Can you start by telling us your name, where you attended law school, the year that you graduated, and where you’re currently articling?
My name is Hanaa Ameer-Uddin, and I graduated from the University of Ottawa in June 2025. I am currently articling at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada Corporation (MBFS). The opportunity to article in-house at MBFS does not come up often so I am grateful for this experience.
What inspired your path to law school?
What inspired my path to law school was recognizing the power law and policies have to help marginalized populations within Canada. I completed my undergraduate degree in Health Studies at York University where I learned that systems which shape our communities are key to improving health outcomes, especially for marginalized groups. I applied to law school so I could create effective change within my community and advocate for reforms to help others.
What area of law are you most interested in, and what drew you to it?
Currently I am completing my articling term in corporate law and very much enjoy this area of law. What initially drew me to corporate law was seeing my parents start their own business growing up and learning first-hand the skills needed to thrive in business. My family is very entrepreneurial as my younger sister also started her own business this past year to connect Muslim women in the GTA together. I was very inspired by my family’s efforts and recognized that as a lawyer I could help businesses like my family’s thrive and grow.
Have your interests changed or become more defined during law school and/or while articling?
During my undergraduate degree, I took several courses in health policy, equity, and the social determinants of health. During law school, I continued to take courses in health law and policy while broadening my interests to include corporate and immigration law. As an articling student, I am expanding my knowledge and skills in corporate law through work in corporate governance, competition, and privacy law.
Looking back, what’s something you didn’t anticipate about law school and/or the recruitment process?
One aspect of the recruitment process that I did not anticipate was the extent to which lawyers interviewing me wanted to learn about my passions and interests outside of law school. I learned that if an organization invites you for an interview, you likely have the requisite GPA and core competencies they look for, but beyond this the lawyers want to learn about who you are and what you do in your free time. Oftentimes you will spend long hours with the lawyers you work with, and they want to make sure the students they hire are enjoyable to work with, polite, and professional. Many skills can also be taught on the job and law school teach us foundational skills such as legal drafting and research. If you see a job posting in an area of law but did not take any courses in that area, you should still apply for the position if you are truly interested in learning about that field. Much of the learning happens on the job, and you can deepen your understanding by exploring articles, case law, and statutes on your own. Show the lawyers you are interviewing with that you are ready to learn, eager to work hard, and easy to work with.
If you could change one thing about your law school experience, what would it be?
If I could go back and do one thing differently, I would take more assignment-based rather than exam-based courses. While many courses in law school involve 100% exams at the end of the term, assignment-based courses allow you to delve deep into a niche area of law and learn from legal scholars in the field. An advantage of writing papers is that you have the opportunity to submit them to a journal to be published or a conference for consideration. In my final semester of law school, all of my courses involved assignments which allowed me to research areas of law which had not been discussed in my classes. For example, my final paper in Advanced Family Law explored whether grandparents’ rights should be expanded to allow them to spend more time with their grandchildren.
As you look ahead in your legal career, what excites you the most?
I am most excited about meeting new lawyers and becoming more involved in the legal community. One of my goals outside of work is attending networking events at least once per month. As a member of the Muslim community, I attended the Canadian Muslim Lawyer’s Association social in Mississauga and had an incredible time meeting other articling students and senior lawyers. This was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and share our experiences in the legal field. During law school you have opportunities every day to meet new colleagues in our classes, in student clubs and events on campus. When you are working, there may not be as many opportunities to meet other students which is why I make an effort to be involved in my community and attend events after work. Most recently, I was invited by McMaster University’s Pre-Law Society to share my experience attending law school and provide students tips for preparing a strong application. Many students do not have lawyers in their family who can answer their questions, so it is important for those of us in the profession to be mentors and help the next generation of lawyers.
Finally, what is one piece of advice you would give to a first-year law student?
One piece of advice I would offer to a first-year law student is to connect with students in your classes and create a strong network for yourself. In law school I was fortunate enough to have an incredible group of friends and relied on them the past three years. The stress of law school courses, searching for a job and balancing extracurriculars can be overwhelming at times. Having friends who can relate to what you are going through helped me a lot. Your classmates can provide effective time management tips, study strategies, or just be an ear to listen. It is also important to connect with your classmates because many jobs, and opportunities often come from referrals. During my first year of law school, I was seeking a placement for my fellowship when a friend recommended that I connect with a non-profit organization she had previously worked with. After reaching out using the contact information she provided, I spent the summer working in-house in their legal department. Many opportunities are not advertised online but through speaking with other students, you can learn about exciting events or jobs you may not have ever considered.
Hanaa will be sharing more insight in her upcoming mini-series, including tips on building meaningful connections, landing an articling placement, and setting yourself up for a successful start in practice.
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