Nicole Suderman is a second-year JD student at the Peter A. Allard School of Law (Allard) and one of the Operations Officers for the Centre for Business Law. Before joining Allard, Nicole received her Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the University of Calgary, where she studied Political Science. While at Allard, Nicole has held 1L positions with the Allard Law and Business Society (ALBS), as well as the Allard Women’s Caucus. Nicole will serve as the 2024-2025 Co-President of the ALBS. Outside of Allard, Nicole enjoys hanging out with friends, trying out new fitness classes, and sewing.
Why did you choose Allard for law school?
With the end of my undergraduate degree being impacted by COVID-19, upon graduation I knew that I wanted to move out of Calgary and experience a new city. I didn’t venture too far when deciding Vancouver was the place I wanted to move to, and shortly after, lined up a job at a law firm in Downtown Vancouver. My couple years in the workforce and in Vancouver solidified that this is the city I wanted to grow my career in, and I knew the best opportunity to do so involved attending Allard for law school. Apart from being drawn to Vancouver as a city, I was particularly keen to attend Allard because of the wide range of experiential learning opportunities and exceptional international recognition.
What do you enjoy most about working for the Centre for Business Law?
I was originally introduced to the Centre for Business Law through the various events the Centre hosted during the school year. The events would primarily focus on different aspects of business law in Vancouver, which I thought was incredibly beneficial for students without exposure to the legal community before law school. In my role as Operations Officer, I am excited at the opportunity of being involved in the planning and facilitation of the same type of events that initially interested me in business law. Not having a business background myself, I enjoy how these programs offer an opportunity to hear from practitioners in the field, while ensuring an inclusive space to learn and ask questions.
What advice do you have for other students?
I would tell new law students to step out of their comfort zone, particularly in the first few weeks of school. There are so many clubs and initiatives to become a part of, and I truly believe that my involvement in certain clubs and communities has made my law school experience significantly more memorable. It can feel quite overwhelming at the beginning, with so many extracurriculars and programs, but choosing to be a part of at least one was fundamentally important to my first year at Allard.
Last Updated: July 2024