Find out more about Law Alumni & Friends Chapter on their website. 

Samantha Hanson (‘13 BA, ‘17 JD) is a partner at Bryan & Company LLP and has been volunteering with the Law Alumni and Friends chapter since 2018.

Having pursued her undergraduate studies at both U of A's Augustana and North campus, Samantha first found her footing in community engagement as a member of the Augustana basketball team, then in the Delta Gamma sorority when she moved to Edmonton to finish her program. Seeking avenues to expand her connections and contribute meaningfully after graduation, she ventured into volunteering with the university.

For the past five years, Samantha has been an integral part of the university's fabric, now serving as the President of the Law Alumni and Friends, where she initially joined as a committee member for the Spring Reception. She was able to continue expressing her passion for law students and community support as the Fundraising Chair for the annual Law Alumni & Friends Spring Reception fundraiser event that supports law students by funding bursaries, awards, and summer internships.

In her role, Samantha spearheads various initiatives aimed at supporting both current students and alumni within the Faculty of Law. From organizing social events to mentoring current students, her efforts are geared towards fostering a sense of community and providing invaluable resources for aspiring legal professionals. She loves being able to see the progress of law students through their degrees, and into their career endeavors after graduation. 

Samantha is passionate about the positive impact that Law Alumni and Friends have on her community. In addition to the Spring Reception event, the chapter facilitates social events and connections for fellow law alumni; provides first-year law students with a welcome gift and a personal welcome phone call; and financially supports initiatives such as the Law Show, a student-run musical production that raises money for a non-profit in the Edmonton community. The chapter is a fantastic group of volunteers who are building relationships between students and alumni. They also partially fund a student summer position for the Edmonton Community Legal Centre.  It provides a current law student with a paid position that grants the opportunity to gain real-life legal experience while removing barriers to legal services in the Edmonton community.

Personally, Samantha has benefitted from being able to network with other lawyers in the group and appreciates the opportunity to connect with and learn from other people from a mix of legal backgrounds and experiences. Her interactions with students have also made her a more familiar and supportive presence in the legal community.

Samantha emphasizes the importance of stepping up and getting involved, highlighting the countless opportunities for personal and professional growth that volunteering offers, noting that everyone needs volunteers and those who benefit from your work will appreciate it so much.  “Just do it - just sign up, send that email - everyone needs volunteers!” saying that  “No one has volunteering experience until they get it…and people will help you along the way!”. 

In her free time, Samantha loves spending time with her family, watching basketball with her husband, and sweating it out during hot yoga.

By Courtney Wagner, Program Lead Volunteers.