Justin Chhuor is a second-year JD student at the Allard School of Law and one of our Lead Operations Coordinators at the Centre for Business Law. Prior to law school, Justin completed his Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at the University of British Columbia. During his undergrad, he worked in a research lab investigating immune cells in pancreatic cancer. Outside of law school, Justin enjoys playing various sports such as badminton and skiing, as well as reading and trying out different types of dishes.
What inspired you to pursue a law degree?
During my undergrad, I was on the UBC BIOMOD team, where we competed in an annual Biomolecular Design competition. After we completed our project for the competition, there was discussion on how we could continue working on our project and develop it into something more. This is where I first began to explore legal concepts such as patents, as well as the role the law plays in developing innovative ideas into a thriving business. As I learned more, I started to realize that a career in law could be a good fit for me. I enjoy working with others and taking on new challenges, so I was naturally intrigued by a lawyer’s role as an important advisor to clients. Practicing law would allow me to do important work on a variety of different projects with the opportunity to continue developing my skills. I am glad to say that I have enjoyed my first year of law school and am looking forward to exploring more specific areas of law through upper year courses.
Why did you choose UBC and Allard for law school?
Having completed my undergraduate degree at UBC, Allard was one of the first places I looked when applying to law school. I first moved to Vancouver from Calgary for my undergrad. Since then, I have enjoyed being a part of the UBC community and was excited to continue exploring what the Vancouver area as to offer. I was also particularly drawn to the opportunities for experiential learning available at Allard through the various clinics and extracurriculars such as LSLAP. Additionally, I am interested by the exchange program offered at Allard. I did not get the chance to do so during undergrad, and believe it would be a great opportunity to see how the law may differ in other jurisdictions while exploring new cultures and places. In the end, it was a fairly easy decision to attend to Allard, as it is a leading law school in Canada with many excellent opportunities available to students.
What do you enjoy most about working for the Centre for Business Law?
I came to law school eager to learn about the various types of practice areas that law has to offer, and the events hosted by the Centre for Business Law have provided many great opportunities to do so. I am interested in pursuing a career in the field of business law, and am excited to learn about the role lawyers play in advising companies and individuals and how they can impact the various parts of a business. Thus, my role with the Centre is the perfect opportunity for me to continue to continue to attend upcoming events and ensure they run smoothly while learning more about the legal profession.
As an Operations Coordinator, I hope to facilitate engaging and informative events so that others can also develop their knowledge of the various topics that the field of business law covers. I am also looking forward to meeting not only new lawyers, but also business professionals and those in academia, as the Centre hosts panelists that come from multiple diverse backgrounds. I am excited to contribute to the growth of the Centre through the wide range of initiatives we have to offer, and create strong platforms for discussions on important areas within the field.
Last Updated: May 2022
