Hi 1Ls... I hope you all have some great plans to celebrate Canada Day (or Independence Day)! As we head into the long weekend, here's a post from our Ombudsperson, Jeanette O'Sullivan. You may have already seen her letter of welcome over on our website, but here's a more informal way to get to know her. Jeanette will be overseeing the Law Buddy program, a great program we have at UBC which pairs incoming students with upper years. I would highly recommend participating in the program. My law buddy, Kaitlyn, was (and continues to be) an invaluable source of advice about studying, course selection, and even job applications!
Not to scare you, but in the first couple weeks of law school, you will be confronted with umpteen different lectures, meetings and information sessions to attend. While all of these are meant to be helpful and to "ease you in" to the foreign universe that is law school, all of this can be a little overwhelming. Ugh, information overload!
Have no fear; everyone else is feeling the same way as you. The bottom line is, you will come across many new challenges throughout the year, but the guidance and help sessions will continue throughout the year, not just in September. To ensure that you always have your own personal mentor to answer your questions and concerns, I will be setting up the legal buddy program in September. This program will match you up with an upper year student, who has been through what you’re going through. Your legal buddy will give you helpful information and other contacts who might be able to further assist you. Do you have a prof whose expectations are unclear, or you would like to know more about your professors different marking schemes and teaching styles? Ask your legal buddy to set you up with the contacts of students who have had that professor in the past. Need a good CAN ("condensed annotated notes": you will learn about these in September too!)? Your legal buddy can probably help you find the perfect one!
At the beginning of the year, you and your legal buddy will have a fun-filled initial meeting to get to know each other and exchange contacts. However, throughout the year, it is possible that you may encounter concerns or problems that require someone else to step in. As your ombudsperson, I am here to help you confront any substantive concern you may have, and to remedy the situation. I intend to hold weekly office hours, and will always be available to you by e-mail at ubclawombudsperson@hotmail.com.
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