues after graduation.

What is your favourite law school memory?

If I had to pick just one memory, I would say volunteering with orientation week this past fall. Not only was it a super fun way to start my last year, with classic events like the boat cruise in the harbour, but watching the 1Ls meet each other made me reflect on the friends I’ve made here and gave me an extra push to make the most of my last year!

What will you miss most about Schulich Law?

I am going to miss walking into the Weldon Law Building and being greeted by so many familiar faces. Coming from an undergraduate class with 27,000 students, I have really cherished the tight-knit community at Schulich Law. I think there is also a special closeness that comes from being a group with so many out-of-province students and while this means that many of us are now moving to different cities, I am excited to have friends to visit across the country!

What are your post-graduation plans?

I am going to continue exploring Canada after graduation through two judicial clerkships, first in Vancouver with the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and then in Ottawa at the Supreme Court of Canada. I am incredibly grateful for both of these opportunities.
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