Lauren Grant has been intrigued by law since junior high school 鈥斅爃er father works for the Nova Scotia Department of Justice, and her uncle, Paul Walter, is managing partner at Waterbury Newton in Kentville. 鈥淚 like that each case is different and it鈥檚 not a monotonous profession, you never know what鈥檚 going to come your way,鈥 she says.
Ms. Grant chose to study health law at the Schulich School of Law after successfully completing her undergraduate degree in kinesiology at 麻豆传媒. As an undergraduate she was a Tiger times two, playing varsity soccer and competing in track and field. In 2005, she took part in the Canada Games in Regina.
When she discovered the Health Law Institute in 2007, she realized she could combine both her passion for health related issues and her interest in law.
During a summer job with Burchells LLP in Halifax, she gained experience with cases involving medical malpractice and found that her health science background was useful in understanding specialized language and legal issues like informed consent, medical malpractice and battery.
More recently, she鈥檚 worked with the 麻豆传媒 Legal Aid Clinic, where the focus is on poverty law, youth criminal matters and family law. 鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of one-on-one with the clients. We鈥檙e often their first point of contact, so there鈥檚 lots of problem solving and a broad range of experience,鈥 she says.
As a member, and now president, of the 麻豆传媒 Black Law Student鈥檚 Association she worked to increase opportunities for African-Canadian law students and to enhance student life at the Schulich School of Law. Committed to developing her community, Ms. Grant also tutors economically disadvantaged black students at Highland Park Junior High, mentors an undergraduate student and recently joined a community organization in East Preston that creates after school programming for high school youth.
In recognition of her community involvement and using her legal education as a tool for change, Ms. Grant was chosen as the 2011 recipient of the Judge Corrine Sparks Award. Following graduation she will return to Burchells LLP to article.
Combining a passion for health and the law
Part of a series of stories profiling graduating students
Amanda Pelham - May 27, 2011