Windsor Law graduate Celina Seguin completed her first marathon in Lucerne, Switzerland, during her exchange semester abroad. (SUBMITTED BY CELINA SEGUIN/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
From negotiation competitions to marathon finish lines, Celina Seguin’s time at Windsor Law has been defined by momentum — both academic and personal.
Now preparing to cross the convocation stage next week, Seguin is reflecting on what she describes as a fast-paced but deeply rewarding three years at Windsor Law, marked by academic excellence, international experiences, community involvement and more than a few kilometres logged on running trails around the world.
Seguin grew up in LaSalle before heading to Ottawa to complete her undergraduate degree, but says returning home to attend Windsor Law was the right move.
“When I came back to Windsor for law school, I knew I was where I was supposed to be,” said Seguin. “I’ve had nothing short of a great experience here.”
A standout student throughout law school, Seguin ranked second in her class in first year and third in second year while maintaining an 87 per cent cumulative GPA. She also earned several scholarships and awards, including the McCarthy Tétrault Prize and the Fasken Martineau LLP Achievement in Law Award.
For Seguin, some of the most meaningful experiences at Windsor Law came through a mix of academic and extracurricular opportunities that shaped both her growth in the classroom and her development beyond it, helping her build confidence, perspective and practical skills along the way.
In her second year, she completed an academic placement at Windsor Law Community Legal Aid, assisting with employment, criminal and landlord-tenant matters while working directly with members of the Windsor community. She also represented Windsor Law in the Canadian National Negotiation Competition, where she and partner Natalie Cusinato earned the Spirit of Negotiation Award after tackling a complex problem involving housing, Indigenous issues and municipal relations.
“That experience really brought together everything Windsor Law emphasizes about advocacy, collaboration and social justice,” she said. “It was a highlight of my law school experience.”
Windsor Law’s close‑knit, supportive culture also shaped her experience in lasting ways. From faculty mentors to classmates, Seguin said the community encouraged and supported one another, pushing everyone to grow academically and personally throughout law school.
“People here genuinely want to see each other succeed,” she said. “You’re surrounded by motivated and driven people who are down to earth and supportive. That sense of community is really special.”
Outside of academics, Seguin balanced law school with a long list of extracurriculars — from intramural sports and peer mentoring to working as a sports information assistant with the University of Windsor Department of Athletics, where she wrote game recaps and play-by-play coverage for Lancer teams.
She also made time to pursue another passion: distance running.
An avid runner, Seguin has completed the International Detroit Free Press Half Marathon three times, including twice while attending Windsor Law. During an exchange semester at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland, she added another major accomplishment by completing her first full marathon.
“It was one of the proudest moments I’ve had,” she said. “Running is something I can take with me anywhere.”
That semester also included visits across Europe and an opportunity to train in Berlin the day before the BMW Berlin Marathon, one of the largest in the world.
“The whole city was decked out, ready to go for the next day. I found it inspiring. With it being a world major and I was a few weeks out from my race, it was motivating,” she said.
This summer, Seguin will move to Toronto to begin her articling term at Aird & Berlis LLP, where she previously spent two summers working as a law student. She plans to pursue a career in litigation or labour and employment law.
As she prepares for convocation and the bar exam just days before, Seguin says she is excited for the transition from student life into legal practice.
“I’ve been a student my whole life, so this feels like the start of something completely new,” she said. “I’m excited to figure out where I fit into the bigger picture and how I can use what I’ve learned to contribute in a meaningful way.”
For students just beginning their own law school journeys, Seguin offers simple advice: trust yourself.
“Go in with confidence,” she said. “Everyone goes to law school for a reason. Remember and hold on to what your reason is.”