Over the next few months, I am excited to share that Lucas Wynheart will be completing his paralegal internship at The Immigration and Paralegal Law Office of Rebecca B. Tripp.
This will be my second time taking on a paralegal student to help me out behind the behind the scenes. At the start of his internship we did a quick Q&A about this current chapter of his life, which we hope you enjoy reading below.
1. What led you to choose the paralegal program at Sir Sandford Fleming College?
Every aspect of our lives and the world we live in is guided by rules, formal and informal, extrinsic and intrinsic. The most important of these rules we call law, and simultaneously it shapes and is shaped by us. Few things felt more fascinating to me, and I developed a keen interest in its study very early on. This eventually led me to law school, where I found the approach to the study of law overly theoretical and impersonal. After taking some time to travel and explore other interests, I returned to law. Though in law school I had enjoyed the philosophical attitude, I was eager for a more practical approach that would allow me to enter the legal profession, deal with real world problems and work closely with people. A paralegal diploma fit the bill perfectly.
Once I knew the program I was looking for, choosing a school was easy. Many members of my family are Fleming alumni and only had great things to say about their experience there. The school also offers a unique pathway for earning an additional diploma as a law clerk, with an additional semester dedicated to education in areas of law outside of a paralegal’s scope of practice. I started in January of 2020, and could not be happier with my choice.
2. What have been your favourite and least favourite courses so far?
Landlord and tenant law has arguably been my favourite course so far. I find it especially interesting because I have been both a tenant and a landlord, and know that issues in this area can be very personal and difficult. A case could also be made for intro to political science, which was fascinating, and legal research, which can be very satisfying, and is more fun than it sounds. When the time comes, however, I suspect immigration law for paralegals will take the crown.
If I must choose one, my least favourite has been advocacy. It was a very important and very well taught course, but tackling my anxiety over public speaking was uncomfortable at first. Fortunately, it was very rewarding in the end, as only overcoming a fear can be.
3. What area(s) of law are you most interested in?
Immigration, undoubtedly. Having experienced the process of immigrating myself, I am extremely aware of the challenges and hardships faced by immigrants. More importantly, I also know the great joys that come with a successful application, whether it means the start of a new job, an education, a trip or a new life. It is my dream to help people achieve this joy I know so well.
4. Is there an interesting concept you’ve learned since becoming a paralegal student?
Many, the most interesting (and entertaining) are the ones that stem from very outdated laws. Some of these can be found in the Innkeepers Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. I.7. Pursuant to s. 3(2), the owner of a tavern may sell your horse and carriage to make up for unpaid food and accommodation!
5. If you weren’t pursuing a career in law, what other industries or job titles are you attracted to?
If not for law, I would strive to become a chef. I often go beyond day-to-day cooking and have a lot of fun taking on challenging recipes. These sometimes go well, but the general consensus in my family, who are subjects to my cooking on a daily basis, is that I was right to choose law.
6. What advice would you give to individuals considering the paralegal program?
If they are considering attending Fleming, my advice would be simple – go for it. The first semester at Sir Sandford Fleming College is shared among many programs in the School of Justice and Community Development. After a semester of great, well-rounded courses relating to the paralegal profession in varying degrees, a student has the option to continue in any of the programs that share the common first semester. Even if one no longer wishes to continue their education, courses such as intro to psychology, sociology and political science are valuable education for any other area of study and for general knowledge.
Co-written by Rebecca B. Tripp and Lucas Wynheart
Originally posted December 15, 2021.
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