窪蹋勛圖厙

 

Law with a classical twist

Convocation grad profile: Ben Frenken, law

- May 25, 2012

Ben Frenken, law grad. (Danny Abriel photo)
Ben Frenken, law grad. (Danny Abriel photo)

Ben Frenken came to the Schulich School of Law with a classical disposition: two degrees in Classics at Dal/Kings and a masters thesis on Homers Odyssey.

One language that Homer had yet to be translated into: the Weldon tradition.

Together with his classmates, Mr. Frenken started the Weldon Literary Moot Society, which hosts a mock trial each year based on a famous work of fiction. The event raises money for Halifax Humanities 101, a local charity that offers free humanities classes to the community. Their first performance was Homers Odyssey; this year, they presented Mary Shelleys Frankenstein.

It immediately made a lot of sense: law students, a great piece of literature, in a fundraiser for a great cause, says Mr. Frenken, originally from Ottawa. Its rewarding to see how successful it was, and to know that others will take it on after were gone.

Throughout his law degree, he embodied the Weldon spirit of giving back. He helped review applications and job opportunities with the schools Admissions Committee and Career Development Office. Through Pro Bono Students of Canada, he worked with Dal alumna Emma Halpern at the Nova Scotia Barristers Society on campaigns to increase access to justice and advocate against sexual assault myths. He worked as a research assistant on the Nova Scotia Cyberbullying Task Force.

Those sorts of experiences really opened my eyes to the impact the law can have in some pretty different areas. Its good to know that you can take your law degree in so many directions.

Next, Mr. Frenken will article with Norton Rose Canada in Toronto.