Convocation profile: A passion for the law

For Katie Sykes, the Schulich School of Law feels just like home.

After graduating at the top of her class from the University of Toronto’s law school, she did a master’s in law at Harvard University and went on to work at a major law firm in New York City. Her passion for legal scholarship brought her to Dalhousie in 2009 and so far, she’s never looked back.

“I love the Maritimes – the scenery, the people, – Nova Scotia is just so beautiful,” she says. “I decided to come to Dal because I knew I wanted to focus my research on animal law and luckily there was a wonderful prof here who was willing to work with me.”  

This fall, Ms. Sykes will be graduating with her second master’s degree in law, focusing on animal welfare and international law. And while her list of research projects and academic accomplishments are diverse, one thing’s for sure: her interest in the intellectual side of law isn’t going away any time soon.

“Law is all about seeing multiple sides to the story,” she explains. “I’ve always enjoyed the problem-solving skills required in law because they fit nicely with the way I think.”

Since being at Dal, Ms. Sykes has been involved in many extracurricular activities that allow her to not only concentrate on her research interests but to give back in a big way. She’s been involved in government as the LLM rep to the Graduate Studies Committee in the Faculty of Law as well as re-starting the Student Animal Law Association of Dalhousie, a previously existing society that had gone dormant for a while, with some other fellow students. She’s also a teaching assistant with the College of Sustainability.

Ms. Sykes has already started her doctoral work in environmental and international law with hopes of being a university law professor someday. And while she’s unsure of where she’ll be teaching, it’s safe to say her students will be well-versed in many aspects of the law. Case closed.