Meagan Berlin, Law’16, has been acclaimed as the Law Students’ Society President for 2015-16. Over the past two years, she has been involved with the school in multiple roles, including production manager of the student newspaper Juris Diction, selection committee member for the LSS and university Tricolour awards, and student ambassador. Having immersed herself in various aspects of the Queen’s Law student community, she feels she is ready to lead it.

Queen’s Law Reports interviewed the incoming president to learn more about her and her plans when she assumes her role on May 1.

QLR: What motivated you to run for the position of LSS President?

MB: I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and be inspired by incredible people at Queen’s Law. I’m so continually impressed by the level of impact that hard work, team initiative and drive can make on a permanent and cultural level at the school. With one more year to go in my JD studies, I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to participate in a role that would allow me to contribute to the school and community that have provided so much challenge and inspiration to my life. I want to harness the energy and ideas of many of the past and present members of the community to address and support some aspects where there is potential for change. I want to feel pride in knowing that my appreciation and passion for the school are combined with that of others in a common endeavor to make Queen’s Law even more of a positively impactful community for future students.
 
QLR: What special qualities will you bring to the position?

MB: I like to create communities where people feel actualized by their ability to contribute – I think I bring an approachable leadership style that will make it easy for any student to feel comfortable sharing his or her ideas or concerns with the LSS, and ways to utilize a student’s skills. Many of the efforts I wish to work on, to increase Queen’s Law’s capacity to equitably engage all students and to encourage more student-led innovation, will depend on student engagement and the level of approachability of the LSS Core. I’m excited to further establish a sense of accessibility and openness of the LSS to students, and I think my personal qualities reflect these motives.
 
QLR: What do you look forward to most as president?

MB: I’m most excited about the potential captured in the team I get to work with in the LSS Core. The ability to work with these students is a remarkable opportunity. I’m looking forward to getting to know the team well in anticipation of working effectively and efficiently in support of the goals and hopes of the Queen’s Law student body.

QLR: What are your priorities for the coming year?

MB: Incredible programs and efforts exist to help those who feel marginalized when entering Queen’s Law. It is undisputed that our school has a strong community. One of the challenges the Faculty faces is ensuring that all students can realize this sense of belonging throughout the time they study here. Establishing this culture in a sustainable way is one of my priorities.
 
There are a few ways I wish to tackle this in the coming year:

1. Entrench a welcoming culture by establishing initiatives that address the needs and interests of diverse students. This will further strengthen Queen’s Law’s reputation in areas beyond academics.
2. Increase financial accessibility measures for events at the club level.
3. Inspire further collaboration on promoting innovation between clubs, between clubs and the LSS, and by integrating the Equity Committee’s input to encourage new ideas and programs. We will encourage creative attempts through a system of initiatives focused on each of these relationships.

QLR: What do you find sets Queen’s apart from other law schools, and what would you say to prospective students who are considering Queen's?

MB: Whenever I walk in the front doors of Macdonald Hall, I feel such delight. There is a welcoming sense, and it stems from familiarly with the faculty and students. Seeing the same people in different contexts – for work, school or social reasons – is inspiring because it allows me to see the many impressive abilities of everyone at school.

I want to work to ensure that this feeling of community is present for all students at every stage of their studies. The reputation of the law school’s community is established and precedes it; we need to ensure that in actual practice it extends to inclusively address the needs of all. There is a vast support system waiting to assist students at all levels – financially, academically, personally and professionally – and there is great benefit to exploring the ways to utilize it in order to feel less impact from some of the stressors that can be quite consuming during school.

I think the hope and energy of the students define Queen’s Law and generate the sense of community here.