Finding My Place in the Law

Written by: Marco Marro

Growing up, I always wanted to be a lawyer. If you look at the “future occupation” title under my image and name in my grade 8 yearbook, it actually says lawyer. What’s funny is that I didn’t even know what a lawyer actually did. It wasn’t until my second year of university that I properly learned about what the job entails. That’s also when I applied to law school and was accepted into the BCom/JD program at Queen’s.

I really do enjoy law, and it was definitely the right path for me. However, as a queer first-generation law student, I was very intimidated by this world that is filled with unwritten rules and a lot of assumptions about what a “professional” looks and sounds like. While the industry is changing, it is still catching up in a lot of ways. Some spaces can feel incredibly affirming, and others still feel like they’re stuck in a different time. It’s not always obvious where being queer fits into that picture, so I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned along the way.

For any queer students thinking about going into this field, my first piece of advice would be to leverage your community and connections. One of the biggest shocks for me was realizing just how many queer people are already in this profession and how willing they are to help. Queer lawyers love helping queer students! They can share their perspectives on what it’s like to be out at work, how they navigated their own recruits, and which spaces actually feel inclusive beyond the marketing.

Once I started looking for them and actually reaching out, everything felt less daunting and more manageable. On campus, groups like Q+ at Smith and Outlaw at law school were very helpful for me. They helped me develop friendships within the community while also exposing me to professional events and networking opportunities that helped shape how I saw my future career as a lawyer.

All of this became especially important once I reached the Toronto second-year recruit and on-campus interviews (OCIs). For those of you who don’t know what an OCI is, you’re not missing out on much. The recruiting process is intense, scary, and can sometimes be enjoyable. You have the opportunity to meet so many impressive and interesting people in such a fast-paced environment. Talking about all of your accomplishments and hobbies can be fun, but I struggled at first with finding that optimal point between my true self and my professional self.

During this process, I would ask myself if the points on my resume stand out as being “too gay” or even if I should take out my earrings because they may seem “unprofessional.”

I used to think professionalism meant acting a certain way or filling the role of someone you think a firm wants. This was completely debunked during the recruit. The more conversations I had, the more I realized that the firms I actually wanted to work for were the ones that were excited about who I am and not just what was on my transcript.

I was told multiple times that, as a student, you also have some power in the recruitment process. This didn’t make sense to me because all I could think about was landing a job and winning these firms over. However, the reality is that you’re also interviewing them. You’re trying to figure out if you can not only see yourself in a certain workplace, but also show up as your authentic self.

My biggest piece of advice for queer students thinking about law is that you don’t need to maintain a certain facade that you think will bring you success. Instead, lean on community and identify spaces that actually feel inclusive. This will bring you the most fulfillment, while ensuring you can build your career in a space where you feel that your genuine self is supported and welcomed.