To say that third-year student Caitlin Grogan wears many hats would be a bit of an understatement. She’s a talented law student (and mooting champion), a passionate advocate and activist, a natural leader, and of course, a loving mom to three cats and a puppy. Her list of volunteer activities and accomplishments reads like a novel. This year, Grogan’s dedication to leadership and community service was celebrated with the 2024 UNB Alumni Association’s Student Leadership Award.
Ms. Grogan is the first UNB Law student ever to receive the award. She got the good news in a phone call from Sarah Birch, a member of the Associated Alumni Council and 2004 UNB Law graduate.
“I was shocked. From my understanding, the award is listed as covering half of undergraduate tuition, ‘brackets, $3500.’ They've never had a law student win before and never considered that our tuition is substantially more than $7,000 a year. They actually decided that they would cover half of my law school tuition for the year. I just sobbed on the phone.”
For Grogan, the financial support provided by this award represents more than just assistance—it’s a deeply meaningful recognition of her years of service to UNB and its student body.
“This is my tenth year at UNB. You can't really understate the financial burden of ten years of university [laughs]. I've always tried to give back throughout my post-secondary career, whether it's through volunteering for a club or event or advocating for students to administration,” she shared. “This award is a meaningful acknowledgment of the value of that work and shows just how much those contributions are appreciated.”
Ms. Grogan has been a committed student leader since her undergraduate days on the Saint John campus, where she served as Vice-President External on the Student Representative Council (SRC) and as a member of the Saint John Senate. During her master’s studies, she served as President of the Graduate Student Association. Now, at UNB Law, she continues to advocate for an inclusive and equitable environment, serving on the LSS and as a 3L student representative on Faculty Council. She is perhaps most proud of her ongoing work as the UNB Law Faculty Counsellor on the UNB Student Union (UNBSU).
“I'm really happy with the work I've done advocating for law students. UNB Law can be a silo. It's one of our strengths but can also lead to issues. At times, we tend to be forgotten by the UNBSU. We're a very distinct group, with very different needs than an 18-year-old incoming undergrad. It’s been rewarding to work on a more productive involvement in the union, but also ways to get more value, because we are very different than most undergrad students.”
Elected in May, Grogan also currently sits on the UNB Board of Governors as a Student Representative. She is fascinated by the opportunity to see the inner workings of the University, and to again be a voice for students.
“At my first meeting in October, I was the only student in the room. It feels meaningful and kind of powerful to sit in that role and to speak on behalf of students. There tends to be a misconception that the board isn’t interested in student perspectives. They actually desperately do want to hear from students, and really need to hear from them. I've seen firsthand the value of having strong student representation, and I've seen the difference that students actually can make in these roles.”
An ambassador and committed volunteer within her faculty, Grogan has served as Associate Editor for the UNB Law Journal, as the Mental Health Ombudsperson through the Law Students Society, a Law Peer Supporter, Law Orientation peer mentor, President of the UNB Health Law Society, and co-founder of the Running from the Law club. These experiences have provided her with opportunities to support the well-being of fellow students.
“I view law school as an incredible opportunity. When I started, I told myself to get as much exposure and as much experience as possible and not to leave anything on the table. There's something so unique about university and the experiences you can gain as a student that you really can't get anywhere else. It's twofold. I often talk about what the leadership roles can achieve for other people, but it's also so valuable for you as an individual to grow and gain that experience.”
Ms. Grogan's involvement in the Competitive Mooting Program has also been particularly rewarding, highlighted by winning the 2023 McKelvey Cup and earning multiple advocacy awards at the national competition. This achievement is all the more remarkable given her candid admission that she once dreaded public speaking and initially envisioned a career as a research lawyer rather than a litigator—both sentiments have since changed. Her journey from apprehension to confidence as a mooter is a testament to her resilience and willingness to embrace opportunity.
“It was definitely the most challenging thing I've done during my law school career, to go from being so scared and nervous to being so confident. I love constructive criticism. I'll never forget our first practice when Prof. Thomson gave me a hard time for not paying enough attention to my witness. I remember taking that really to heart. By the time we competed at the national competition, I ended up winning Best Examination-in-Chief. The feedback I got was that I seemed so deeply invested in what my witness had to say that it made other people want to listen.”
In the new year, Grogan will continue to push herself as a participant in the Gale Cup Moot, Canada’s premier criminal constitutional appellate competition. She is also working as a teaching assistant for the first-year mooting program, where she hopes to inspire confidence in new law students by sharing her journey and experiences.
After graduation, Grogan will begin an articling position in Saint John, NB, where she looks forward to continuing her community involvement as a member of the Board at the SPCA. While she isn’t exactly sure which path her career will follow, she is looking forward to the opportunity to explore the possibilities afforded by her law degree.
“One of the things that drew me to law was the versatility it offers. The skills that you gain from the degree are so translatable and you really don’t feel trapped.”
No matter where her career path leads, Grogan is sure that she will remain a champion for UNB Law.
“When I enter practice, I see myself remaining heavily involved in the UNB Law community—volunteering as a supervising lawyer for the PBSC program or with the mooting program. As a student, that was so valuable to me, the lawyers who volunteered their time for both of those programs. I think it's appreciated more than they ever know. I hope to be able to provide that same sort of mentorship and encouragement to students that was afforded to me.”
