Sway talks to University of Toronto law student Renatta Austin, an organizer of the annual See Yourself Here conference that encourages blacks and visible minorities to pursue careers in law.

By Samuel Getachew

I am aware that there will be an Open House at the University of Toronto on March 2nd. Tell us about that.

See Yourself Here is an annual open house at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. We provide high school, university and mature students that come from disadvantaged backgrounds and are interested in pursuing a legal education with an opportunity to learn about the law school admission process and the legal profession.

Participants attend inspirational speaker sessions, educational workshops, and a networking reception with law students, alumni and members of the legal community. See Yourself Here began as an initiative by the Black Law Students’ Association to target black youth, and has since expanded to include law students and participants from a broad range of communities that have historically been underrepresented in legal education and the profession.

What are some of the highlights for those that are looking at attending the conference?

See Yourself Here attendees will leave the event with knowledge of what it takes to become a lawyer—from high school all the way to the being called to the bar. Various lawyers and students will also share their stories about their own journeys from “disadvantaged person” to success story. We will round out the day with some fun and educational activities and delicious Indian cuisine.

What inspired you to study law?

Like many children, growing up I was made to believe that getting ahead meant becoming a doctor or a lawyer. Since I liked studying social sciences and was very chatty, law seemed like a natural fit. As I gained exposure to other career options, I realized that a law degree is versatile and has the potential to open doors in areas such as business, teaching and policy, whether I decide to practice or not.

From personal observation, it seems that the minority communities within Canada that are the wealthiest, most stable and most influential contain a high number of professional and business people, including lawyers. The potential benefits to my family and the black community definitely factored into my decision to pursue a career in law.

Many prospective law school students fear the LSAT exams. What was your experience like?

While the LSAT creates a very real barrier to legal education for a lot of people, especially those from poor and minority communities, the good news is that it is not insurmountable. From my experience both as a test-taker and prep course instructor, it really is about taking the time to understand the question types, formulating or learning an approach to the question types and reviewing each right and wrong answer in painstaking detail.

I’ve yet to see a test-taker who has put in the required time and effort and failed to see an improvement in their score. On the other hand, I have seen lots of test-takers spend money on expensive prep courses and tutors fail to put in the required time and effort and end up with a score that they were unhappy with.

Prospective law students that are concerned about or unhappy with their LSAT score may take comfort in the fact that they can take the test up to three times in two years without penalty, as Canadian law schools typically only look at the highest score.

You advocate for diversity within the legal profession. Why is that important?

Some individuals and communities have little to no input in or access to the law and justice, resulting in a system that is reflective of and that serves the interests of one segment of society. This is problematic because the law affects every aspect of our lives and has the potential to further marginalize and oppress the disadvantaged. By diversifying the legal profession, the hope is that the law will become reflective of, accessible to and serve the interests and needs of all individuals and communities.

Additionally, the legal profession is a vehicle of upward social mobility for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Lawyers and other professionals have the resources, skillset and connections to improve their personal circumstances, as well as that of their larger communities.

Why do you think minorities are underrepresented in Law school both as students and faculty members?

Minorities face a number of barriers to legal education, the most significant two being financial and meeting the admissions requirements. Law school is rather expensive and often requires that students take out large bank loans to finance their education. Minority students are often concerned that they will not be able to access bank loans, and those that already have student loans from previous degrees are often concerned about taking out additional loans, when there are no guarantees that they will get a job upon graduation.

Minority underrepresentation in law faculties is related to our underrepresentation in law schools, as faculty members typically have law degrees. Additionally, a career in academia requires excellence, dedication, persistence and a willingness to be a broke student for a long time.

What lasting message do you have for young people who may want to emulate such a journey?

Knowledge is power.  I encourage anyone who is interested in pursuing legal education, or any type of professional degree for that matter, to learn as much as they can as early as possible. Come to events like See Yourself Here, don’t be afraid to talk to people and always remember to share what you know with those coming up after you.

For more information and to register go to: See Yourself Here Conference

 

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