What’s it really like to be a law student at Queen’s? JD candidates offered admission to the school for the upcoming year got to experience this first-hand on March 5. They were greeted enthusiastically by staff, faculty and current students for the annual Welcome Day open house.

The day kicked off with a reception and presentation by Dean Bill Flanagan, who gave an overview of the law school from experiential learning and international study opportunities to support services. Student Ambassadors then led small groups on tours of Macdonald Hall.

“It's always great to see new students getting excited about their law school journey,” says ambassador Sarah Spitz, Law’17. “I always enjoy showing off the Learning Commons and other new features, many of which were built during my time here.” 

The tour also gives incoming students a chance to ask questions to those who are living the experience. “What's a moot?” “How do I outline for an exam?” “Will my professors use slides?” These are some of the things Spitz says she wanted to know before heading to law school. “I'm always happy to pass on this information to the next class of law students.” 
  
A big part of choosing a law school is deciding which city to live in for the next three years and a new Welcome Day activity was geared to help make that decision. Guests boarded buses at Macdonald Hall for a scenic tour showcasing what makes Kingston great: the campus, waterfront, restaurants, accommodations and their proximity to each other. 

The bus stopped at the downtown Queen’s Law Clinics, where prospects got off for an inside look at the professional law office setting and the work done there.  Staff and students from each of the five clinics were on hand to show off their space, share experiences and answer questions.  

“Experiential learning opportunities are one of many unique aspects that led me to choose Queen's Law and I was happy to share the value of these courses with the class of 2020,” says Spitz, a caseworker with Queen’s Elder Law Clinic. “It was great to see incoming students expressing passion about promoting access to justice, community outreach and working with vulnerable populations.” 

Welcome Day ended back at the law school with lunch and a reception with many Queen’s Law community members, including staff from such areas as financial support, career development, international opportunities and joint programs.  

“This is the first year we’ve held Welcome Day on a Sunday and I could not have been more pleased with the turnout and the number of current students who took time out of their weekend to support our event,”  says organizer Aimee Burtch, Recruitment & Admissions Manager. “It really is a testament to the strong sense of pride and community found at Queen’s Law.