Dean's Excellence Fund Summer Internships

Fazilah Hussain, Law '08, at the United Nations Security Council Chamber in New York.

(This story is the second of a two-part series on internship programs available to Queen`s Law students. The first story featured the Torys Public Interest Summer Internship Awards for first-year students.)

A number of second-year students at Queen's Law will have the opportunity to contribute what they have learned in law school to serving the public this summer. Successful applicants to the Dean's Excellence Fund internship award program will receive financial assistance in order to gain invaluable experience working with not-for-profit and public interest agencies in Canada or abroad.

Awards will be made to students who are completing their second year at Queen's Law and who are interested in working with local or international public interest organizations. Similar in many respects to the Torys Public Interest Summer Internship Awards for first-year students, the Dean's Excellence awards are allocated to second-year students based on the degree to which the internship will add to an applicant student's skills and knowledge and whether it will contribute in a meaningful way to the organization's work in the public interest.

Fazilah Hussain, Kate Findlay and Daniel Kostka of Law '08 each had rewarding experiences during their 2007 summer internships, made possible by the generous donations of individual alumni to the Dean's Excellence Fund.

Unity in New York City

Fazilah interned at the Department of Political Affairs for The Focal Point for Democracy and Rule of Law at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City this past summer. She joined some 230 other students from around the world interning at the UN headquarters. The Department's small staff consisted of the Department Chief, his assistant, Fazilah, and one other intern. As the only native English-speaker in the group, Fazilah gained experience in drafting the Department's extensive report to the General Assembly on the UN's support for New or Restored Democracies. She was also involved in other ongoing studies, strategic planning and research projects.

Fazilah's participation in the International Law Spring Program at the Queen's International Study Centre at Herstmonceaux Castle in England was an invaluable asset for Fazilah during her experience at the UN. "It provided me with a solid foundation for some of the issues in international law which translate into daily concerns at institutions such as the UN," she said.

Fazilah continued to learn a great deal during her internship. "The opportunity to engage with people from all over the world, who have experienced different routes to arrive in this one place, was extremely eye-opening."

Kate Findlay, Law '08, visits Kek Lol Si Temple in Penang, Malaysia.

Equality in Malaysia

Kate interned with the Legal Reform Committee of the Women's Centre for Change ("WCC") in Penang, Malaysia. The Centre is a not-for-profit non-governmental organization which seeks to alleviate human rights abuses against women and children. Kate contributed to the Centre's work by drafting several legal memoranda, editing a proposed amendment to the Domestic Violence Act, and conducting research to assist in the drafting of a proposed Equality Act.

Kate found that her knowledge of other common law legal systems and familiarity with researching case law in other jurisdictions provided the WCC with an invaluable international perspective. She also noted that her command of English was an asset to the organization, as she was able to proof-read important documents in English. "My presence doubled [the centre's] full-time legal team, allowing the organization to come much closer to completing projects that had been on hold for some time. My internship provided me with first-hand knowledge of the [legal] challenges facing women in Malaysia."

 

 

Daniel Kostka, Law '08, with co-workers from the Back Door in Calgary.

Mentorship in Calgary

Daniel interned with The Back Door in Calgary this past summer. The organization assists Calgary's street youth with its innovative "contracting" program, helping them take steps towards mainstream society. Contracting is a process in which the youth describe positive steps they could take to get their lives back on track (such as getting proper ID or preparing a resume). Each step completed earns them $15.

The role of a volunteer at The Back Door is to act as a caring listener who does not judge, direct, or overtly counsel the youth. After spending his first few weeks learning about the conditions, history and resources surrounding street youth in Calgary, Daniel began contracting with participants.

The internship was a mutually beneficial one. "I helped the agency better understand the legal resources available to them," he said. "[The internship] opened my eyes to how the law has an impact on a vulnerable segment of society and has further inspired me to ensure there is a public service component to my future work as a lawyer."

 

Application Process

Applications for the 2008 Dean's Excellence Fund internship awards are due on Tuesday, March 25, 2008. The internship awards reflect the Faculty's commitment to helping Queen's Law students gain useful practical experience, contribute to the community, and learn about national and international career opportunities. The Faculty's Administrative Committee, when allocating awards, may take into account an applicant's academic record and any previous experience working in the public interest sector. Internship awards are granted to cover reasonable expenses associated with the internship, to a maximum of $5000.

Kate encourages students in Law ‘09 to apply for a Dean's Excellence award with the advice that an internship can be "a fabulous learning experience, both academically and personally," if you make the most of your time at your organization.

For more information, please visit http://law.queensu.ca/students/jdProgram/internshipPrograms.html.