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Congratulations to the Schulich School of Law’s Class of 2025! In the coming weeks, we’ll feature Q&As with graduating law students who will reflect on their time at Weldon.

Today we're talking to Ana Speranza.

Why did you want to attend the Schulich School of Law?

I was drawn to Schulich Law based on its reputation for collegiality and commitment to public service, which reflected the reasons why I wanted to pursue law as a career. I also was excited to live by the ocean and wanted to be able to get outside easily (and as much as possible) while completing my degree. Additionally, Schulich Law has a unique position as a ‘National’ school with a strong alumni network across Canada.

In what ways were you involved with the law school community?

I was very lucky to get involved with the ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Law Hiking Society during 1L and continue with the society throughout all three years of my degree. It’s been amazing to explore Nova Scotia and learn of its history while also getting to know folks across the different cohorts.

I was also a pro-bono volunteer on three different projects over the last three years. Schulich Law has such a strong pro-bono program and culture. It is such a privilege to get to learn and explore different interests with such wonderful organizations. This year, I was a student with the Canada-US Border Rights Clinic, which provides legal assistance to migrants looking to make refugee claims at the land border. This can be tricky due to the operation of the Safe Third Country Agreement. The work of the clinic feels especially important given the recent broad-sweeping human-rights violations of the US under the Trump administration. I’m hoping to continue volunteering with the clinic after graduation.

I was also involved with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Student Chapter this past year. We were a small but mighty team, and I’m so proud that we were able to organize a round-table event to bring together several migrant-serving organizations in the HRM to build connections.

What does the Weldon Tradition mean to you?

To me, the Weldon Tradition means working to make the community, on both a local and larger scale, a better, more accessible, just, and equitable place for all. It is about care and responsibility for one another. It has been a pleasant surprise that so much of my Weldon experience has been shaped by feelings of hope towards the way these values can be achieved through law. I feel incredibly lucky to have learned from faculty and classmates who embody this tradition and are fighting to bring its potential into reality.

What is your favourite law school memory?

After our first Public Law exam, one of my friends made lasagna (as comfort food) and a group of us gathered at her place to debrief. While we were all a bit shell shocked, there was also a sense of relief in being together that was really special. Moments of connection like these tend to blur together in my memory, but it really is the sense of community — running into someone in the library and having a quick chat, sitting in the chairs outside to catch some sun, grabbing a coffee between classes — that made this program unlike any other I’ve been a part of.

What will you miss most about Schulich Law?

I will definitely miss the people. One of the wonderful and tough things about this school is that everyone ends up going all sorts of places. I will have friends in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Vancouver, and almost anywhere in between. I will also miss learning from the faculty. There are so many courses that I would have loved to take but did not get a chance to.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I am heading to Toronto to article at the Ministry of the Attorney General in the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee. Before then, I’m hoping to do some camping around the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence, and to travel to see my grandparents in Buenos Aires.

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