Queen's Law Student to Clerk at Supreme Court

Photo by Daniel Chodos

Completing her LL.B. degree at Queen's in 2006-07, Erin Dann has secured a Supreme Court of Canada clerkship for 2007-08.

While many of her friends at law school head to do their articles at law firms, third year student Erin Dann will spend 12 months clerking for Justice Morris Fish at the Supreme Court of Canada in 2007.

Previously a summer student for the Ministry of the Attorney General, Dann is excited to see the "other side" of SCC decisions. "After spending three years reading [Supreme Court judgments], I think it will be a pretty amazing experience to see what goes into drafting them and into creating them, and how judges come up with their reasons," said Dann.

Originally from London, Ontario, Dann did her undergraduate degree in journalism at Carleton University. After graduating, she remained in Ottawa, where she was hired as a law clerk by Smart & Biggar, a full-service intellectual property law firm. There, she was exposed to some landmark cases, including the famous Harvard Mouse decision, in which the Ontario Court of Appeal determined it is permissible to patent an animal. This experience in part led her to apply to Queen's Law School.

As someone who enjoys the academic side of law, Dann appreciates that clerking at the Supreme Court can expose her to a wide variety of legal fields. "I was attracted to clerking because I get to work with interesting people, and I can be exposed to a wealth of knowledge in a lot of different areas, especially because I don't know exactly what I want to do yet."

Dann reasons that early preparation helped her immensely once she firmly decided to apply for the clerkship. She encourages students to attend information sessions about clerking opportunities, and suggests that those who are offered an interview do some research about substantive issues, in order to show that they are actively engaged in what each judge actually does. After all, Dann was interviewed by six out of the nine Supreme Court judges, including Justice Fish, a former journalism student himself.

Because clerkships are so scarce and very much sought after by students all over Canada, top-notch grades are a key component of any application. Although there are no official requirements in this respect, students who are granted clerkships tend to have marks in the top tier of their class. Of course, the higher the court to which an applicant applies, the more impressive his or her transcripts should be.

Although she is not certain where this position will take her in the future, Dann is excited about working with such influential figures, and about her role in shaping the course of the legal profession. "I think it will be an unforgettable year."