From Canada to NTU: How I created a South Asian Law Society and found my place in the legal community
By Aliyana Reshamwalla, Canada. April 2026
Hi, my name is Aliyana Reshamwalla and I am currently in my final year of an LLB Law and Psychology degree at NTU.
When I moved from Toronto, Canada, I thought I was simply beginning a new academic chapter. I knew I was stepping into something bigger, but I expected lectures, textbooks, and long nights in the library. What I didn’t expect was how deeply community would shape my experience - or how creating one would change everything for me.
In reality, it’s the people you meet, the communities you build, and the chances you’re brave enough to take that truly shape your university experience. For me, that shift happened the moment I stepped onto campus and realised something important: if the space I needed didn’t exist yet, then I had the power and the responsibility to create it.
What makes NTU special
I wanted access to a globally respected legal education while pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. I knew that moving abroad would challenge me personally and professionally in ways staying in Canada may not. I wanted to build independence, broaden my perspective, and create the life I had always imagined for myself.
I visited Nottingham before applying and immediately connected with the city. It felt vibrant, welcoming, and full of opportunity. NTU has a strong reputation with a focus on employability and the opportunity to study both Law and Psychology simply felt like the right fit. NTU also felt like a university where students were genuinely seen as individuals and I really liked the sense of community. It felt like a place where any ambition would be well supported.
Additionally, the support services, career opportunities, societies, and practical focus on graduate success really stood out for me.
What it really feels like to start university abroad
Landing in Nottingham was a mix of excitement and disorientation. Every international student knows that moment when the initial thrill fades and reality settles in. You’re far from home, learning a new academic system, adjusting to a new culture, and figuring out who you are in a completely different environment.
One of the biggest challenges for me was leaving behind everything familiar and stepping into a completely new environment. Moving from Canada to the UK meant being away from my family, friends, and the support systems I had always known. There is a real adjustment that comes with starting again in a new country, where even simple things can initially feel unfamiliar.
But NTU made that transition feel intentional. The campus felt alive - diverse, welcoming, and full of possibility for students. It didn’t take long for me to realise that societies weren’t just something students joined for fun. They were the heartbeat of student life. They were where friendships formed, identities were celebrated, and leadership began.
Seeing the gap and deciding to build my own South Asian Law society
In my first weeks, I met other South Asian students who felt the same thing I did: something was missing. At events, we rarely saw speakers who looked like us or shared our cultural background. There wasn’t a space where our identity and our legal ambitions could exist together. That realisation became a turning point.
As a South Asian student studying law, I wanted a space where culture and career could intersect naturally. When I couldn’t find it, I decided to build it and that defined my university experience.
Founding South Asian Law Society
What started as a simple idea quickly grew into something much bigger. The South Asian Law Society wasn’t just about organising events - it was about representation. It was about creating a platform where South Asian students could see themselves in the legal profession, share their experiences, and support each other in a system that can sometimes feel isolating.
Starting a society as an international student wasn’t easy. You’re already navigating a new country, unfamiliar systems, and taking on leadership adds another layer of responsibility. There were moments when it felt overwhelming. But then came the moment that changed everything.
I watched students walk into our first events and instantly relax, like they had finally found a space where they belonged. Conversations shifted from small talk to mentorship, collaboration, and opportunity. That’s when I realised: this wasn’t just a society. It was a community.
What founding society looks like in practice
Setting up a society takes vision, commitment, and consistency. When I founded the South Asian Law Society, the process involved building a committee, securing initial student interest, completing the Students’ Union application process, undertaking training, and creating the structure and aims of the society.
Because it was an academic society, I also met with senior members of Nottingham Law School, including Deputy Deans, who were incredibly supportive. They helped us access the right resources and gave the society a strong foundation. Once approved, the real work began: recruiting members, planning events, building partnerships, and creating something students genuinely valued.
Some of the biggest events we have organised were:
- ADR & The Law with ADR ODR International CEO Rahim Shamji, introducing students to alternative dispute resolution and modern legal careers.
- Redefining Law: Beyond Your Degree, a careers panel exploring entrepreneurship, recruitment, and non-traditional routes into success.
- Breaking into the Legal Field: A Woman’s POV with Bhumika Parmar, focused on women progressing in law.
- Law & Chai, a relaxed networking event bringing students together in a culturally familiar setting.
- Build & Boss: Enter Your Boss Era, a law and business panel in collaboration with VEDA Women’s Club focused on ambition, leadership, and career growth.
My role in the society as a Founder and President
I lead all aspects of the society - that includes strategy, event planning, managing committee members, liaising with the Law School and Students’ Union, communicating with guest speakers, approving budgets and paperwork, overseeing marketing, and ensuring events run successfully.
If you are interested in leadership, I tell you it can be demanding because responsibility ultimately sits with you, but it is also incredibly rewarding to see students benefit from something you built.
Why societies matter, especially for International Students
Societies are often seen as optional. Something to join if you have time. But for international students, they are essential.
They give you:
- A network before you have one
- A support system when everything feels unfamiliar
- A platform to lead, not just participate
- A way to celebrate your identity while building your future
Societies help you grow in ways lectures alone never could.
If you’re unsure about joining a society, my advice is simple: go anyway. Show up. You don’t need to have everything figured out. And if you feel like something is missing -create it. There is space for you to lead, even if you don’t feel ready yet.
Balancing Law School and growing skills in leadership roles
Balancing my degree with leadership roles has been one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of my time at NTU. Alongside my studies, I’ve had the opportunity to:
- Lead Young Leaders Nexus
- Co‑found VEDA Women’s Club
- Contribute to National Employability Week 2025
None of this happened by accident. It took structure, discipline, and a clear sense of purpose and priorities. Law taught me to think critically and communicate effectively under pressure. Psychology helped me understand people's behaviour and lead with empathy. Together, they shaped the way I approach every project, every team, and every challenge.
More importantly, these experiences have transformed the way I imagine my future. I’m not just training to be a legal professional. I’m building a career rooted in law, leadership, and creating real change.
These experiences didn’t just prepare me for a career - they helped me understand the kind of leader I want to be.
Becoming independent and building life from the ground up
I built a support network from scratch, created meaningful friendships, and found a sense of belonging in a place that was once completely new to me. It also taught me how to be comfortable in my own company, how to become independent, and how to rely on myself in ways I never had before.
Most importantly, being at university abroad shifted my mindset. I was no longer just thinking about the next few years, I was thinking about the kind of life I wanted to build over the next fifty. Moving abroad pushed me to think bigger, plan long-term, and become intentional about the future I wanted to create.
Although challenging at times, those experiences became some of the most valuable lessons of my university journey.
Looking into the future and what I want to do after I graduate
As I approach graduation, I’m excited to continue building a career in the legal and dispute‑resolution space while expanding the communities and platforms I’ve started.
For the South Asian Law Society, my hope is simple: I want it to outgrow me. I want it to continue opening doors, creating opportunities, supporting students and amplifying voices long after I leave NTU. Because leadership isn’t just about starting something, it is about creating something that opening doors for others and it lasts.
My message to future international students
If you’re considering NTU, here’s what I want you to know:
Your experience will be what you make of it. Say yes to opportunities. Step into rooms that feel unfamiliar. Build what you wish existed, like I did.
You’re not just coming here to study - you’re coming here to evolve, to create and to grow. And if you embrace that, you’ll leave with far more than just a degree.