Open the Letter.

It was a great sunny day when suddenly, I checked the mailbox that afternoon. I noticed there it was a plain white envelope with my name and college Ahuntsic's logo on it. It took me a moment realising that it was actually for me. In the Inside was my answer: “You have been accepted into the Paralegal Technology program at Collège Ahuntsic.” I sat on the couch and read it over and over again. Ever since my uncle lost his garage because of a legal issue with a commercial lease, I wanted to know how the law really works. Not just the courtroom drama you see on TV, but the real stuff documents, deadlines, and decisions that impact people's lives.

Choice 1 : Start the Program.

Choice 2 : Take a Gap Year.

Start the Program.

I was still surprised and held it tightly in my hands. For a moment, all I could do was stare at the words and was still trying to grasp what it meant. Before I realized, September arrived. The first day felt like everyone else knew what they were doing but I didn't. My first class was called ''Civil Procedure''. I didnt know anyone in that class, so i just decided to sit behind the class. But once the teacher started explaining how the Quebec court system actually work. it started making sense for me. It wasn’t easy for me but somehow I managed to get the hang of it. We learned how to write a demand letter. I kept revising mine and i was just really worried I would just mess up. After that, we learned about mortgages and how to notify someone when taking action on them. It reminded me of my uncle and what he had lost. I wanted to help people understand the law before it was too late. Later in the semester, a paralegal from a bailiff’s office came to speak to us. She shared to us some stories about seizing property and serving documents under pressure.

Choice 1 : Intern at the Bailiff’s Office.

Choice 2 : Volunteer at Legal Aid.

Take a Gap Year.

After reading my admission letter, my friends thought I’d be staring the semester right away But to be honest, I just wasn't feeling ready at all going to classes and doing a lot of assignements. I knew if I forced myself to go to school, I’d probably end up failing all my classes. So I made a hard choice and took a gap year. At first, it was nice knowing I didnt had any exams but I needed a job. Eventually I started looking for a job and found a one as a receptionist. It wasn’t anything special but I mostly just answered phones, filed papers, and grabbed coffee for people. But after a long moment working there, I started to really notice how things worked around me. I saw the paralegals writing documents, meeting deadlines, and talking to clients like they’d done it a thousand times. I even started asking questions about their work and studies, and even stayed a bit late sometimes just to watch what they were doing. I made a friend called Karine. She showed me how to fill out a small claims form. At first, I messed up a few times, but I started get the hang of it easily. Eventually, I felt like I could actually help.

Choice 1 : Apply to the Paralegal Program at Ahuntsic

Choice 2 : Travel Abroad for Legal Experience.

Intern at the Bailiff’s Office.

After I finished the Paralegal Technology program, I got an internship at a bailiff’s office. From the very first day, the work was serious. My boss gave me a file with a notice to deliver to a client. We drove to the address and put the document on the door. Then, he told me that it was neccassary that we took a photo to show that was actually did it right. When we got back at the office, I started helping prepare a return of service. Everything had to be just right. I also organized files for court and helped write simple letters for clients. I remember this one day, I got a phone call and when I answered the call, the person was actually really scared because they received a legal notice. I explained them what the letter meant, and they thanked me, and felt really proud of myself.

Choice 1 : Apply to Become a Bailiff.

Choice 2 : Look for a Job in Ligitation.

Apply to Become a Bailiff.

I decided to go forward and apply to become a bailiff. I took all the courses I needed and somehow passed all the exams. After that, I started getting more responsibilities. I even worked on some really hard cases, which was crazy to me because I would’ve never thought I’d get that far. A few years later, people in the bailiff's office (lawyers, notaries) started to know my name and started respecting me for what I knew and how I stayed calm during hard times. I felt like what I was doing was right and I always made sure the decisions made by the court were right and justified. I wouldn't trade my work for anything in this world, I'm happy I got this far and glad I made friends at work.

Choice 1 : End

Look for a Job in Ligitation.

After I came back from my internship, I was ready for more challenges, so I started looking around for a job began opportunities, I wanted a job in litigation in paricular. I was lucky enough to find a job as a paralegal. I was a bit overwhelmed when i started the job because I knew how difficult it is, but I got used on how to handle case files and do legal research. I found it a bit tough because of the amount of hard work, but I somehow loved every part of it. After a while, i got used to it, and i began having more responsibilities, but it was a part of the job. After all, I'm happy i decided to go in ligitation because it pays really good even tho it wasnt easy at first.

Choice 1 : End

Volunteer at Legal Aid.

Since, I wanted to get some a real experience, I decided to sign up to volunteer at Legal Aid. I really wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but like we say, we only live once so I'm glad i did it. I mostly guided people to know their rights and also for those who couldn’t afford a lawyer. I then, noticed how truly important that kind of help really is for them. I felt like some days were harder than others like for example, dealing with people who were stressed or them going through tough stuff . I also helped with paperwork, organized files, and even sat in on a few client meetings. Which made me really happy knowing I'm doing something great for people.

Choice 1 : Work Full-Time at Legal Aid.

Choice 2 : Switch to Litigation.

Work Full-Time at Legal Aid.

I decided to stay at Legal Aid and applied for a job there and got it. The pay wasn’t really good but I liked the work. Every day felt very important, it felt like I was actually helping people. Over time, I got better at what I was doing and even helped train new volunteers. It wasn’t always easy, but it felt good to do something that mattered.

Choice 1 : End

Switch to Litigation.

After volunteering for a while, I wanted to try something different. I found a job at a law firm and started working in litigation. It was a bit hard at first, like for example, a lot of papers, deadlines, and stress. Even when it got harder, I somehow actually liked the adrenaline rush. I was using what I learnt at Legal Aid, and I found out there's actually more to learn. After a few weeks, I got to help with bigger cases which made me really proud myself because It's wasn't easy at all, but at the end of the day, I'm happy I gave it a try.

Choice 1 : End

Travel Abroad for Legal Experience.

I decided to take a completely different path for my gap year. Instead of staying local and finding a job close to me, I decided to travel abroad and experience the legal systems in other countries. I found an internship opportunity in Europe. I was helping refugees understand their rights. . I worked closely with lawyers who specialized in international law, learning how cases involving immigration and human rights were handled. Those are the moments when I felt overwhelmed by the language barrier and cultural differences. I liked how there was a lot of things to learn, and I found it interesting to see how the law works in other countries and how lawyers over there deal with the same problems we have back home, but in their own way.

Choice 1 : Return to School and Apply the Experience

Choice 2 : Stay Abroad and Pursue a Career in International Law.

Stay Abroad and Pursue a Career in International Law.

After spending a lot of time there, I realized I didn’t want to go back home. I was really really interested by everything I learned there. I then, decided to apply for a small internship at an international law office and I actually got accepted. At first, I felt a little scared because everything was new and I didn't know the place. I was also sad because I was far from my friends and from my familly too. I eventually got used to it with it. What I did there was actually interesting and new. For example, I was helping with contracts between companies from different countries and doing research in both English and Spanish. I felt like every day something new was happening and it felt like an adventure.That's why I decided to stay there and building a new life and career in international law because this is truly something I like doing.

Choice 1 : End