By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Invir Dhanoa’s grandfather emigrated from India to Canada in the 1980s in order to provide his family with a better life.
“Because of this, I’ve seen what hard work can get you in life, and I’ve been inspired to do well in whatever pathway I pursue,” Dhanoa says. “The one thing my family has taught me is that whatever opportunity you have, you should give it your all. This mindset has gotten to me where I am today. I hope I can continue to thrive with dedication and hard work.”
Dhanoa has certainly made an excellent start on his career trajectory. His first step was graduating, summa cum laude, with an undergrad degree in social psychology from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
“I’ve always been intrigued by human psychology and why people behave in certain ways, and what experiences shape people to be the way they are today,” he says. “Learning more about the inner workings of our psychological processes has taught me a lot about people in general, our behavioral tendencies, what biases we have, and how we interact in social settings.
“My degree has helped me a lot in social settings, but also taught me a lot about myself. Understanding that everyone has a unique perspective gives me the ability to better connect and understand people, and my future clients in law.”
Now a 2L student in the Dual JD program offered by Detroit Mercy Law and the University of Windsor, Dhanoa was drawn to the legal profession by the vast array of practice fields. The Dual JD program was particularly appealing to the Canadian native.
“I’d love to be able to utilize both my degrees and eventually work on cases that involve both Canadian and American Law,” he says. “Completing a degree on both sides of the border within the same amount of time that it takes to complete just one degree is another factor that drew me in.”
In addition to his legal studies and work, last year Dhanoa gave vent to his entrepreneurial side by co-founding with fellow student Kaamil Ali Khalfan the online database “Legaloops,” where lawyers can place profiles to attract clients, and where people can find a lawyer based on legal issue, location and a variety of other filters.
“While seeing many industries go towards the use of virtual platforms, I realized the legal industry was lacking a similar space,” Dhanoa says. “We’ve also integrated an online booking system which we hope can further the legal industry in regard to the use of technology. We hope Legaloops can evolve into a popular database for lawyers to advertise, and clients to not only find a lawyer of their liking, but also book appointments.
“I’d like to continue to explore entrepreneurial opportunities as I’ve really enjoyed my experience in the start-up of Legaloops,” he adds. “Building something from the bottom up requires a creative mind and the process is one I enjoy.”
Last summer, he interned for U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts in Detroit, gaining practical experience at a high level.
“It was an honor interning for Judge Roberts, as she entrusted me to help her on her current cases as a law clerk would,” he says. “Helping Judge Roberts draft a final opinion gave me a lot of confidence in my legal abilities. I was also tasked with writing a couple of bench memoranda on issues including U.S sentencing guidelines and various jurisdiction issues.
“Also, learning the inner workings on a judge’s chambers was interesting and I enjoyed seeing how the caseload is managed between the Judge and her interns/law clerks.”
It was this sort of practical experience offered by Detroit Mercy Law that Dhanoa relishes. He enjoyed testing his advocacy abilities in Moot Court, and putting his anxieties about arguing in court to rest.
“Presenting your arguments to a panel of judges is nerve-wracking, but I enjoyed the experience as I’ve learned that if you’ve done your work and are prepared, you’ll succeed,” he says.
He spent 8 months volunteering with Pro Bono Students Canada, and found the experience rewarding, knowing the work was for a good cause and for people in need.
“I particularly worked on landlord and tenant issues, which I think is a relatable issue to many during at least one point in their lives,” he says. “It was rewarding to know my work can potentially help a lot of people who may be taken advantage of by their landlords.”
Last October, Dhanoa became managing editor for Humans of Windsor Law, that provides human interest stories of faculty and students.
“It’s allowed me to learn about many interesting characters at the university,” he says. “It’s been a fun experience that introduced me to a lot of new faces.”
Dhanoa, whose hometown is Milton, 25 miles west of downtown Toronto, relaxes by hanging out with his friends, playing and watching sports, particularly basketball, a sport that has been a big part of his life. Dhanoa has played competitively in the sport for many years throughout middle school and high school. He also enjoys golfing and skiing.
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