NCA Graduate Interview Series: Anthony Durante
Hello NCA candidates! Today, we continue with our NCA graduate interview series. Today’s graduate is Anthony Durante who was also recently called to the Ontario Bar and is currently working as an associate lawyer in the greater Toronto area!
Anthony also writes a blog on Business, Construction, Family, and Personal Injury Law and has agreed to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with all of you…
Where did you go to Law School and what kind of program did you complete (e.g. 3yr LL.B, 2yr LL.B, etc.)?
I attended City University of London Law School in London, England. I completed the 2 year, advanced LL.B program.
How many NCA Exams were you assigned?
I was assigned the five core NCA exams.
How did you complete the NCA process and how long did it take you?
I completed the NCA Process via a Canadian masters program (LL.M) — the 1 Year Canadian Common Law LLM program at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. This took me about 12 months to complete and it satisfied all of my NCA requirements.
I specifically chose this route because I would be able to attend to structured classes taught by knowledgeable professors. Although I am capable of self-study, which is required for the NCA exams, the structure offered by the LLM program allowed me to schedule my weeks in advance. This structure really assisted me with my time management, especially because I was working part-time whilst studying.
In addition, I believe the Masters provided me with more in-depth knowledge, as each course would run for a few months, and I had the ability to dive deeper into the topics discussed. I would often engage in presentations and writing essays, which all contributed to this deeper, enriching learning experience. I felt I was able to learn what was required for my NCA accreditation and then some.
The diversity within the program was also a positive. Not only did we discuss topics in the context of Canadian Common Law, however, that context was discussed among individuals with different backgrounds. For example, some individuals obtained their law degree in Australia, while others obtained their law degree in India. Therefore, the diversity in the discussions deployed during the classes provided a different perspective on the law in and of itself.
What are you doing now?
I am currently working as an Associate Lawyer at a small law firm located in Vaughan Ontario. I practice Family Law, Construction Law, Civil Law, and Estates Law.
What is something critical you learned through the NCA process?
Every candidate is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, don’t focus on what others need to do in order to satisfy their NCA requirements. Focus on what the NCA expects from you and before you know it, the process will be complete.
In hindsight, would you do anything differently?
I’ve always pondered this question. Truthfully, I would do everything the exact same way. The ability to study abroad, along with completing my accreditation back home in Canada, allowed for an intricate balance and perspective on the law.
That wraps our interview for this week! Join us next time for more perspectives from more recent NCA grads!
- Tiffany