The Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Ryerson University takes 1st place at the 2021 Canadian Client Consultation Competition

This past weekend (March 13-14) was an exciting and historical one for Ryerson Law. With two teams competing in the Canadian Client Consultation Competition, Ryerson Law took its first-ever 1st place finish in a lawyering skills competition.

The Canadian Client Consultation Competition (external link, opens in new window)  simulates a law office consultation in which law students acting as lawyers are presented with a client matter. Team of two-students from law schools across the country conduct an interview with a person playing the role of the client and then explain how they would proceed further in the hypothetical situation - including advising about the relevant law, providing options for proceeding, and assisting the client to make an informed choice. The client interview is then followed by a post-consultation period during which the students analyze the interview and discuss the work to be undertaken. The interview and post-consultation period last a total of 45 minutes. Students are evaluated against specific criteria that emphasize the use of listening, questioning, planning, and analytical skills in a lawyer/client interview.

Congratulations to our 1L students Yana Fox (external link, opens in new window)  and Anthony Brum (external link, opens in new window)  who took home first place in the competition, as well as Safia Thompson (external link, opens in new window)  and Tudor Gagea (external link, opens in new window)  who finished in the Top 10 against a field of upper-year competitors.

Yana and Anthony will now represent Canada and Ryerson Law at the 2021 Louis M. Brown and Forrest S. Mosten International Client Consultation Competition to be hosted virtually in April by the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law at Swansea University, Wales (external link, opens in new window) . The event draws law students from more than 25 countries to compete for the top prize.

Special thanks to Leanne Shafir (external link, opens in new window) , Ryan Osbourne (external link, opens in new window)  and Landon Shein (external link, opens in new window)  who provided coaching and to Ryerson 1L student Jordi Jones-Smith (external link, opens in new window)  who served as a researcher for both teams.