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Congratulations to Schulich School of Law students Mike Coady and Ian Wilenius for winning scholarships awarded by the Legal Leaders for Diversity and Inclusion group (LLD) this year. The scholarships, designed to support students with disabilities studying law across the country, were presented recently by LLD Board of Trustee member John Rogers, a partner at Stewart McKelvey.

“It’s nice to be able to celebrate and provide some financial assistance to students on their way through law school,” says Rogers. “What’s going to be fun for us is following up with the students—finding out what they’re doing with their careers and telling those stories.”

This is the third year Stewart McKelvey has contributed to the program. When the trust was announced in 2014, LLD chairman Daniel Desjardins, senior vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Bombardier Inc., said law practitioners in Canada have a duty to advocate for greater inclusion in businesses and communities. The inclusion of lawyers facing physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments can be fostered with the help of the Legal Leaders for Diversity Trust Fund.

Career that opens doors

After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Saint Mary’s University in 2014, Coady decided to enrol in Dalhousie’s combined JD/MBA program.

“I was considering going to medical school because I have a science background, but I had a lot of concerns,” says Coady, who uses a wheelchair for mobility. “I never wanted to be ‘the best doctor I could be with a disability.’ I wanted to be the best doctor. With law, I felt I could be the best lawyer. This isn’t a career that’s likely to be impacted by my disability.”

Coady was born in Cape Breton and relocated with his family to Halifax when he was 12-years-old. When he was 16, he sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury in a snowboarding accident but still has varying degrees of mobility below his injury level.

Law keeps a lot of doors open and can get me where I want to be. — Mike Coady

Moving into courses for his MBA this year, Coady knows he made the right decision choosing Schulich Law. He believes his degree will help him find work that makes him happy.

“I want to have a career where I’m not limited in being able to do things with my wife and being able to make an impact. It’s something my wife and I talk about, what we want our legacy to be, what we want to work toward,” says Coady. “Law keeps a lot of doors open and can get me where I want to be.”

Chance encounter with Elizabeth May leads to JD/MPA

Born and raised in Ottawa, Wilenius decided to go to law school after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in law from Carleton University in 2014. A chance encounter with Dal alumna Elizabeth May inspired him to apply.

“We got to talking and she asked me about my career ambitions. I said, ‘Well, I’m thinking about law school,’ and she said, ‘Go to Dal law! You’ll love it!’ She wasn’t wrong.”

Wilenius, who is registered for second-year law courses and two MPA classes this year, decided to combine his law degree with a Master of Public Administration.

“My law courses at Carleton were mostly legal theory, and that was really cool to me,” says Wilenius. “After my undergrad, I started looking for ways I could be a part of that process and found the JD/MPA program at Dal. The combination really matched my interests in law and regulation and government.”  

From left: Dean Camille Cameron, Ian Wilenius, Mike Coady, Professor Elizabeth Hughes, and Stewart McKelvey Partner John Rogers (Photo: Nick Pearce)

Scholarship offers independence and starts important conversations

Coady and Wilenius share a mutual interest in policy and are excited to continue their legal studies with the help of their LLD scholarships.

“This scholarship helps me keep my debt level low,” says Coady. “It frees me up to do things like volunteer, stay active in my community and participate in board work, as well as focus on studying.”

“For me, it means a lot more independence from my parents,” says Wilenius. “Because of my muscular dystrophy, I’m not able to work while I study. So it’s really helpful to have that extra money to allow me to focus on one thing at a time and keep my energy where I need it to be.”

These kinds of conversations and accommodations might take some of the onus off the person who’s already facing challenges. — Ian Wilenius

Wilenius says it’s difficult for people with disabilities to have conversations about inclusion and accommodation in workplaces where there’s little knowledge or understanding of physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments.

“My disability is a lot less visible than a lot of other people’s, so it’s tough to talk about what you need and what your expectations are,” says Wilenius. “It’s nice knowing that these kinds of conversations and accommodations might take some of the onus off the person who’s already facing challenges.”

Dean Camille Cameron agrees. “In addition to giving law students valuable financial assistance, awards like this are an excellent way to ensure that there is conversation and dialogue about disability and its impacts, about the challenges that people with disabilities face, and about what each one of us can do to address those challenges,” she says.

Coady agrees these scholarships are a great way to start the conversation.

“People with disabilities have a unique perspective. I had an injury, so I had the perspective of very little adversity as a white, suburban male to then meeting a lot of barriers in my life using a wheelchair,” says Coady. “It makes me really aware, especially of issues in the disabled community and marginalized groups in general. Those barriers can manifest themselves in less visible ways, and it’s an important perspective for people entering the legal profession to consider, whether they’re representing those people specifically or trying to make systemic changes in policy.”

Wilenius encourages students with disabilities to seek opportunities that will help them realize their goals.

“It’s important to take these assists when you get them, because it frees you up to divert your energies to where they’re going to be most effective,” says Wilenius. “This scholarship is a big help. It makes a big difference. For me, it takes off a lot of stress, helps me focus on my studies, and, hopefully, do well.”