Today, our Birmingham Law School campus Ambassador, Ryan Dzingala, had the opportunity to interview Elad Travis, a Bennett Jones Corporate Lawyer and NCA Tutor™️ Mentor. In this interview, Elad shared his journey from being a lawyer in Israel to pursuing a successful legal career in Canada through the NCA process.
Ryan (RD): To provide some context for readers, can you tell us about your international educational background and career before coming to Canada? Where did you study for your undergraduate degree and law degree?
Elad Travis (ET): Sure! I am Israeli, and I studied in Israel. I completed my undergraduate and law degrees at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which is one of the leading universities in Israel. After graduating, I articled for Herzog, Fox, and Neeman, the largest law firm in Israel.
RD: Did you always know that you wanted to pursue a career in law?
ET: As I got older, I realized that I wanted to be a lawyer. I enjoy practicing law, but during my time at school, I discovered how much I also enjoy studying the law. I hope to contribute to the academic side of law one day. Nevertheless, I always wanted to practice law.
RD: When did you figure out the specific area of law that interested you the most and wanted to pursue?
ET: During school, I took some courses in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and antitrust law. Antitrust law, in particular, piqued my interest, and I knew that was what I wanted to pursue. During my pre-articling experience in Israel (summering with a law firm), I was assigned to the real estate group. Although I realized that real estate law was not my preference, the experience was still valuable.
RD: After practicing for several years in corporate law, what influenced your decision to pursue a legal career in Canada?
ET: I worked as an associate in antitrust and corporate and securities law. Later, I moved to a smaller big firm that specialized in antitrust. After seven years of practicing in Israel, I moved to Canada for family reasons, as my wife is Canadian. We moved to Toronto about five years ago, and I quickly started the NCA process. Due to my previous experience and education, I was assigned five exams.
RD: Could you briefly describe the legal system in Israel for readers who may not be familiar with it?
ET: Israel's legal system is an interesting case of a mixed jurisdiction. It is mostly a common law system, influenced by British law because of the British Mandate. The British ruled Israel from 1921 to 1948, and until 1986, Israeli courts used UK law as precedent. Additionally, remnants of laws from the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the area before British rule, can still be found. Family law in Israel operates under religious jurisdiction, with Jewish and Muslim religious courts sometimes operating parallel to the civil family courts. Overall, it's a unique legal system, but since Israel is 90% common law, it was relatively easy for me to transition to the Canadian legal system.
RD: What challenges did you face during the NCA process and in getting your law degree accredited in Canada?
ET: There were both professional and personal challenges, especially as I moved to a new country. However, I had a support system through my wife's family, which was helpful. The NCA exams were not overly difficult for me. I received a lot of help from Liran, and the prep courses and exam workshops were beneficial. I took a few private lessons with Liran on topics where I felt I needed extra support, such as administrative law. Overall, the NCA process wasn't too difficult for me, and I was fortunate to pass the exams on my first attempt. The bar exam was challenging, but manageable. The hardest part was juggling my studies with taking care of my four children, including newborn twins. I must emphasize that I was lucky not to have to work during that time, as we were living on savings. If I had needed to work while studying, it would have been much more challenging to manage everything.
RD: Some international students have been told that the NCA exams expect them to think and write in a specific way, similar to Canadian-educated students. Did you have to adapt your writing style or study approach to succeed in the NCA exams?
ET: Fortunately, the way things are taught in Israel is similar to the way things are taught in Canada. Additionally, the classes with Liran were very helpful in teaching me how to approach the exam questions correctly. Many times, candidates may have all the relevant information but struggle with presenting it effectively or emphasizing the right points. Liran's courses and assistance really prepared me well for the NCA exams. Had I attempted to study independently, it might not have been as straightforward.
RD: Employers in Canada may be skeptical about hiring internationally trained lawyers due to unfamiliarity with legal styles and practices from other countries. What advice would you give to students seeking articling positions to highlight their international education and legal experience?
ET: Finding an articling position was a significant challenge for me. I searched for a job for almost a year, and when I finally got an opportunity, I took it. Looking for work was like having a full-time job for me. It was quite frustrating at times because I thought I had started on.
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