WomeninPreLaw UW is a student club at the University of Waterloo with over 200+ general members from over 25+ different programs. The club aims to empower and educate students about inspirational women in law, with a focus on legal careers, networking, and filling the gap on campus by providing a legal space for students from all programs and backgrounds who are interested in law.
This panel is an in-person event featuring a variety of women in law, bringing together a diverse range of alumni from different programs, careers, and walks of life. The event will be co-hosted by Isabelle and Ciara-- co-founders and co-presidents of WomeninPreLawUW.
This event hopes to showcase all sides and educate current students on all of the potential pathways! At the end of the panel, an oppurtunity for Q&A from the audience, and a chance to network with alumnae will be provided.
*Please note: That anyone can attend. We welcome and encourage ALL individuals of ALL gender identities to come!*
Alumni Guests:
Jacqueline Armstrong Gates (BA '91, Political Science)
Jacqueline is the former head of the office's advocacy department. She is presently the National Litigation Lead - Product Liability.She has experience working with public and private corporations and partnerships, both large and small, in Canada and the United States. Jacqueline also has experience working for insurance companies and insureds, as well as manufacturers, retailers and self-insured entities.
Jacqueline was recognized for her corporate commercial litigation experience in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2010, she was named among Lexpert's "Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40" and named among the Waterloo Region Record's "Top 40 Under 40." In 2017, she was also named the University of Waterloo's Alumni Achievement Award winner. Most recently, she was the recipient of the 2019 Coulter A. Osborne Award, presented by the Waterloo Law Association.
Jacqueline is a University of Waterloo Arts Faculty mentor and a member of the Queen's Law '94 Fundraising Committee. She also delivers Christmas hampers, participates in the Angel Tree gift giving program and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
Denise M. Kocher (BA '99, Sociology)
After graduating from St. David CSS, she continued her education at the University of Waterloo, where she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Sociology, minoring in History and with a certificate in Legal Studies and Criminology. After graduating in 1999, she took the next step in pursuing a career in the law by enrolling at the University of Western Ontario. During her time at UWO (1999-2002) she participated in the Pro Bono Students Canada program and went on to co-chair the program in her final year. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2003. Denise worked as an associate locally, first at a small general service firm and then went on to focus on corporate-commercial law at a regional firm.
In early 2013 with a young family, she re-assessed her career objectives and pursued a post graduate certificate in HR at Conestoga College where she graduated at the top of her class and was invited back to Conestoga as an adjunct profession teaching both Employment Law and Labour Relations. After working as a Human Resources Generalist & Trainer at a local not-for-profit, in 2017 she landed her dream job. She is currently an HR Analyst at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. Her role in Policy Development and Performance Management allows her to utilize her law degree in a non-traditional sense as she drafts policy, conducts workplace investigations, processes corrective actions and terminations and acts as the go-to resource for all things legal – regularly fielding questions from other departments about case law, legislative requirements, contract drafting and best practices.
Nazneen Mukadam (BA’10, Arts Honours, Joint Major Political Science and Legal Studies)
Currently, Nazneen works as a Staff Lawyer for Criminal and Family Law at Legal Aid Ontario and has been for over 8 years. After graduating with her BA at University of Waterloo, she furthered her education at the University of Windsor, earning her Doctor of Law. After her first year at Windsor, Nazneen enrolled at the University of Monash Malaysia on a summer exchange for Trial Practice and Advocacy, as well as Ethical and Criminal Justice. Previously she has also been a volunteer Case Worker and Litigator at Community Legal Aid for 2 years. She has also completed an International Humanitarian Law Course issued by Canadian Red Cross.
Ashley Ryan (MA '18, Sociology)
Ashley is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies here at the University of Waterloo. You may recognize Ashley through taking her research methods course or her previous role as Student Wellness Coordinator at the Graduate Student Association. In addition to her almost completed Ph.D., Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in legal studies with a minor in psychology and a master's degree in sociology. In 2022 she published her research on dining and dashing in Deviant Behavior. Her current work is focused on the motivations behind deviant instigation and the strategies that accompany them. Outside of UW, Ashley spends a lot of her time playing soccer and volunteering with organizations such as the Girl Guides of Canada.
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