Kyle Rees was born and raised in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador. He completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in philosophy at Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2009, as well as a diploma in applied ethics. In 2012 he received a Juris Doctor (law degree) from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. He coaches the Memorial University mooting team, which competes nationally in trial advocacy competitions. He was one of the founding directors of SARIS, a science education charity, as well as the vice-president of the NL NDP. Kyle is a lawyer at O''Dea Earle law offices in St. John's, and specializes in personal injury and union-side labour law.

What would your undergraduate self think of your current job?
My undergraduate self would have loved my current job, and would have been relieved to know that all those people who made derisive comments about unemployed philosophy majors were dead wrong. Working as a lawyer allows me to apply theoretical and critical thinking to real-world situations, and use it to solve actual problems for people and organizations. The legal landscape in this province changes so quickly that you need to be ready to adapt your practice to meet new challenges, and my philosophy degree helped me learn to do that. My ‘undergraduate self’ would also be happy to know that I was able to find a job as a lawyer in Newfoundland and Labrador. I was always worried I’d have to move away to Toronto for work, which wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable.
 
What was your biggest challenge when arriving at university and how did you address this?
I didn’t have good study habits, and still find ‘cramming’ impossible. So I took courses that didn’t require studying, or were more about understanding a subject rather than coughing up data for a test. Philosophy was a perfect fit for someone like me, because I could easily go an entire day reading, writing, and discussing topics, but got fidgety if I had to study for more than a few minutes. Once I found courses that fit my learning style, my undergraduate degree was really rewarding.

What resources did you use while at MUN?
Since I knew I would be doing some post-graduate program (law school or otherwise) I tried to go through undergrad without any student debt, which made Memorial a great place to be with its affordable tuition. The MUCEP student employment program allowed me to work as a reporter with the campus radio station, CHMR, while earning some income for the next semester of courses. The philosophy department also has its own study space/library, which meant I always had somewhere to go where I could be around other people who shared my passion for the subject

Did you ever meet with advisors, faculty or staff while a student?
Absolutely. I would say I spoke with my professors at least weekly, and they were always welcoming. The great thing about the philosophy department is that it feels like a small department, so I often found myself taking the courses with the same professors, and really got to know them over the four years of undergrad. A number of them wrote me reference letters for scholarships and law school admission, and I still drop by the department from time to time to catch up. There’s also a regular roster of ‘off-campus’ philosophy events, such as Jockey Club and the public lecture series which are a great way to meet members of the public who are philosophically inclined.

How did your extracurricular activities (on and off campus) influence your success?
I made a lot of connections with people in St. John’s through my undergraduate extra-curriculars which have helped me in my law practice. For instance, a lot of the social activists I worked with at the MUN Student Union (MUNSU) have become political leaders, or opened their own businesses, so those are good connections to have. My time as a reporter with CHMR radio helped build public speaking skills, and introduced me to politics in this province, and I’ve been an active New Democrat ever since.

Was there an experience you had during your university years that influenced or put you on a path to your current career?
Studying at Memorial cemented my love for Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to undergrad, I wasn’t sure if I’d stay in the province when I graduated. My time at Memorial showed me that there’s something unique about Home, where you have a huge pool of people who love where they live and are striving to make it a better place, and I think that Memorial is a good representation of that co-operative spirit. After my first year of law school in Toronto, I knew St. John’s was the place for me.

Did you participate in a study abroad program?
No

What advice do you have for undergraduate students?
Take a wide variety of courses early on, to get an idea where your passions lie, and then surround yourself with people who are equally as interested in that subject as you. Their enthusiasm is catching. Also, one piece of advice that’s more practical and less inspiring, perhaps: never buy the course textbook new. You can get most of them second-hand—or better yet in the QE II library for free!