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FEATURE<br />
Leilani Kagan <strong>of</strong> TDS. “It makes <strong>the</strong> transition from<br />
law school to practice much easier for both <strong>the</strong><br />
students and firms.”<br />
Enhancing <strong>the</strong> Educational Experience for<br />
Business <strong>Law</strong> Students<br />
In its inaugural year, four students and three law firms<br />
participated in <strong>the</strong> Internship program. “The course<br />
is certainly in high demand among <strong>the</strong> students,”<br />
says John Pozios. “I know o<strong>the</strong>r firms are interested in<br />
participating as well. It’s a matter <strong>of</strong> ensuring we have<br />
enough lawyers to act as mentors for <strong>the</strong> students so<br />
we can properly manage <strong>the</strong> program’s growth.”<br />
John Pozios is always looking to enhance <strong>the</strong><br />
students’ education through real-world learning<br />
opportunities. The Vickar <strong>Law</strong> Clinic is developing<br />
new experiential programming, <strong>the</strong> Corporate<br />
Counsel Clinical Externship (Externship). It will be<br />
comparable to <strong>the</strong> Internship program but more<br />
analogous to a secondment; students will be<br />
placed within large organizations under <strong>the</strong> direct<br />
supervision <strong>of</strong> general counsel. The key feature <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Externship is <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> client and legal<br />
advisor will be one and <strong>the</strong> same. “It will expose<br />
students to <strong>the</strong> unique work <strong>of</strong> in-house counsel,<br />
which has a significantly different perspective<br />
than private practice,” says John Pozios. Several<br />
large Manitoba enterprises have already expressed<br />
interest in participating and John Pozios expects<br />
<strong>the</strong> program will be approved in time for <strong>the</strong><br />
2012/13 academic year.<br />
The Vickar <strong>Law</strong> Clinic is actively involved in o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
initiatives both on and <strong>of</strong>f campus that provide law<br />
students with meaningful opportunities to apply<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir knowledge <strong>of</strong> business law, while assisting<br />
community groups. When <strong>the</strong> Commerce Students’<br />
Association (CSA) at <strong>the</strong> Asper School <strong>of</strong> Business<br />
requested assistance in re-drafting its ten-year old<br />
constitution, law student Loren Braul was quick to<br />
volunteer. Loren worked closely with <strong>the</strong> CSA to<br />
facilitate and guide <strong>the</strong> process, resulting in an up-todate<br />
constitution to leave as a legacy.<br />
With hands-on experience under <strong>the</strong>ir belts,<br />
students are much more confident when <strong>the</strong>y<br />
begin articling. It is also a wonderful way to get<br />
<strong>the</strong>m thinking about corporate citizenship and<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional duties at <strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir careers. As<br />
for <strong>the</strong> lawyers, <strong>the</strong>y have an opportunity to do<br />
meaningful pro bono work through <strong>the</strong> Internship,<br />
and mentor young lawyers along <strong>the</strong> way. And, as<br />
John Pozios notes, “<strong>the</strong> relationships that are built<br />
will create positive effects for <strong>the</strong> individuals, <strong>the</strong><br />
legal pr<strong>of</strong>ession, and <strong>the</strong> community-at-large.”<br />
Left: Leilani Kagan, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP,<br />
John Pozios, Director, Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private<br />
Enterprise and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Law</strong>, and <strong>the</strong> L. Kerry Vickar Business <strong>Law</strong><br />
Clinic, and law student Lyndsey Amott<br />
For more information<br />
The Vickar <strong>Law</strong> Clinic’s website is currently in<br />
development. Watch for it to come online soon at<br />
www.Vickar<strong>Law</strong>Clinic.ca<br />
67 ROBSON HALL ALUMNI REPORT