In this Guide
Learn the many ways you can extend your classroom experience to the real world.
- Take Law and Society courses including Introduction to Law and Society I and II, and explore other programs of interest through a wide range of electives in complementary fields.
- Enhance your academic experience at Laurier through professional one-on-one, online and peer-to-peer resources available through Academic Advising and Support and the Library.
- Enrol in Law and Society courses including The Canadian Legal System I and II, Perspectives on Justice, and Ethics and Professionalization.
- Attend student conferences including the Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS), local undergraduate and graduate conferences, or the Canadian Law and Society Association.
- If you’re thinking about applying to graduate or professional school, talk with your professors and visit the Career Centre.
- Learn about Research and Instructional Assistantship opportunities in Law & Society.
- Present your work at the Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS) or at local undergraduate and graduate conferences.
- Propose topics for directed study courses in your fourth year and talk with your professors about these opportunities. Gain workplace experience through an internship course.
- If you’re applying to graduate school or professional school, sign up for a scholarship proposal writing workshop and book a further education application appointment.
As a Law and Society student, you can:
- Join student clubs such as the Law & Society Students' Association, Laurier Moot Court, Faculty of Liberal Arts Student Society (FLASS), Women in Law Laurier (Brantford), or Student Rights Advisory Committee and build leadership skills through joining an executive team.
- Sit as a member of the Laurier Brantford Mock Trial Club.
- Become a student member of the Canadian Criminal Justice Association and/or the Ontario Bar Association.
- Check out the Experience Catalogue for a full list of co-curricular experiences that are currently offered across campus.
- Volunteer with the Students’ Union (e.g., Laurier Orientation, Hawk Walk, EcoHawks, Food Bank, Emergency Response Team, Shinerama).
- Volunteer on campus with the Accessible Learning, Global Engagement, Sustainability Office, Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, WLU Student Publications and more.
- Get involved in the local community by volunteering off campus.
- Apply for on-campus jobs:
- Check Navigator frequently for job postings or contact individual departments directly.
- Search for job opportunities on the Students’ Union website.
- If you meet eligibility criteria, apply for the Laurier Work Study Program or International Student Work Experience Program.
- Attend Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Explore ways to get involved in research.
- Look into StartUp Lab opportunities for support in launching a new venture.
Job/Volunteer Search Tips
- While on-campus opportunities are posted year-round, recruitment often starts early! Start looking in the winter term for opportunities in the following academic year.
- Have your resumé and LinkedIn profile reviewed by Career Centre staff for both on and off-campus opportunities.
- Laurier offers a variety of co-curricular certificates that you can complete during your studies. Earn certificates in topics including academic development, professional development, wellness, leadership and career development.
- Participate in workshops, programming and events offered by the Career Centre, Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support, Laurier Library, the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and more.
- Engage in the First-Year Leadership Program including Campus Councils and House Council and the Leadership Certificate.
- Connect with Global Engagement to learn about international options available to you including opportunities abroad and language and culture sharing programs.
Design Your Degree
These are a few popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge. See undergraduate options, minors and courses for more information.
Develop Your Knowledge and Skills
As a Laurier student, you will develop the following competencies through your curricular and co-curricular experiences.
Competency Framework
Competencies are categories of transferrable skills that appear on your online Experience Record to help you reflect on what you've learned from your experiences. The competencies include:
- Adaptability and Resiliency
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Communication
- Creativity and Innovation
- Critical Thinking
- Digital Literacy
- Diversity and Intercultural Understanding
- Functional Knowledge
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Professional Attributes
- Self-Awareness
Functional Knowledge
- Using an interdisciplinary perspective, gain an understanding of law as an integrated component of society and consider social forces that influence and are influenced by law.
- Apply theoretical frameworks to assist in understanding and challenging law and its applications such as feminist, anti-racist and anti-colonial theory, collective and individual rights, and distinctions between private and public spheres.
- Develop an awareness of human and social behaviour and the application of this information for policy development.
- Interpret and assess the ethical and social impacts of legal and policy changes on social issues, people and communities.
- Develop questions that expose the underlying assumptions of law.
- Strengthen your transferrable skills, including writing, communication and research alongside critical ‘soft skills’ like teamwork and time management.
Discover Career Options
All your experiences at Laurier can help you prepare for your future. Attend Career Centre events and workshops or book a career consulting appointment to explore career and further education options.
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Pursuing Further Education
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Employed
16 Law and Society respondents from the 2024 Laurier Graduate Survey conducted by the Career Centre. Graduates were surveyed within 12 months of graduation. Other includes those travelling, volunteering or out of the workforce. 6% of graduates were looking for employment when survey data collection ended.
Alumni Career and Pathways
Sample Further Education Programs Within the First Year After Graduation
- JD - Law
- Master’s Degree - Social Work
- College Program - Law Clerk, Human Resources
Sample Jobs Within the First Year After Graduation
- banking advisor
- border services officer
- correctional officer
- court and client representative
- crisis and support worker
- executive assistant
Careers Of Alumni Two to Five Years After Graduation
- account manager
- banking law clerk
- criminal intelligence analyst
- information analyst/researcher
- information management officer
- law library assistant
- lawyer
- learning & organizational development specialist
- legal administrator
- small business consultant
Career Options and Resources
Need some guidance on what you can do with your degree? Discover some career options and find resources to help guide you.
Career and Industry Options
- communications/public relations
- counselling/social work
- criminal justice
- diplomacy/international relations
- education/teaching
- government
- human resources
- immigration
- Indigenous justice
- journalism/media
- law/legal field
- mediation and dispute resolution
- non-profit/advocacy
- politics
- public policy
- refugee settlement and support
- research/market analysis
- social services
Career Resources
Your Experiences Tell Your Story
Share your story through your Laurier Experience Record. An interactive, shareable and official record of your hands-on experiences and learning opportunities at Laurier – the first of its kind in Canada!
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