This article was first published in the .
When Rebecca Critchley (MA鈥�08) applied for the Pamela and Andrew Brands Scholarship in International Law in 2012, the first-year Dalhousie law student was hoping for a satisfying summer work experience. The scholarship funds a summer abroad, split between the London office of international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills and a non-governmental organization (NGO) of the student鈥檚 choice. What Critchley didn鈥檛 anticipate was that her career track would be dramatically altered as a result.
Born in South Africa of British parents, Critchley was primed to seek out an opportunity out of Canada. 鈥淭he whole reason I applied was because I wanted to go and work for the NGO for the summer,鈥� says Critchley, who admits she was much less enthused at the thought of working with the prestigious seventh-largest firm in the world. 鈥淚 thought 鈥業鈥檒l give the firm a try, but I know I don鈥檛 want to do corporate stuff.鈥� And I got put into financial regulation.鈥� Which, it turns out, she loved: her experience included attending a meeting between lawyers and Britain鈥檚 Treasury over proposed new regulations of the financial industry. 鈥淭here was an argument for about an hour and a half over the use of one word in the legislation,鈥� she says.听 鈥淔or me it was just fascinating.鈥�
After her three weeks in London, Critchley went to Togo, in West Africa, and spent five weeks working with a group that defends civil rights. She helped prepare a report to the United Nations on torture and also contributed to an environmental law database that the group will draw on in response to the growing mining industry.
Andrew Brands (LLB鈥�79) could not be happier with the experience of the first recipient of his unique gift to the law school. Born out of a long discussion and, he admits, 鈥減robably too much wine鈥� with his wife, Pamela, the scholarship鈥檚 intent is to give a student 鈥渁 mind-changing, career-changing event,鈥� says Brands, a senior vice-president and general counsel for Great West Life.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been fortunate and we鈥檝e always thought it important to be involved with the community,鈥� Brands says, adding that he and his wife had tired of simply serving on boards and going to gala dinners.
鈥淲e want to do something that is going to have some psychic return to us but also is going to benefit the law school and raise its profile internationally.鈥�
Funding real-world experiences
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Their gift 鈥� $12,000 a year for five years 鈥� allows a Dalhousie student to join dozens of mostly British students for a 鈥渧acation scheme鈥� internship at Herbert Smith Freehills, which Brands hopes will increase Schulich School of Law鈥檚 profile internationally. 鈥淭he NGO was Dean Kim Brooks鈥� idea, which I think is what makes this program unique because it makes the student an active participant rather than a passive recipient,鈥� 鈥╯ays Brands.
Dean Brooks says she enjoyed helping Pamela and Andrew Brands craft the terms of the scholarship, and now has worked with two more donors to also fund experiences for first-year law students.
鈥淭he students work really hard in first year, they learn a ton, and then they realize that the jobs that are available are the same jobs that they had the summer before,鈥� says Brooks of her wish to direct more resources towards first-year students. 鈥淟ots of them find that hugely disappointing.鈥�
She says a gift like the Pamela and Andrew Brands Scholarship in International Law is 鈥渉elpful to our students in a different way than something like a scholarship or bursary,鈥� because it funds exposure to a work experience they otherwise wouldn鈥檛 have.
And potentially to a career direction they wouldn鈥檛 otherwise have contemplated: Critchley has applied and been accepted for a two-year training contract with Herbert Smith Freehills to start immediately after she graduates from law school. 鈥淚 will end up with English qualifications and will be practising in the London office to begin with,鈥� says Critchley, who says she looks forward to the day when Herbert Smith Freehills may open an office in Africa. 鈥淚 would really like to be one of the first people that they send.鈥�