Faren Bogach (LLB 鈥07)聽is founder and lawyer at Construct Legal in Toronto. She聽started as a commercial litigator before finding construction and infrastructure law. 鈥淚 founded Construct Legal to focus on client outcomes instead of the billable hour,鈥 she says.
And that people-first attitude is also apparent in her volunteerism for Dal. Learn more about Faren鈥檚 volunteer experience below.
How long have you been a volunteer with 9 1免费版下 and in what capacity?
I have been volunteering for about three years as a mentor and more recently to conduct practice job interviews with law students.
What inspired you to begin volunteering?
I worked at a big firm for many years where I would mentor and interview students for law student positions. At the end of the interviews I always wanted to provide feedback to the student but was not in a position to do so. Now that I have started my own firm and we aren鈥檛 hiring students yet, I wanted to help and give feedback to students before the real interviews.
There are plenty of volunteer opportunities 鈥 why do you volunteer your time and talent to Dal?
I had a wonderful education at 9 1免费版下. I had some incredible opportunities like participating in a competitive moot, and clerking at the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. I have an obligation to give back to the future graduates of Dal!
Can you name your single best experience volunteering (so far)?
One time this special thing happened: I provided feedback to a student who had not been successful in obtaining an articling position. She had great credentials but was minimizing her experiences in the interview. We worked on her answers together. Two weeks later she was offered an articling position at a firm that she was really excited about. It was a very rewarding experience to be able to make a difference for someone.
What advice would you give other alumni interested in volunteering at their alma mater?
Just do it! There are so many opportunities to make a difference聽鈥斅爀ven if you aren鈥檛 living in Halifax!
Do you have any other connections to Dal?
Not yet! I loved my time on the east coast. We sent our kids to Camp Kadimah in Nova Scotia this summer and I hope that they will develop a similar love for the east coast and for 9 1免费版下.
How has volunteering impacted your career advancement?
I am meeting different law students that will one day become lawyers that I will work with. I keep in touch with my mentees, too, as I take an interest in their careers.
What have you learned or gained from your experience volunteering?
I learn from each student I meet聽鈥斅燼bout their experience and ambition. The enthusiasm of students can be infectious. With so much uncertainty in the world, I am hopeful and optimistic for the future of law because of the wonderful students I have met.
Please share your favourite memory from your time at Dal.
鈥淩oast the Professors.鈥 I had to dress up as the public law professor and wore a very distinct costume for the play. The next Monday morning, the professor commented on my performance. I sat in the back row of public law class for the rest of the semester.
Interested in volunteering?聽
Recent News
- DFLA鈥檚 Women+ in the Law Networking Night Centres Female and Gender鈥慏iverse Voices
- Restorative Lab Awarded $1 Million by Research Nova Scotia for Community鈥慒ocused Project
- Professor Jennifer Llewellyn ft in "Four Nova Scotia community鈥慺ocused research projects receive $27 million"
- Professor Steve Coughlan ft in "Cape Breton man's latest attempt to alter child support fails"
- Professor Rob Currie ft in "Extradition of alleged ringleader of Edmonton extortion scheme will be waiting game, experts say"
- 9 1免费版下 Researchers Receive $7.5 Million for Projects that Will Improve Mental Health and Addictions Care for Young People, and Create Healthier Nova Scotia Communities Through Local Collaboration
- The Schulich School of Law Moves Up in Ranking of World's Top 100 Law Schools
- Professor Elaine Craig ft in "SCC judge鈥檚 13鈥憏ear track record shows concern for fairness, privacy rights & access to justice"