Life after the FTLP: Effrossini Simpson

Banff local Effrossini (Effie) Simpson, BA’95, MEd’13, always knew that law school would be in her future; she just didn’t know when.  

After completing her undergrad in history and geography at the University of Calgary, she decided to return to academia and completed her master’s degree in education. In 2015, she was living in California and decided to take the plunge into law school, leading her to enrol at Purdue University at their associated California campus via distance learning.  

After passing the California Bar Exam in 2021, she learned that the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) required in-person credits to become accredited in Canada. Once she moved through the disappointment of this news, she discovered the Foreign Trained Lawyers Program (FTLP) at UCalgary Law and decided to return to her Alberta roots.  

“I lived on campus for a year when I was there in the 90s, so it just felt like the right place to be. I decided that if I had to move somewhere, I'm going to go somewhere where my twin sister is, so I could stay with her while I did it. The best fit for me was Calgary, it felt right going back, I guess, home,” she said. 

Despite the circumstances that brought her there, Simpson speaks highly of her time in the FTLP. “I think it's an amazingly valuable program. I had such a positive experience with every professor that I had there; it was just a really well-developed, well-thought-out, and organized program.”  

Dr. Dan Wilson, Associate Dean of Academics was a standout champion of her experience. “He recognized how difficult it is to pass the California Bar Exam, having written and passed it himself some years ago,” said Simpson. “It's clear he respects all of us foreign-trained lawyers and does what he can to propel us forward to the best of his ability, and to succeed.” 

Practicing family law has always been the goal for Simpson, and since completing her time in the FTLP, she has settled in Kelowna, BC, where she has found a perfect fit at Price-Stevens Family Law. According to Simpson, the owner was also internationally trained, having completed her law degree in England. This shared experience helped solidify the feeling that she had found the right fit for her.   

“When I applied for a job as a paralegal here, the owner saw that I was going through this entire NCA process, so she's taken an affinity to me and guaranteed I’d be doing my articles here starting this fall.” 

With her article placement secured and academic goals feeling nearly fulfilled, she is ready to settle into her life in Kelowna. “I found my place, I think. I mean, this law firm is incredible. I live in Kelowna full time. I don't see myself going anywhere.” 

To learn more about the Foreign Trained Lawyers Program or to apply, visit our website.