{"id":34116,"date":"2026-08-10T13:47:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T17:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/?p=34116"},"modified":"2026-08-10T13:47:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T17:47:26","slug":"caleb-raymond-barb-higgins-memorial-award-recipient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/2026\/caleb-raymond-barb-higgins-memorial-award-recipient\/","title":{"rendered":"Caleb Raymond: Barb Higgins Memorial Award Recipient"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\n

\n Caleb Raymond: Barb Higgins Memorial Award Recipient\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
\"Caleb<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meet Caleb Raymond! Originally from Ajax, Ontario, Caleb is going into his fourth year as a Law major with a concentration in Law, Policy and Government. Caleb is also active in various extra curricular activities within the department and is also the president of the Carleton Law Society. Caleb is the recipient of this year\u2019s Barb Higgins Memorial Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What lead you to decide to pursue your BA at Carleton?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I initially considered Carleton University because it was one of the few universities in Ontario that offered a program specifically in Law and Legal Studies, whereas most other universities offered only adjacent programs, such as Criminology. It felt like the best way to experience a post-secondary law program at this stage and determine whether it was the right path for me. Carleton being within Ottawa was another important factor. As Canada’s capital, it offered greater opportunities and stronger professional connections. Combined with the city’s scenery and atmosphere, my first campus tour confirmed that Carleton was the right choice for me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have a favourite part of your program (whether a specific course or instructor, or something else)?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I begin my fourth year, my favourite part of my program has evolved from a single aspect to many. The variety of courses that became more specialized across different areas of law was both intriguing and motivating; it made me feel like I was on my way to studying in actual law school. Two courses stand out most when reflecting on this aspect of the program: Michael Smith\u2019s LAWS 2302 (Criminal Law Class) and LAWS 2908\/3908 taught by Zeina Bou-Zeid and Sylva Sheridan. The passion and expertise of these professors not only motivated me but ultimately supported my success through moments of learning and uncertainty. Both courses truly reflected what I had envisioned my future law studies to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, my absolute favourite part of this program has been the Law & Legal Studies Society. From serving as Vice President Events in my second year to now serving as President, I have gained a much deeper understanding of what it means to be a Law and Legal Studies student. More importantly, I was able to learn what it meant to my colleagues and peers. Getting involved in the Law Society has not only been extremely beneficial for my academic and professional growth, but has allowed me to build connections with faculty and legal professionals, while forming the foundation for some of my most memorable friendships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are you hoping to do after graduation and what do you hope to gain from your degree?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduation, I hope to continue running my non-profit organization, The Edu Memorial Foundation, while preparing for the LSAT. I plan to take a gap year to focus on these priorities and make the most of that time before applying. Following this, I intend to pursue my Juris Doctor in the fall of 2028. My path after undergraduate studies will focus on building on the experience and knowledge I have gained to approach my JD with confidence and intention. I believe my degree has strengthened my critical thinking skills and helped me develop the habits necessary to continue pursuing my passions with purpose and discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any advice for incoming students?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My biggest advice is twofold: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, make yourself a priority. Whatever that looks like for you, don\u2019t hesitate to do it. Whether it’s taking time for a face mask, playing a few rounds of your favourite video game (mine is Overwatch, lol), or simply spending time with friends, it all matters. Self-care is especially important when studying in a field like Law. Not only will it support you through your undergraduate journey, but it also fosters the development of healthy habits and structured routines that are vital for law school and future academic\/professional endeavours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, find your passion. It is easy to lose sight of why you chose this path if you do not have a strong underlying motivation. You may not fully understand it in your first or second year, but over time you will come to recognize what this degree means to you, and that awareness is essential. Above all else, GET INVOLVED! Some of my most meaningful growth came from joining the Carleton’s Law & Legal Studies Society and Carleton University\u2019s Student Association (CUSA). Looking back, I have been able to do things I once only hoped for, and am grateful to have gained a clearer sense of who I want to become and how to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, acknowledging the foregoing, pursuing a degree in law is challenging. Simply put, you will need to make sacrifices, develop healthy habits, and dedicate yourself to your goals. For me, this meant meticulously organizing my calendar, blocking out study hours, maintaining both physical and digital planners, and working through cycles of preparation, execution, and reflection. I recommend reviewing your syllabus a few days before each course begins. It can reveal a lot about the class\u2019s dynamics, course work expectations, and even the professor\u2019s teaching style. Overall, if you take anything from this, let it be to genuinely enjoy your undergraduate experience and make the most of every opportunity it offers.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meet Caleb Raymond! Originally from Ajax, Ontario, Caleb is going into his fourth year as a Law major with a concentration in Law, Policy and Government. Caleb is also active in various extra curricular activities within the department and is also the president of the Carleton Law Society. Caleb is the recipient of this year\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":304,"featured_media":34117,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[25,556,28,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","category-student-awards","category-ug-awards","category-undergraduate-news"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/304"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34116"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34116\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34118,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34116\/revisions\/34118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}