Re-imagining Orientation Week

In support of Allard Law’s temporary shift to online learning for the 2020-21 academic year, the 2020 Orientation Week for incoming JD students will be taking place in a virtual setting. As the 2020 Student Orientation Coordinators, Benae Tutelman and I have sought to develop Orientation programming that will provide a meaningful and impactful introduction to the Allard community and legal profession, despite this limitation.
 
In particular, we have introduced two brand-new initiatives to welcome the Class of 2023 and to ensure that first-year students will be equipped with skills for success throughout law school.
 
First, in early July, we launched “Allard 101”, a course hosted on UBC’s online learning platform, Canvas. The online course includes modules related to academic success, online learning, wellbeing resources, opportunities to find community within Allard, and professional development.

Second, to provide students with a tangible welcome and introduction to Allard Law, each student will receive an “Orientation in a Box” package in the mail prior to Orientation Week. The “Orientation in a Box” includes a “Class of 2023” t-shirt, an agenda, letters of encouragement from the Dean, the UBC Law Students’ Society President and an individual member of the Allard Law Alumni Association, and “study-from-home” friendly items generously provided by firm sponsors.
 
Throughout the summer, we have co-hosted weekly Zoom hangouts with our fellow upper-year students from various Allard student associations and clubs. These Zoom hangouts allowed incoming students to meet their new classmates prior to Orientation Week, while promoting community and connection between students of all years at Allard.

Students will be formally welcomed to Allard Law during a live online Orientation program held from September 2-4, 2020 via Zoom. Incoming students will participate in a variety of informative sessions, including an Academic Success panel, a Careers in Law panel, a session led by faculty and staff of Allard Law’s Indigenous Legal Studies department, and the “Life of a Case” session hosted by Professor Nikos Harris. Through this programming, the incoming class will have the opportunity to meet their professors, upper-year Allard students, and members of the legal community.
 
As part of the live Orientation program, Allard alumni are invited to attend the virtual Dean’s Happy Hour on Wednesday, September 2nd from 4:00-5:00pm (PDT). This event is in lieu of the Dean’s Banquet, which has historically taken place during Allard’s in-person Orientation Week. The program will include a welcome address from Janine Benedet, Dean Pro Tem, a speech by Kinji Bourchier on behalf of the Allard Law Alumni Association board, and a keynote address by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. After the formal program, attendees will have the opportunity to converse in smaller Zoom breakout rooms. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to us at orientation@allard.ubc.ca. A Zoom link will be provided by email to registered attendees. 
 
We wish to thank the 2020 Orientation sponsors for their generous contributions. Without this support, our Orientation programming would not be possible. We look forward to welcoming the incoming class to the Allard community, and invite you to join us in doing so at the virtual Dean’s Happy Hour.  

For more information about Orientation Week programming, please visit the Orientation 2020 blog.