TRU’s first law class recently got together to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their graduation.
The inaugural TRU Law class of 2014 held their 10-year reunion on May 17 to 19. The memorable event reunited alumni, faculty and administration. The atmosphere was filled with nostalgia and excitement as attendees reconnected with old friends.
It was 10 years ago that the inaugural class graduated from TRU Law. It all started in the fall of 2011, but for many the journey began years earlier, taking the LSAT.
When TRU Law launched, it was the first law school to open in Canada in over three decades. While TRU Law students had a handful of excellent University of Calgary students providing mentorship, they did not have upper-year students based in Kamloops. Everyone really had to figure it out as they went — students and faculty alike.
The graduates at the reunion said they were in a unique position to build the law school from the ground up, with the law building not yet built when they started. Brilliant professors established in their careers and wannabe lawyers flocked to Kamloops from all across the country to take a chance on TRU Law.
In addition to attempting to figure out how to balance taking seven courses with their social and family life, hobbies, exercise and everything else in between, they had a few other considerations in their first year.
The inaugural class established the Society of Law Students, writing its constitution from scratch, and organized the inaugural TRU Law golf tournament as well as numerous sports teams, including ball hockey, basketball and dodgeball. They also established new clubs, including the South Asian Law Students Association, the Black Law Students Association, the Indigenous Law Students Association and the Animal Rights Club. It was also during the first year the class received a visit from the Hon. Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin from the Supreme Court of Canada.
Over the following years, the inaugural cohort’s schedules never eased. While continuing to pursue all of their first-year initiatives, they also sent teams to moots, including the Kawaskimhon Moot and the Jessup Moot. They organized and ran orientation weeks and rallied the troops for Movember, annual ski trips, Halloween parties, holiday celebrations and numerous socials and formals. The inaugural cohort also became mentors to incoming students.
Since graduating in 2014, these alumni have gone on to inspiring careers and lives, including becoming business owners, partners, associates, in-house legal counsel, government counsel, professors and a bencher. They work for not-for-profits and have explored other roles, including parenting, stand-up comedian and drag king. Some future milestones the inaugural class looks forward to include their first judicial appointment, first King’s Counsel, first to draft new legislation and much more.
“It was my sincere pleasure to rejoin my classmates and former professors at TRU’s Faculty of Law,” said Taylor-Marie Young, partner at Rush Ihas Hardwick LLP and TRU Law’s first ever gold medalist. “I was heartened but not surprised to hear how well everyone has thrived in the past decade. The inaugural class has always been and remains enthusiastic, enterprising and resilient — qualities that make them ideal for the legal profession and to serve the community. I am proud of them, proud to count myself among them, and look forward to hearing what they accomplish in the next 10 years.”
The class of 2014 was grateful to all who joined them in their celebration, particularly Dean Daleen Millard for the countless hours she has spent making the weekend happen.
“Coming back to Kamloops for our 10-year reunion was truly an inspirational and nostalgic experience,” said James Gill, founder and partner at Apna Law LLP. “It was nothing short of amazing to see what my classmates have gone on to achieve both professionally and personally in the years since we first walked into the House of Learning in 2011. It reminded me of all of the tough times we went through but survived because we all had each other, as well as the students in the cohorts below us. I’m truly proud to have been a part of the program, and I continue to be excited for what lies ahead for TRU Law.”
The reunion fostered connections, celebrated achievements and reaffirmed the strong bond among graduates. Alumni were excited to spend the weekend catching up with everyone who made 2011-2014 some of the most important and impactful years of their lives. As attendees departed, they took with them a sense of pride in their shared history at TRU Law.
Reunion in the news:
- TRU Law school looking to partner with communities for practical experience, Castanet News (May 21, 2024): https://www.castanetkamloops.net/news/Kamloops/488451/TRU-Law-school-looking-to-partner-with-communities-for-practical-experience
- Canada’s newest law school marks 10 years since the first grad class, CBC Radio One – Daybreak Kamloops with Shelley Joyce (May 22, 2024): https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-108/clip/16069394
Reunion videos:
- Legal Pioneers – Class of 2014 TRU Law, YouTube (May 19, 2024): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whUjWNuGtwA
- TRU Law school seeking partners, Castanet News (May 21, 2024): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdHOyDMm0Xs
