Keith MacMaster
Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia
It’s safe to say that Keith MacMaster knows his way around the Weldon Law Building. He earned his LLB here in 2003 and his LLM in August of 2018. In between, he practiced corporate securities and real estate law for two years before getting an MBA at Western University in 2007. The following year, he began working at TD Bank in Toronto, first on the trading floor and then managing the bank’s environmental programs. Now a PhD candidate at the Schulich School of Law, Keith has found himself back at Weldon again. His area of research is sustainable finance.
Why did you choose the Schulich School of Law?
I applied to four schools for my PhD, and I was accepted here and at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law. It was a tough choice, but I’m from Nova Scotia and I had done my LLB and LLM at Schulich Law, so I decided to stay. Plus if I had left, I would have had to give up a fantastic supervisor, Professor Sara Seck, for a potential unknown supervisor at a new school. That was really the deciding factor.
What makes Schulich Law special?
The expertise in its world-class faculty. Also, the Marine & Environmental Law Institute is second to none, and the MELAW program is one of the best in not only Canada but the world. For me, that combination was too good to pass up!
What are you getting from your law school experience?
In addition to supervision from Professor Seck and the resources of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute, I’m involved in the Graduate Law Students’ Association. It’s a great thing to be part of because there are social events that help make you feel like you’re part of a close-knit community.
How do you like living in Halifax?
In 2012 I moved back to Halifax from Toronto due to family commitments. I’m a Nova Scotia boy, and I have family in Halifax and Dartmouth. My friends and family are here, as are my gyms. I volunteer at the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia. My life is here now.
What are your future plans?
I’d love to teach at Schulich Law! Since 2015 I’ve been teaching part-time at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Waterfront campus in Dartmouth. I’ve taught business law, legal terminology, marketing, and databases. I love the student interaction and the ideas they come up with; I learn from the students as much as they learn from me.