Congratulations to the recipients of this year's Bennett Jones Future Leaders in Law Scholarship Program. The scholarship program was created to provide financial support and mentorship to first-year law students who have a demonstrated interest in business law and identify as members of the Indigenous or Black communities, and/or are among the first generation of their immediate family to undertake post-secondary education.
Selected after a rigorous review process, the 2024 recipients of the Bennett Jones Future Leaders in Law Scholarship are:
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Aidan Mitchell-Boudreau, University of Toronto: Aidan is a proud Mohawk woman with roots at Six Nations of the Grand River, and a first-generation post-secondary student. Prior to attending law school, Aidan achieved great academic success at the University of Toronto while also working in several research focused roles with the university, the government and in the private sector. Through these positions, as well as recent internships with legal teams at a full-service law firm and the Bank of Montreal, Aidan found ways to blend her interest in both Indigenous rights and business law, ultimately developing a passion for corporate governance, cybersecurity and Indigenous data sovereignty. |
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Kosheen Mehndi Ratta, University of Windsor: Kosheen is a first-generation immigrant in Canada. She recently graduated with a BSc in Life Sciences and a certification in Applied Ethics and Policy from McMaster University, where she distinguished herself academically, receiving multiple awards for her success. While at McMaster, she actively pursued opportunities to develop her leadership skills. She successfully balanced her studies with full-time employment as a retail sales manager and her responsibilities as the founder and president of Transition State, a club at McMaster dedicated to easing the transition to university for incoming students. Her most recent experience as a legal assistant at the Toronto Port Authority has sparked her interest in business law, and she aspires to eventually practice in the areas of corporate governance, cybersecurity and airport infrastructure. |
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Iza Mabanza, University of British Columbia: Iza is a Black first-generation law student whose pathway to law school is one of resiliency, leadership and giving back. Throughout his time studying political science at McMaster University, Iza was actively involved in his community, while also working part-time in customer and client service. He found ways to use and openly share his unique experiences as a Black and gay man, and as a childhood cancer survivor, to inform and support his work with campus organizations, as well as in counseling peers through the challenges of sexuality and identity. In the professional world, Iza uses his kindness, empathy and unique ability to create safe spaces to foster trust and respect in client interactions, a skill which will prove invaluable as he pursues a career in business law. |
Each scholarship comprises $10,000 for use towards first-year tuition, and is complemented by mentorship, networking and learning opportunities. Recipients are also eligible to apply for an additional $10,000 per year for their second and third year of law school.
Bennett Jones received over 90 applications from individuals representing Black, Indigenous and first-generation post-secondary law students across the country. Each applicant shared their own powerful messages of adversity, hope and resilience as they pursued higher education.
The Future Leaders in Law Scholarship Program is aimed at reducing the barriers for under-represented groups entering the legal profession. It is part of Bennett Jones' broader commitment to establishing and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace, reflective of the global marketplace it serves.
For more on information on the Future Leaders in Law Scholarship Program and terms of eligibility, please visit our Scholarship page.
Bennett Jones is one of Canada’s premier business law firms and home to 500 lawyers and business advisors. With deep experience in complex transactions and litigation matters, the firm is well equipped to advise businesses and investors with Canadian ventures and connect Canadian businesses and investors with opportunities around the world. Serving clients since 1922, we are proud to be the firm that businesses trust with their most complex legal matters.