Kaitlin McNeil’s interest in language learning and law was sparked in her teenage years while on a trip to Ecuador where she volunteered to help underrepresented youth and people in poverty.
She says “seeing people in a vulnerable state” really impacted her, especially knowing she would be going back home while those living in poverty would continue with their day-to-day struggles.
“I think that's where my passion for law really picked up,” says Kaitlin, who graduates this spring from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with a double major in Law, Justice & Society (LJSO) and Spanish.
Knowing that I could combine these two passions and integrate them into a degree ... sold me.
She realized abroad that studying these two areas could enable her to support underrepresented groups in even more ways.
“Knowing that I could combine these two passions and integrate them into a degree where, one, I'm doing something that I thoroughly enjoy, and two, I could use these tools to help other people in the future — that was just something that was a non-negotiable for me that sold me,” she says.
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It’s also a combination that has prepared her for the next phase of her journey — beginning a law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie this fall.
Choosing Dal, finding direction
Kaitlin chose to study at Dal for two primary reasons.
Growing up in Cape Breton, she wanted a change of scenery with opportunities to try new things but didn’t want to move too far away from home. And with aspirations of a future in law, when she heard that Dal has the LJSO program, “that was an immediate yes for me,” she says.
In high school, Kaitlin volunteered as an ambassador for international students. She says it was an amazing experience to work with and help people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This led her to realize a main issue the international students experienced was language barriers.
“So, instead of that being a limitation, that really motivated me to be passionate about languages and step out of my comfort zone to make others feel more welcome and included as well.”
Kaitlin says languages have been incredibly useful to her not only for her personal development and travel experiences, but also in communicating with other people in ways that can better assist them.
Kaitlin says the interdisciplinary LJSO program set her “up for success in a whole different way,” allowing her to study a combination of courses in sociology, social anthropology, philosophy, history, and political science — all that combined with her Spanish studies kept things fresh for her.
“Doing that code switch and feeling almost refreshed going to different classes and doing something totally unrelated was very fun for me,” she says.
Leadership through service
This summer, Katilin will fill the time between her Dal degrees by returning for a third summer as a peer advisor with Dal’s Bissett Student Success Centre — a role she says has expanded her skill set and boosted her confidence.
It’s one of many ways she has helped support others on campus over the years.
She revived the Dal Spanish and Latin American Studies Society, was a mentor with the Together@Dal program, and served as a tutor in the Spanish department. She also spent three years working as a Community Assistant Team member in residence, a role for which she was recognized with a Residence Life Leadership Impact Award in 2024.
Between these experiences and support she herself has received through her undergraduate studies, Kaitlin says she is feeling well set up for law school this fall.
“It makes me very eager and excited to start this journey at Schulich Law.”