There are many notable figures here at Weldon: Dean Sarah Harding, Legal Research and Writing instructor Hannah Rosborough, Civil Procedure professor Jon Shapiro...
However, every student in the law school should know Geordie Lounsbury. Questions about Brightspace? Can’t figure out Exam4? The projector in Room 207 keeps on turning on and off? Need something printed? Geordie’s got you covered!
Where did Geordie begin?
Many law students will be surprised to hear that Geordie switched out of computer science during his undergrad, instead completing a Physical Education Degree at Acadia University.
Geordie started at the Weldon Print Center in the early 2000s before course materials were distributed online. He managed the creation of course handouts and exams and co-supervised a dozen summer students creating course packs (which are readers containing cases and secondary sources) for the following academic year. These materials amounted to more than a million pages every year!
When was Geordie brought into Weldon?
The introduction of Blackboard, the precursor to Brightspace, saved many trees and caused a big shift in the Print Center. Instead of hiring someone new to support Brightspace, the law school had a realization. With his background in education and technical knowledge, Geordie could seamlessly step into this role.
Until this year, I simply logged into Brightspace and saw course content, my grades, and announcements waiting for me. Now, as a teaching assistant, I’ve seen behind the scenes for the first time. Lots of work goes into making a Brightspace site easy to navigate. At the law school, we are lucky to have the guidance of Geordie, who provides educational training and support to faculty.
Geordie's vision for accessible legal education
2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but Geordie has the admirable ability to see opportunity in every situation. Instead of focusing on the frustrations of online learning, Geordie noted the value in the diverse perspectives available from those who may not be able to travel to Halifax. He envisions a new model of legal education where students with similar interests from different law schools can use online learning to attend classes they would not otherwise be able to take during their degree.
Sage advice for current law students
After more than twenty years at Weldon, Geordie has two pieces of valuable wisdom for law students:
Make friends outside of law school — and don’t constantly talk about law school when you’re with them. While the pace of law school can seem insurmountable, sometimes all it takes is some outside perspectives to remind you that law school is a temporary means to an end.
Take courses in as many different areas as you can. Schulich has a particularly strong alumni network, and it is not uncommon for graduates to check in with Geordie when they’re back for an event or as an instructor. Geordie noted his surprise at the number of students who end up practicing in an area they swore they had no interest in!
My heart will always start to race when I punch my exam code into Exam4. However, with Geordie in the building, I know I’m in good hands should the software decide to betray me.
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