“We are fortunate to have such a collegial legal community in Kingston,” says Anthony Ball, Law’90, a sessional instructor at both Queen’s Law and St. Lawrence College. “Some of that has to do with its size but much has to do with many of us being graduates of Queen’s Law.”
He and a few dozen of his fellow local grads joined faculty and staff for the Queen’s Law alumni holiday reception on December 13. They exchanged season’s greetings before a cozy fire in the decked halls of the University Club.
“I think that the law school fostered an approach to learning and an environment for friendly interaction that set the tone for future legal careers,” Ball continues. “Receptions such as these are always enjoyable and a great opportunity to see that collegiality and friendship in play among Queen’s Law alumni.”
Agreeing with him is Carol Mackillop, Law’94, owner and managing counsel of Mackillop Law Professional Corporation. “What fun to meet some new colleagues, and catch up with old friends, including two from my first-year small-section class led by Professor Hugh Lawford.”
Dean Bill Flanagan pointed out two alumni involved with the school’s programs: Shai Dubey, Law’94, a faculty member with the Smith School of Business and Academic Director of the new online Graduate Diploma in Legal Services Management; and Karla McGrath, LLM’13, Executive Director of the Queen’s Law Clinics, which offers local residents free legal services while providing students with a unique hands-on clinical experience in business law, family law, elder law, poverty law and prison law.
The Dean also informed the enthusiastic crowd about some of the school’s other recent achievements: a 95 per cent placement rate for JD students, a JD student body that is more diverse than ever and whose GPA and LSAT scores are among the best in Canada, and the increasing popularity of the undergraduate Certificate In Law program.
“I learned about some exciting new programs,” says Mackillop. “Did you know that there are about 2,000 undergrad students taking courses offered by the law school?”
For Mackillop and other alumni in attendance, there is no place like their law school town. “I love practising in Kingston,” she says. “We have all the advantages of a close connection with Queen’s Law, and a great quality of life.”