Three Civil Law Section graduates will begin some of the world's most selective graduate programs this fall: at Oxford, Cambridge, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Learn more about the achievements of two other graduates who secured clerkships at the Quebec Court of Appeal in the second article of our series on the journeys of our alumni.
Malorie Kanaan (LL.L., 2020; J.D., 2021; LL.M., 2024): Clarendon Scholar and DPhil at the University of Oxford
Malorie Kanaan will begin a doctoral program (DPhil in Law) at the University of Oxford in England this September, following the completion of her master's degree at Harvard. She is the recipient of the Clarendon Scholarship, which covers all tuition fees and provides a living allowance — a first for a graduate of the Section.
This recognition comes with as much pride as responsibility for Malorie Kanaan. "My father and my four grandparents didn’t have access to university. Most of them never finished secondary school. I have the opportunity to pursue fully funded graduate studies at the two best schools in the world. It feels a little unreal, and I don't take it for granted," she says.
Her research, titled A Theory of Constitutional Adjudication in an Era of Social Science, bridges philosophy and constitutional law. She will examine the conditions under which courts regard social science research as authoritative, and the epistemological implications of those practices.
This interest stems from her research project on racial profiling in the Luamba case, conducted while she was a student at the Section, which led her to explore how empirical research can support a constitutional law argument. "When I was clerking at the Supreme Court of Canada, I also saw firsthand that social science research was part of the everyday reality of adjudicating constitutional law," she adds.
The Clarendon Scholar hopes to pursue a career that combines legal practice and academic research. "I believe in the potential of research. It can build bridges between the academic world and the courts. And have an impact on citizens," she concludes.
Lilyane Badaoui (LL.L., 2026): Master's degree at Cambridge
Lilyane Badaoui will cross the Atlantic in October 2026 to pursue a master's degree at the University of Cambridge, in England.
She had always wanted to pursue graduate studies, but initially had her sights set on Canadian universities, which she considered "more attainable," she explains. "I often experience impostor syndrome, like so many law students. In my family, I'm the first to have these kinds of opportunities."
Chelsea Paradis, Manager of the Section's Professional Development Centre, connected her with Section alumni who had studied at Cambridge. They encouraged her to apply and helped her realize she had a strong application.
Lilyane Badaoui also highlights the contribution of Section professors who helped her sharpen her research skills and supported her thinking, including David Robitaille, Mariève Lacroix and Sophie Thériault.
"Even as a student, people listened to me," she acknowledges. "It made me feel like I had something to contribute to the legal community."
While she wants to try practicing law first, Lilyane Badaoui is also drawn to an academic career: "I enjoy explaining the law and taking the time to do research. I like exploring the gaps and inconsistencies in the system." She will work this summer at the McMillan law firm in Montreal and is particularly interested in commercial litigation, constitutional law, and human rights.
Her admission to Cambridge represents the culmination of sustained hard work; the past few years, she says, have felt mostly like a race. “I’m proud of myself,” she remarks, noting in passing that she has a hard time saying those words. “I’m finally able to do what I love and what I want to do!”
Benjamin Elfassy (LL.L., 2025): Master's degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Having just completed the Quebec Bar Legal Clinic, Benjamin Elfassy will pursue a master's degree in business law and technology law at UCLA in 2026–2027.
He is interested in mergers and acquisitions, especially cross-border transactions. His interest in technology law grew with the rise of artificial intelligence tools. He will work this summer at Borden Ladner Gervais, the firm where he will also complete his Bar articling.
Why UCLA? "I want to do my master's in California because it's really the epicentre of technology," he explains. He also hopes to familiarize himself with the U.S. market and build a network there.
He notes that his academic and professional successes are due in part to the community that supported him during his years at Fauteux: from classmates to faculty members.
Benjamin Elfassy particularly highlights the contribution of Professor Marie-France Fortin, who supervised the writing of his dissertation on punitive damages against the state. "She displays a level of rigour I have rarely seen in my life. She pushed me to reach a level I had never achieved before," he says.
Above all, it is private practice in transactional law that interests him as a lawyer. "I want to be able to offer the highest quality legal services to businesses, from their early stages through to their initial public offering," he concludes.