John Mweemba is a graduating UVic Law student from St. John’s, NL. He was the vice president of the UVic Black Law Students Association, UVic Pro Bono Students 1L Representative and the Black Law Students Canada National Common Law Representative.
Mweemba is one of the recipients of the Abib Ngom and Natalie Chan Black Legal Scholar Award and the Black Student Leadership Award for his leadership on Black law student advocacy and community engagement. After convocation, he will return to start his articling career on the east coast.
What moment or memory stands out most from your time at UVic?
During my 1L year, when UVic Law won the 2024/25 Black Law Students’ Association of Canada’s (BLSA) Chapter of the Year award.
Where did you spend most of your time studying, hanging out or unwinding on campus?
I found the second floor of the law library great for studying. The UVic Black Law Student Association (BLSA) room was the best for unwinding, catching up with classmates and resetting after lectures.
Which course or instructor had a positive impact on your academic or personal growth?
Associate Teaching Professor Tim Richards had a positive academic impact on all my years at UVic Law. On a personal level, he’s been a tremendous help to the UVic BLSA through mentorship. He also supported initiatives by volunteering.
What activity or experience outside the classroom meant the most to you?
To blow off steam, I played for the faculty intramural soccer team “Tortiano Lawnaldo.” I played midfield for the 2026 title-winning team.
What did receiving the Black Student Leadership Award mean to you? How did it support your degree?
Receiving this award is a great honour. It helped fund my final year of law school. It also recognized my efforts to advance inclusion and accessibility to a legal education for Black students. Furthermore, it inspires me to continue the work I am doing and espouse these values in my legal practice.
What are your plans for after graduation and is it the path you envisioned for yourself growing up?
I plan to go east to pursue a career in tax and business law. Through this, I’m hoping to advance access to justice and impact the non-profit space. Growing up, I thought I wanted to follow my parents into medicine. As a child, I was a fan of Lewis Hamilton and the video game Forza Motorsport, so I also wanted to design cars.
What would you tell someone who is considering choosing UVic for their degree?
Studying at UVic is a unique experience. It offers students a collaborative, educationally challenging and supportive environment. During my time, I have formed lifetime connections and studied under some of Canada’s leading legal scholars. UVic’s campus life creates space for all interests. Personally, I have met amazing people through sports and social justice spheres. UVic is unique because although it’s not the largest geographically, it provides everyone a place to fit in and grow.
