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ALUMNI STORIES

A journey to the courtroom that started at Seneca

Jameel Abdul-Baasit

Associate, Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP

As an associate with Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP, Jameel travels the province presenting cases in various civil legal matters.
PHOTO: JOANNE RATAJCZAK

JAMEEL ABDUL-BAASIT FIRST REALIZED he needed a career change when he was doing office installations at age 19. Instead of installing offices, he wanted to be working in one.

“I remember going into each office and asking ‘How do I get a job here?'” recalls Jameel. “Everybody kept telling me to get a degree.”

He researched college options and found Seneca's General Arts and Science program. Before applying, Jameel visited Newnham Campus and sat down with a Seneca professor who gave him “straight up” expectations of the program.

“I was told it was going to be really difficult for me because I have kids and this program requires a strong commitment,” says Jameel. “It was one of the best experiences of my life. I owe a debt of gratitude to my wife, who was integral to my success.”

At Seneca, Jameel managed to juggle his family and school obligations, while playing rugby for the Seneca Sting, winning a gold medal with the ski team and tutoring students in the Learning Centre.

Jameel transferred to York University to become a teacher. Instead, he applied to law school on a whim. When he opened his acceptance letter from Osgoode Hall, Jameel was on the phone with a customer. He couldn't contain his excitement, so he put the call on hold to shout the news.

He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2015 and is now an Associate at the Toronto firm Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP. Jameel credits Seneca for starting him on this path.

“Having kids at 20 and keeping it all together was hard,” says Jameel. “My education taught me that if you set out to do something, there are no limits to what you can do.”

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