Lisa Kelly

Hometown: Vancouver, Canada
HLS Class: LL.M. class of 2008

Prior Education: Assoc. of Arts, University College of the Fraser Valley, 2001; B.A., University of British Columbia, 2003; Juris Doctor, University of Toronto, 2006.

Prior Experience: Articling Student, Department of Justice, Government of Canada (2006-07); Fellow and Student Researcher, International Programme on Reproductive and Sexual Health Law, University of Toronto (2005-07); Clinical student, International Human Rights Clinic, University of Toronto (2005-06); Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Law and Equality (2005-06); Student Researcher, Canadian Civil Liberties Association (2004-06).

Career goals: Legal academia; Public policy.

I chose to pursue an LL.M. at Harvard Law School because of my interest in critical approaches to international law and comparative family law. The faculty expertise and diverse course offerings in these areas have allowed me to engage with a range of interesting and challenging issues from inheritance rights under Islamic law to the international regulation of inter-country adoption to the historical evolution of the household. My interactions with professors during class and in their office hours have been both enriching and enjoyable, making the educational experience a more personal one. Graduate school is also a time to attend fascinating lectures and presentations outside one’s own field of interest; HLS never disappoints in this respect. My one piece of advice for prospective students is to get to know other students and faculty working in your area early in the year so that you can avail yourself of the many academic opportunities the law school has to offer while also enjoying a sense of community.

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