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CHRISTOPHER GULY

By the time Omar Ha-Redeyeentered the University of WesternOntarios (UWO) law school threeyears ago, he had already pursuedcareers in nuclear medicine technol-ogy, health and emergency manage-ment, and public relations.

The chance to explore a brandnew world drew him to law. Butthe 32-year-old, Hamilton-born2010 UWO J.D. graduate admitsthat studying it was challenging,beyond the rigours of grasping newinformation and ideas.

There is enormous emphasis ongrades and competitiveness emergedfrom that, he says.

And it was competitive.Ha-Redeye recalls attending an

information session on UWOsCommunity Legal Services during his

first year. It ended at around 5 p.m.and students interested in becominginvolved in the law schools legal aidclinic could sign up, based on a first-come, first-served basis (sincereplaced with an interview system),early the following morning.

The lineup started five minutesbefore the information session evenended and people stayed through thenight in the rain, says Ha-Redeye.

I arrived at 3:30 a.m., and I wastoo late.

So, he created his own opportun-ities to augment his studies.

Ha-Redeye established theWestern Law Review Association, agroup dedicated to publishing astudent-run law review at UWO,and was active in various groups oncampus, including as president of

the Black Law Students Association,Health Law Club and MatureStudents Club.

But his activities are best knownin cyberspace.

Even before being called to theOntario Bar, Ha-Redeye has made animpression on the profession with hisblogs and postings on legal issues.

He runs his own website (www.omarha-redeye.com), as well as ablog and podcast on Canadian lawschools (lawiscool.com) and regu-larly contributes to the legal web-log, Slaw.ca.

Now, hes on the path to prac-tising law.

Currently, a student-at-law atFireman Steinmetz, a litigation bou-tique in Toronto, Ha-Redeye is alsoone of two articling student ambas-sadors from Toronto that serve onthe executive of the Ontario BarAssociations student division.

In that role, he brings forward stu-dents interests and concerns for boththe profession and the academy.

Some are practical, such as press-ing the Ontario Bar Association toreinstate free membership for Ontariolaw students, which will give themaccess to events in which they couldnetwork with practising lawyers andinevitably encourage them to join theorganization following their own callto the Bar.

Other issues are more far-reaching.While at UWO, Ha-Redeye was

struck by how many students wereaffected by depression and loneliness.

Quite often when people arestudying, theyre doing it themselves.Its not a very collaborative environ-ment and you dont have as muchinteraction with others.

Ha-Redeye explains that com-pounding this silo effect are the enor-mous demands placed on studentsby their workload and anxiety overfinding an articling position andultimately a job at a law firm fol-lowing graduation.

As a result, he would like to seelaw schools provide better social sup-ports to students to ensure theymaintain proper work-life balance.

Ha-Redeye says he survivedschool-related stress by recognizinghis own limitations and carving out hisown path.

Knowing he couldnt competewith younger colleagues with thestamina to endure endless hours inthe library, he spent his first 18months of law school working part-time at former Ontario Trial LawyersAssociation president BarbaraLegates London, Ont.-based med-ical malpractice and personal injury

firm to gain experience.Legate is also certified as a spe-cialist in civil litigation by the LawSociety of Upper Canada a cre-dential Ha-Redeye might like to haveone day.

At UWO, Ha-Redeye won or wasa finalist in more than half of thelaw schools upper-year appellatemoot courts an unprecedentedaccomplishment, he was told byhis professors.

With that record, I can approacha litigation firm as someone whocan research issues, identify whatthe important points are and articu-late them in a high-pressure situa-tion before a judge, boastsHa-Redeye.

Theres definitely a litigator withinme without question.

Articling student eyes litig

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