NCA Graduate Interview Series: Patrick Grzeszczuk
Greetings, NCA candidates! Continuing with our NCA graduate interview series, we have the pleasure of introducing Patrick Grzeszczuk, who has recently been called to the Ontario Bar!
Having completed the entire qualification process, Patrick has generously agreed to share his extensive knowledge and experience with all of you...
Could you tell us about your law school and the program you completed (e.g., 3-year LL.B, 2-year LL.B, etc.)?
I attended law school at City, University of London, in England. I completed an accelerated two-year Graduate Entry LL.B program.
How many NCA Exams were you assigned?
Upon returning to Canada, I was assigned seven NCA exams, consisting of five core exams and two elective subjects.
Could you share your approach to completing the NCA process and how long it took you?
While there are various ways to approach these exams, I opted for self-study and treated this process as if it were a so-called third year of law school.
With this particular approach, I completed the exams within seven months. I made a conscious decision to fully immerse myself in each topic of study, and I found this approach to be immensely valuable. By the time I completed all the assessed exams, I had developed a deep understanding of specific areas of practice and created a personal archive of detailed notes and reference material.
It's worth noting that my approach took longer than some of my colleagues' approaches. Some have managed to complete all seven exams in one sitting, which is entirely possible. However, how a student chooses to approach these exams is a personal decision based on their comfort levels.
What are you currently doing?
At the moment, I am an Associate Lawyer at a boutique law office in Toronto that offers legal services in Real Estate, Wills & Estates, and Family Law. Additionally, I am in the early planning stages of launching a law firm with another colleague in 2021. The idea behind this venture is to provide innovative and unique delivery of legal services to clients in the Greater Toronto Area.
Could you share a critical lesson you learned through the NCA process?
Through the NCA process, I discovered that the examinations are not designed for students to fail. This sentiment was echoed by many of my friends as well. The exams are fair, and if you invest time in creating good notes, practicing questions, and developing a solid strategy, you will be well-positioned to perform well.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
Not at all. I carefully crafted my approach with the primary objective of genuinely learning about each area of law being assessed. My recommendation to others is to find an approach that works for them, develop their strategy, and seek guidance from those who have completed the process.
And that concludes our interview for this week! Stay tuned for more perspectives from recent NCA graduates in our upcoming interviews!
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