With the new school year in full swing, Salima Fakirani is excited to support Allard Law students in her new role as Assistant Dean, Students.
Before joining us at Allard Law, Salima was called to the Ontario Bar in 2018 and practiced corporate, securities, financial services, consumer protection and regulatory law. Most recently, she served as the Director of Student Engagement and Experience at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law.
Beyond grades and academics, Salima believes that some of the important aspects of your time at law school will happen outside the classroom – whether that’s new friendships, experiential learning or those moments when you begin to figure out how you want to contribute to the legal profession.
In this Q&A, Salima shares her thoughts on her new role, her advice for our incoming class, and how the Student Affairs Office can help.
What drew you to this role? And what are you most looking forward to?
SF: Allard Law has an incredible reputation and some truly remarkable students, staff and faculty. What excited me most was the opportunity to join a community that's already doing great work and contribute to shaping the student experience.
I'm especially interested in the ways law school shapes people, not just lawyers. Students are obviously learning legal reasoning and doctrine, but they're also developing judgment, confidence, relationships and a sense of who they want to be in the profession. Being part of that process is something I find really meaningful.
I'm also particularly excited to work with our affinity groups and students from equity-deserving communities – not only to support the excellent work already happening in this area, but to continue to learn about how students experience Allard and where there may be opportunities to strengthen belonging, access and support.
What's your advice for new law students who may be feeling overwhelmed?
SF: First, I'd tell them they're in very good company. Almost everyone feels overwhelmed at some point in law school, even the people who seem like they have it all figured out. You’re a beginner at this, and that’s okay!
I'd also recommend focusing on learning, rather than performing. In my first year of law school, I spent a lot of time worrying about whether I sounded smart enough, whether I had the right answer or whether I was keeping up with everyone else. Looking back, the moments where I learned the most were usually the moments where I was confused, uncomfortable or got something wrong.
What did you enjoy most about law school? What did you find most challenging?
SF: I loved the opportunity to debate ideas, challenge assumptions and think critically about how law shapes people's lives. Some of my favourite experiences were the conversations that continued long after class had ended.
The hardest part was probably learning that my worth was not tied to my grades. Grades can tell you something about how you performed on a particular exam or assignment, but they don't tell you what kind of colleague, leader, advocate or person you'll become. Once I stopped measuring my worth solely through that narrow lens, I was able to enjoy learning more, take more risks and focus on the parts of law school that were genuinely meaningful to me.
What makes for an engaging law school experience?
SF: I think engagement starts with helping students define success for themselves. Law school is full of smart, ambitious people, and it's easy to spend your time comparing yourself to everyone else. The students who seem happiest and most fulfilled are often the ones who have a strong sense of what they want out of the experience, rather than chasing someone else's idea of success.
When should students engage with Allard Law’s Student Affairs Office?
SF: Whether it's an academic concern, a personal challenge, a question about law school, feedback about the program or just wanting to talk something through, we're happy to connect.
Students get the most out of those conversations when they've taken a little time to think about what kind of support they're looking for. We're here to help you build the confidence to navigate challenges, make decisions, advocate for yourself, and find the information you need independently. Those are skills that will serve you well throughout your career.
