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Clubs on campus offer an opportunity for networking and career development. Nadia Grant and Lucy Abatai co-founded the º£½ÇÉçÇø’s chapter for Black Future Lawyers (BFL) to offer both while enhancing diversity and representation in the university’s law school and the wider legal field in Alberta. 

I spoke with Nadia about her experience launching BFL and the importance of representation for Black prospective and current law students at the º£½ÇÉçÇø and beyond. 

BFL’s goals include fostering community on campus and offering resources such as mentorship, LSAT and application support for Black students on the path to law school. One of the driving forces to establish a BFL chapter on campus was a that shed light on the underrepresentation of Black students in Canada’s 24 law schools — º£½ÇÉçÇø being the lowest. 

What’s the importance of BFL?

BFL targets a unique demographic on campus: a club for undergraduate Black students interested in law school. It highlights a gap that’s often overlooked. It centres on students who might not find support in other aspects on campus. As a prospective law student and a member of various student groups, Nadia was inspired to enhance representation in Canadian law schools.

How does BFL support its members?

With less than a year since their official start as a club, BFL has made significant headway in supporting future Black lawyers. BFL is working towards connecting undergraduate students with law firms to gain real-world experience in the summer. Additionally, Nadia shares they have collaborated with the º£½ÇÉçÇø Faculty of Law to brainstorm initiatives that support Black students, one being a free LSAT course run by the faculty that will commence this summer. 

Nadia highlights that BFL welcomes students of varying academic interests and backgrounds. She explains, “It’s like a [guide] for people who maybe don’t have a set plan [...] and shows you potential paths that you can take [in your career].”

A highlight for the club was attending the 34th Black Law Students Association of Canada National Conference as º£½ÇÉçÇø representatives. It allowed club members to connect with law students and professionals and gain more insight on how BFL can support its members.

Nadia describes it as “super inspiring” to hear from current Black students and professors. Seeing representation in law schools and legal fields is important as it encourages Black students to continue pursuing a law career and supports them in achieving their goals. 

How does BFL impact º£½ÇÉçÇø as a whole?

Clubs like BFL are vital to our campuses and wider communities. BFL’s goals confront not only diversity in law school admissions but also representation in legal fields and governing bodies. Nadia explains, “The legal field is a pillar in [every] functioning society.” Representation in governing bodies is essential when decisions impact large communities so that diverse perspectives and experiences are accounted for. 

“Increasing the amount of Black people that are in these [spaces] and helping make these changes is going to, overall, create a more equal and just [...] system,” Nadia shared.

Conclusion

Clubs like BFL are vital to our campus community. They connect like-minded students, foster a sense of community and belonging and help support Black students in career development. BFL's a fundamental piece in addressing the gap in representation for Black students in Canadian law schools. 

It’s also important to recognize how such clubs benefit us all by supporting the cultivation of equal and just professional environments. Supporting them is one of the many ways we can continue to work toward equality and inclusion within our campus community.