Sean Hakami: Captus Press Award for Introductory Courses Recipient
Meet Sean Hakami! Originally from Barrie ON, Sean is currently pursuing an Honours BA with a major in Law and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Sean is the recipient of this year’s Captus Press Award for Introductory Courses.
What led you to decide to pursue your BA at Carleton?
I decided to do my BA at Carleton mainly due to the unique legal studies program that stood out to me in comparison with other schools, which only offered programs with law as minors or as a secondary focus to other disciplines. I was also attracted to studying in Ottawa, with it being the capital and having a large student population.
Do you have a favourite part of your program (whether a specific course or instructor, or something else)?
Overall, my favourite part of the program has been the diversity of courses offered, giving me choices in a wide array of legal topics from criminal law to international law. My favourite course has been Social Justice and Human Rights, since it dealt with big legal issues using an international perspective. I particularly enjoyed class discussions critically exploring how human rights law interacts with international politics, journalism, and media representation.
What are you hoping to do after graduation and what do you hope to gain from your degree?
I hope to pursue a master’s degree after graduation and further utilize the interdisciplinary critical thinking, research, and communication skills I have developed in my degree at Carleton.
Any advice for incoming students?
Get involved! There are tons of unique clubs and student groups on campus, with some focused on legal issues, at Carleton. Make the most of all the useful student support available at Carleton, both within the law department and outside. Also, be sure to reach out to your professors if you’re stuck on material or have general questions about their research/careers, as a lot of them have great experience in academia and as lawyers.