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Success Story

Rajan Sandhu

2015-2016

Rajan Sandhu’s social conscience is intertwined with his undeniable leadership and focus. As he strives to promote human rights and equity/inclusion values, he motivates others to follow in his footsteps.

About Rajan Sandhu

General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Special Advisor to the President, Sheridan College Toronto, ON, Canada

Rajan believes that access to justice and basic human rights must reach everyone – not just the privileged ones. He hopes his imprint will create an even playing field for people of different traditions, cultures and religions.

Rajan is familiar with a host of human rights struggles. His family is originally from Punjab, India and faced the impact of India’s partition in 1947. He recalls hearing about his family’s experience with racism, hate crimes and discrimination in the UK in the 1960s and in Canada in the 1970s.His early years were marked by the power of education and social justice. He looked up to his great uncle who was a lawyer and practiced in India, but immigrated to Canada and worked in a factory. He fondly remembers his childhood and the strong influence his grandparents had on him. His dinner conversations often revolved around topics of civil liberties, human rights and individual freedoms. So, it’s no surprise, Rajan, along with his younger sister who is a corporate lawyer (as well as an LPP alumnus), found themselves working in the legal realm. His international experiences taught him about self-discovery and strengthened his global awareness.

“Those experiences defined me. I learned about different cultures, acceptance and it inspired my desire to travel. I traveled to about 35 countries in my 20s. I got comfortable being uncomfortable,” says Sandhu.He has visited every continent other than Antarctica. “I was able to learn about different types of legal systems and government systems and the different interpretations of legal rights. It taught me about the importance of civil liberties and human rights versus the lack of basic human rights,” he says.

Rajan did his LPP work placement at Sheridan College, where he worked directly with the general counsel. It was an unparalleled experience that would propel his career into leading the in-house legal team.“I enjoyed working in the post-secondary sector and have grown my career here. I serve as Sheridan College’s General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Special Advisor to the President and recently obtained my Certified In-House Counsel designation through the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto) and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association. We serve all areas of the institution and advise on corporate/commercial matters, governance, human rights, student matters, policies/procedures, privacy, information management, strategic matters,” he says.

Law Degree

City University London

LPP In One Word

Engaging

Favourite Book Of All Time

Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre

Why law? What inspired your legal aspirations?

I saw the understanding of the law as my chance to assist others, specifically on social justice issues, and make the world a better place. I saw lawyers as being in a position to protect the rights of others, ensure equity in society, and promote access to the law and legal processes. I felt it was a way to further the public good.

What is the best part of your career?

I see education as an enabler that brings transformative change to the lives of individuals. Through my work, I can see that I am actually making a tangible difference “on the ground” in the lives of students.

What legal case(s) had a strong impact on you and why?

Charter cases are the ones that had the biggest impact on me. I could see how they furthered equity and justice, while balancing reasonableness, in society.
Singh v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration) because it demonstrated the importance of everyone’s protections under the Charter, specifically rights to life, liberty, and security. It furthered access to justice and procedural fairness principles.
On a personal note, Multani was a case that I followed closely and it had a strong impact on me because it personally impacted certain family members who desired to wear a kirpan. It demonstrates the importance of religious tolerance in our multicultural society.

Describe a memorable or significant experience during your time at the LPP

The most significant memories I have in the LPP were the “aha” moments. The LPP was a safe space to practice and gain certain skills. There were times when you were doing something that may engage a skill that you are still developing, but the LPP gave you an opportunity to gain confidence with that skill.

Describe some of the helpful tools or skills you acquired during the LPP

Aside from the legal content that was provided, I cherished the networking opportunities. Being able to speak with industry leaders and professionals and engage in conversation to learn from them. Each time I engaged with lawyers, I would benefit from at least one piece of solid advice or constructive criticism that I could use for self-improvement.

Why TMU's LPP?

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