Describe how your professional and academic background make you a strong candidate for the award(s)

you are applying for?

On numerous occasions I have come across this very famous quote by Aristotle, “The law is reason free
from passion,” however, I believe that passion is a key component enshrined in an individual to drive
him towards the study and practice of law. Working towards your goals without having passion does not
align, leaving a person stationed at the same position for a long period. I have never had the intention to
be the individual who works without passion, rather I strive to be an energetic professional, and be able
to translate my knowledge into practice with dedication.

I have acquired an extensive experience in legal discourse over more than a decade, across a wide
spectrum of organizations, including both government and private sector companies. I started working
as a junior analyst at the beginning of my career and worked up the corporate ladder to reach the
position of Legal Counsel. During this time, I have gathered innumerable qualities which have polished
and enhanced my skills as a law practitioner. I have dedicated my time towards practices that have
proved to be beneficial for the environment as well as for my country, Columbia. I have not shied away
from working with foreign companies to manage their legal aspect while establishing ground in
Columbia. I believe that I have been an excellent professional and a responsible citizen while carrying
out my duties.

I have reached a point in my career, where I am constantly looking for expanding my horizon, and when
I came across the OsgoodePD’s Professional LLM graduate program, it seemed like the perfect stimulus
to pursue my education. I believe that there exists a space between stimulus and response, and in that
space, we have the power to choose a response which can change the entire course of our lives, giving
us access to growth and freedom. I am not only well-versed with the Law of the Land, after having
worked for multiple organizations, but am also adept in dealing with international clientele, managing
and reviewing key contracts and creating legal strategies. I have achieved the desired results while
managing projects at all stages of development and implementation. Moreover, I also am a team player,
and have worked on motivating my team towards a common goal at multiple occasions. I consider it my
strength to be able to work at grassroot levels as well as on international platform. I worked for four
years in local municipalities and government institutions on diverse legal matters, and on the other hand
I have also worked with international organizations, allowing them to be established in Columbia.

Being affiliated with the OsgoodePD’s Professional LLM, I will not only achieve my personal goals, but
my academic and professional goals as well. Having a diverse background of legal discourse, I consider
myself a good fit for the program and this Award. With not only years to count of my experience but the
wide array of skills and expertise I have acquired along my journey across a variety of industries and
corporate cultures, which will allow me to add value to this program, as I share my experiences with my
peers, instructors and mentors.
What academic and professional goals do you plan to achieve during and after the Professional LLM?

Having accomplished much in my academic and professional career, I have come to realize that I want to
challenge myself with new and exciting ventures. When I started my career as a Law student, I always
wished to pursue my higher studies abroad, and all these years since then, I have trained my mind for
just the same. New learning opportunities always pique my interest, be it conferences, workshops or
professional degrees. The Professional LLM at OsGoode is the missing piece of puzzle in my academic
career, and aligns perfectly with my professional goals as well.

The graduate program offers courses that align with my academic goals, as studying the Canadian
Common Law will help me acquire deeper understanding of the legal world within the countries that
apply this legal system. I am inclined to be well-versed with Canadian Administrative Law and Canadian
Constitutional Law, in addition to attempting a major research paper for credit during my degree.
Viewing the core courses and the detailed curriculum, I believe it will equip me with core competence
and professionalism required to practice law.

Moving to Canada for a professional LLM will help me achieve my long-standing dreams of extending my
experience overseas. I have mastered the law of the land, and have always desired to pursue a program
that will acquaint me with Canadian Common Law System. During my time as a student, I would work on
building a global network. I believe that there is absolutely no excuse to fostering an extensive network,
in order to work as an international legal professional. Canada attracts professionals from all fields from
across the globe, and the same is true for lawyers as well. To be able to get the opportunity to study
among international professionals, and be mentored by tailored professors would add not one but many
feathers to my cap. Moreover, I would also like to gain on-ground experience of practicing Canadian
Common Law, via externships, internships and workshops in order to be more proficient during my
degree. I also envision to assist the less fortunate with legal counsel by joining volunteer groups on and
off campus, and will contribute positively to the institution by participating ardently in other academic
and co-curricular activities.

As a foreign-trained law graduate, after completing the Professional LLM at OsGoode, my goal is to
practice as an international Lawyer in both Canada and Columbia. Achieving the LLM degree is a crucial
step in gaining the enhanced knowledge required to excel in my field and become an excellent lawyer.
My short-term goals during and after the degree is to be affiliated with an international legal firm based
in Canada, to develop strong roots in the country. However, my long-term goals involve working
between my home country and host country to extend my network and expertise to both nations. I will
contribute to the program by engaging with other professionals and sharing my extensive experience to
create a knowledge-sharing learning environment.

How would receiving this award help you to achieve these goals?

I was very young when I became passionate about being a lawyer. It actually rooted from a joke my
father used tell whenever I would have a debate with him. “You will become a lawyer one day,” he used
to say, and years later I have materialized into one. But all these years I always envisioned how I would
help people through legal discourse. Throughout my academic life, my direction was very clear and I
steered towards law in personal and academic life. Having worked for more than a decade as a legal
professional, my aims have been achieved but my horizon has also broadened, along with which my
goals expanded.

Moving to Canada along with my family has remained as merely an idea in my mind, but with the help of
this Award, this dream can be realized to become a reality. This Award will help me achieve my
educational and career goals, since I have a family of three besides me, whom I want to relocate with
myself when I move to Canada for this degree. The Award will help lower the cost of college and other
essentials covered, which will give me enough cushion to provide for my small children. Moreover, the
Award will also lower the number of paid hours I will have to work otherwise, in order to look after my
family, which will allow me to better focus on my studies and contribute to the institution as a
responsible student. Even though I intend to gain practical experience by practicing Canadian Common
Law during my time at the campus, it shall be less for the purpose of making money and more for the
purpose of actual learning. If I am granted this scholarship, I shall be free of the thoughts of making
money while being a student of the Professional LLM at OsGoode. It will also give me space to indulge in
volunteer work around the campus, and meet with my mentors, peers and professors to become well-
versed with Canadian Common Law.

This Award will allow me to push myself beyond my comfort zone and step into an international arena
to practice law. I believe that there is no age for learning, and that one shall never stop no matter how
much one excels in their career. Similarly, I have reached great heights in my career back in Columbia in
only a few years as a legal professional, but I want to challenge my abilities by pushing further towards a
higher degree. With the help of this Award, I will be able to achieve my goals of getting a professional
LLM from Canada, and not only be a successful student but an outstanding lawyer as well. My
experience as a lawyer, working at the grassroot level as well as international level has been
enlightening, and equipped me with skills which I can share with my peers and colleagues in Canada. I
am passionate about helping people in all legal aspects, and this Award will allow me to pursue the
education I need to achieve my goals.