October 2004 FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF THE RESTRUCTURED J.D./LL.B. PROGRAM By Pam Elgie, '06 The inaugural J.D./LL.B. Class of 2004 survived an intensive and demanding three-year curriculum and breathed a sigh of relief when they finally received not just one, but two, law degrees in 2004. The 21 graduates received their degrees at two individual ceremonies: the University of Detroit Mercy hosted its convocation on Sunday, May 9th in which the graduates received their Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees, and L to R - K. Andrew, S. Balasumderam, D. Campbell, C. Chen, D. Chen, D. Chronopoulos, C. Cosentino, J. Gandhi, N. Jedlinski, T. Johnson, C. Knowles, A. Lamers, J. Lin, F. Malik, E. Perez-Youssoufian, A. Sinclair, J. Sloszar, A. Stephen, B. Teixeira, M. Van Eesbeek Non Portrait: S. King the University of Windsor hosted its convocation on Friday, June 4th in which they received their Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degrees. In today's economy, the United States and Canada are intimately tied through their trade relationship and, as a result, many law firms have clients in both countries. Given this situation, students wishing to capitalize on this trend choose the J.D./LL.B. Program. This is a joint Canadian/American law degree program whose graduates obtain both an American Bar Association-approved Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and a Canadian Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree within three years. The J.D./LL.B. Program prepares its graduates to become lawyers well-versed in the law and legal cultures of both countries, a tremendous asset considering that Canada and the United States represent the largest trading relationship in the world. To put this in perspective, in 2002, Michigan and Canada exchanged $49 billion in autos, trucks, and parts. New York's leading import from Canada was $28 billion worth of natural gas. Ohio exported more than one-half of its goods, $15 billion worth, to Canada, with two-way trade in transportation equipment alone topping $10 billion. Illinois sold $8 billion worth of goods to Canada, more than to its next five export markets combined. Pennsylvania exported $5.1 billion worth of goods to Canada, more than the next eight export markets combined. Indiana sent almost half of its worldwide exports to Canada. These numbers represent just a portion of the $400 billion (US) of commerce that passes between Canada and the United States each year. Students enter the J.D./LL.B. Program because they believe having American and Canadian law degrees will equip them with a competitive professional advantage. The Program provides students the opportunity to be licensed in both the United States and Canada and, as a result, its graduates are truly international lawyers. David Campbell is a primary example of a graduate who is capitalizing on his ability to become an international lawyer by writing not just one Bar exam, but two. Dave is employed at Bowman & Brooke in Troy, Michigan as well as McCarthy Tetrault in Toronto, Ontario. Dave recently passed Michigan Bar exam and he is presently articling at McCarthy's in preparation of writing the Ontario Bar exam in 2005. The remaining 20 graduates of the Class of 2004 are equally representative of alumni on the move. Bay Street Practice: Jennifer Sloszar, the top graduate in the class, is articling at Goodmans. She intends to remain in Toronto to practice; however, she has also given consideration to taking the New York Bar. Cathy Cosentino is articling with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Her future plans include taking the State Bar Exams for D.C., New York, and/or New Mexico. Jan Gandhi is articling with MacMillan Rooke Boeckle. Simon King is articling at Copeland, Duncan where he is enjoying a wide range of law such as criminal, civil, and national security. His future plans include taking the State Bar Exams for New York, California, and Massachusetts. Janie Lin is articling at McCarthy Tetrault. Janie has not ruled out sitting for a State Bar Exam in the U.S. because she is working at a firm with an international focus. Farah Malik is articling at Gowlings, Lafleur, Henderson. Her future plans include taking the State Bar Exams for Michigan and Illinois. Bruno Teixeira is articling with David Costa & Associates. Mike Van Eesbeek is articling at Ridout & Maybee. His future plans include being licensed in both Canada and the U.S. Ontario Practice: Sathish Balasumderam is enjoying his articles with Manuel Jesudasan & Associates in Scarborough. Denno Chen is articling with Perley, Robertson, Hill & McDougall in Ottawa. His future plans include taking the Illinois Bar Exam. Dennis Chronopoulos is articling at Martini Barile Marusic in Windsor. His future plans include sitting for the State Bar Exam for either New York or Michigan. Nicole Jedlinski is articling with Pavey, Law & Wannop in Cambridge. Her future plans include sitting for the Michigan Bar Exam. Trent Johnson is articling at Miller, Thomson in Kitchener and he intends to be licensed in both countries. More specifically, Trent is focusing on Ontario and D.C. Evelyn Perez-Youssoufian is articling with Rassmusen Starr Ruddy in Ottawa. Amber Sinclair is articling with Ross & McBride in Hamilton. Her future plans include sitting for the New York Bar Exam. Alanna Stephen is articling with O'Connor Macleod Hanna in Oakville. Clerking: Dennis Chronopoulos, upon completion of his articles with Martini Barile, will clerk with the Federal Tax Court. He hopes to follow this with a clerkship in the U.S. Christopher Knowles is presently clerking with the Federal Court of Appeal. Farah Malik, upon completion of her articles with Gowlings, will clerk with the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Practice outside Ontario: Christopher Knowles, upon completion of his clerkship with the Federal Court of Appeal, will article with Fraser Milner Casgrain in Calgary, Alberta. Chris' future plans include taking the State Bar Exams for New York, Illinois, and Texas. U.S. Route: Kathleen Andrew is presently in Illinois and has recently passed the Illinois Bar exam. Christina Chen also chose to pursue the American legal market and successfully passed the Washington State Bar exam. Christina has decided to wait until the new year to find a full time job and, in the interim, she intends to volunteer at a legal aid clinic. Amanda Lamers, a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., is presently in Michigan and she recently passed the Michigan Bar exam. Marriages: Christina Chen is getting married this year - on December 27 in Taiwan. Trent Johnson will be getting married on December 30, 2004. Christopher Knowles married Nadia Bhatti '02 in June 2004. Also planning to marry are graduates Janie Lin and Mike Van Eesbeek - they have set a date for August 2005. The 2004 graduates of the J.D./LL.B. Program have demonstrated the wide range of opportunities available upon graduation. Many graduates are exploring the U.S. legal market with the intent to pursue a State Bar in the future, while others are currently taking full advantage of their U.S. law degrees. Both the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law would like to extend congratulations to the J.D./LL.B. Class of 2004.