Law History Profiles

Recent graduate Jordan Leigh Lacroix is currently working as a Legal Aid in South Africa through the CBA Young Lawyers International Program. The program places young law graduates and lawyers in internships with overseas organizations working in law reform, human rights and access to justice. 

Tell us about the work that you’re currently doing in Cape Town, South Africa.

Michelle Casey graduated with the JD class of 2017 from the Peter A. Allard School of Law. She currently works as an Associate at Lawson Lundell LLP (“Lawson Lundell”) in Vancouver. Her practice’s core focus is on regulatory and environmental law. She has litigation experience at both the British Columbia Provincial Court and the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

“I have very high hopes for my generation. As millennials, we are fortunate to have been born into a world where many of the legal battles re: discrimination, racism, sexism etc. have already been fought and won, and so treating people equally and caring about human rights is second nature to us. That said, we are also a generation that is keenly aware of the gap between formal equality and what happens in reality.”

“Each person has a different perspective that is so incredibly valuable and I am so grateful for the friends I have made.”

Lisa Guidi participated in the Allard Law History Project Student Survey in 2016. The Project intends to track Ms. Guidi's career and build upon this historical record in the future. Her responses as a student are below:

Why did you choose to do law? 

“Whatever I end up doing, I know that I’m privileged to have had the opportunity to go to law school, so I feel an obligation to develop my strengths to their fullest potential in order to better help others.”
Robert Mason participated in the Allard Law History Project Student Survey in 2016. The Project intends to track Mr. Mason's career and build upon this historical record in the future. His responses as a student are below:

Why did you choose to do law? 

Rumana Monzur has completed law school with much more than a JD degree. After surviving a brutal attack in her native Bangladesh which left her blind for life, her decision to go to law school while learning to live without sight was itself a study in patience - with a steep learning curve. But her persistence and passion remain unabated four years later. With an expanded horizon of interests and a new outlook on life, Monzur has hardly slowed down...

“I gave myself one year to see if I liked law school, and after 1L, I have never looked back.”
Lucy Yuan participated in the Allard Law History Project Student Survey in 2016. The Project intends to track Ms. Yuan's career and build upon this historical record in the future. Her responses as a student are below:

Why did you choose to do law? 

“I hope by practicing thoughtful client-centered advocacy, I can empower my clients to retain agency and control over their lives…”
Naomi Nattrass Moses participated in the Allard Law History Project Student Survey in 2016. The Project intends to track Naomi's career and build upon this historical record in the future. Naomi's responses as a student are below:

Why did you choose to do law? 

The Allard School of Law is pleased to welcome Professor Debra Parkes to the faculty. Professor Parkes will be joining us on July 1, 2016 as the Chair in Feminist Legal Studies and Director of the Centre for Feminist Legal Studies.

What attracted you to the Chair in Feminist Legal Studies position at the Allard School of Law?

Connor Bildfell graduated from the JD program at the Peter A. Allard School of Law in 2016. Upon graduating from law school, Bildfell clerked at both the British Columbia Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. He was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2018 and currently works as an Associate at the Vancouver office of McCarthy Tétrault LLP (“McCarthy Tétrault”).

Blair McRadu graduated from the JD Program at the Peter A. Allard School of Law in 2015. McRadu entered law school after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics in 2011. While at law school he participated in the Oxford Intellectual Property Moot where he won the 2015 David A. Vaver Award. During the summer of his second year at law school he worked as a Summer Legal Intern at Earls Kitchen & Bar. He articled with Barker & Company and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2017.

Yue Fei is a graduate of the JD class of 2015 from the Peter A. Allard School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Fei obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science in 2009 from the University of Toronto and a graduate certificate in Regulatory Affairs in 2010 from Humber College. She currently works as both a solicitor and trademark agent at Farris LLP (“Farris”) in Vancouver with a focus on intellectual property.

Jamie Hoopes graduated from the JD program at the Peter A. Allard School of Law in 2015. He currently works as an Associate at Harris & Company LLP (“Harris”) in Vancouver. His legal practice involves representing and advising public and private sector employers on a wide range of matters concerning employment law, labour law, privacy law, and human rights law.

Meet Jessica Lewis (JD ’15), the newest member of the Allard School of Law Alumni Assocation Board. Like many Board members, Jessica felt compelled to give back to the Allard School of Law community after she graduated and looked to the Board for that opportunity. When a spot opened, she jumped at the chance to join.

Just a few months into her role she has already enjoyed welcoming new JD students through the Alumni Association’s Orientation Banquet and is looking forward to many other events, including the annual trivia night for 3Ls.

After a six-year career as a Border Services Officer with the Canada Border Services Agency, Anil Aggarwal shifted his focus to legal studies. He enrolled in the JD program at the University of Manitoba in 2012 before joining the law school at UBC in his second year. He graduated from the Peter A. Allard School of Law in 2015 and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2016. He is currently an Associate at Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP (“Alexander Holburn”)—the same firm at which he summered and articled following law school.

Vanessa Johnson graduated from Allard School of Law with a concentration in business law in 2014. She reflects on why she left a career in music to pursue her passion for business law, her experiences as a student at Allard School of Law, and the similarities between business law in practice as well as a career in music. 

Did you always know you wanted to study law?

With a passion for protecting human rights, recent graduate Flora Vineberg knew early on that she wanted to go to law school. At a young age her mother took her to a memorial for the Montreal Massacre, the tragic shooting that took place at the The École Polytechnique in 1989: “It was sort of my first exposure to the idea of injustice,” she said. “I guess as I grew up and matured, my thoughts were able to progress and I just realized that knowledge is power. One of the best ways to combat injustice, to foster inclusion and to give a voice to the voiceless is through the law.”

Michela Fiorido is a Lawyer at Harris & Company LLP (“Harris”) in Vancouver. The core focus of Michela’s practice concerns a variety of legal issues pertaining to the entertainment and performing arts sectors. She frequently advises and represents clients in relation to employment law, human rights law, and privacy law.

Recently called to the bar, Jessie Ramsay is looking forward to developing her legal career in Chilliwack, where she grew up and spent most of her childhood. After completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in First Nations studies from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Ramsay went straight from her undergraduate studies to law school. Indeed, law school was the only option for Ramsay – there wasn’t a backup plan.

Assistant Professor Efrat Arbel is a highly-accomplished alumna and one of the newer members of the Allard School of Law faculty.  She earned her doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2012, where she worked under the supervision of Dean Martha Minow.  She holds a BA from McGill University, a JD from UBC, and completed her LLM studies at Harvard Law School before proceeding with her doctorate.  Dr.