Ruisi Liu — Juris Doctor Candidate (Dual JD)

01 Education

Western University — Faculty of Law

09.2026 — 05.2028

Juris Doctor Candidate, Upper-Year Transfer · London, ON

Activities & Societies: Associate Editor of the Canada–United States Law Journal (CUSLJ) — binational publication jointly edited by Western Law and Case Western Reserve University law students.

University of Windsor — Faculty of Law

09.2025 — 05.2028

Juris Doctor Candidate (Dual JD) · Windsor, ON

CGPA: 3.32 (~80%) · Dean's Entrance Scholarship.
Comparative Legal Writing & Research II: 4.0 GPA (96%).
Speaker / Panelist — 19th Annual Canadian Law Student Conference (Windsor Review of Legal & Social Issues); presented original research on interprovincial human trafficking in Canada.
Hicks Morley Labour & Employment Law Moot — prevailed against opposing Appellants.
1L Activities: Community Legal Aid (CLA) · Discipline Committee Rep, Students' Law Society (SLS) · Dual JD Rep, Asian Law Students' Organization (ALSO) · VP of Speakers Committee, ADR · 2025 Zuber Moot Court Clerk.

University of Detroit Mercy — School of Law

09.2025 — 05.2028

Juris Doctor Candidate (Dual JD) · Detroit, MI

1L Book Award — ranked 1st in class in Comparative Legal Writing & Research II.
Dean's Entrance Scholarship (160 LSAT).
Access to Bankruptcy Program — shadowed a bankruptcy attorney filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 intakes for at-risk populations across the Detroit metropolitan area.
G. Mennen Williams Moot — Competitor (score: 86%).

Toronto Metropolitan University

09.2019 — 06.2023

BFA Image Arts: Film Studies · Minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Producer of three award-winning thesis films: Under the Kasaya, VELA, Hope — 20+ international film festivals and nominations.

02 Experience

Legal Experience

Research Assistant — Intellectual Property, AI & Data

Current · 05.2026 — Present

University of Windsor, Faculty of Law · for Professor Myra J. Tawfik · Windsor, ON

Compiled a comparative U.S.–Canada legal research memo reviewing 60+ sources — cases, statutes, law review articles, and secondary sources — assessing the trademark landscape following Matal v. Tam (2017) and Iancu v. Brunetti (2019).
Prepared 50+ pages of analysis applying U.S. trademark developments to the Canadian trademark landscape, assessing whether the partial invalidation of Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act weakened safeguards against vulgar and offensive trademark registration in the U.S.
Investigated the use, selection, and best practices of expert panels and community advisory groups in legal decision-making — including New Zealand's Māori Trade Marks and Patents Advisory Committees — and evaluated implementation methods into the Canadian trademark registration landscape.
Compared U.S. and Canadian trademark-registration safeguards by analyzing USPTO and CIPO approaches, Section 9(1)(j) of the Canadian Trademarks Act, and the differing constitutional frameworks of the First Amendment and the Canadian Oakes test.

Summer Court Externship

Current · 05.2026 — Present

Macomb County Probate Court · Mt. Clemens, MI U.S.

Extern with Court Attorney Jessica Lane at the Macomb County Probate Court; draft bench memos for the probate Judge by analyzing case documents on CourtView.
Observe and analyze cases on probate, guardianship, conservatorship, estate, foreclosure, and fiduciary-accounting proceedings under Michigan probate practice.
Cross-check and proofread service on all interested persons and identify notice deficiencies under Michigan probate procedure MCR 5.105 and MCR 5.125 — including notice and service requirements, interested-person determinations, application vs. petition procedures, and appointment of personal representatives.

Speaker / Panelist — The Future of Law Conference

03.2026

Windsor Law Review of Legal & Social Issues · Windsor, ON

Presented original research, "The Legal Gray Zone of Cross-Border Sex Trafficking in Canada," exploring the procedural complexities of prosecuting domestic interprovincial sex trafficking.
Analyzed jurisdictional conflicts between Ontario's common law system and Quebec's civil law regime, focusing on the exploitation of Highway 401 as a trafficking corridor.
Evaluated systemic evidentiary barriers facing survivors in the criminal justice system, highlighting inconsistencies in the application of section 276 "rape shield" laws and the judicial impact of the "perfect victim" myth.

Courtroom Navigator — Ontario Court of Justice & Provincial Offences Court

01.2026 — 03.2026

Community Legal Aid (CLA) · Windsor, ON

Represented CLA at the front desk of the Ontario Court of Justice (OCJ) and Provincial Offences Court (POA), guiding dozens of unrepresented individuals twice weekly through court procedure and jurisdictional inquiries.
Triaged client documents and connected individuals with CLA lawyers on criminal and family matters.
Requested disclosure packages and coordinated prosecutor meetings for individuals facing regulatory and traffic offences.

Beyond Law

Photographer / Videographer

09.2019 — 08.2025

Self-Employed · Toronto, ON

Directed creative photography and videography projects for 100+ clients, with focus on weddings, corporate events, and live music performances.
Edited and delivered 4K photos and videos with mastery in the Adobe Suite.
Oversaw end-to-end freelance operations — invoicing, budgeting, and scheduling — while cultivating a loyal client base through reliable delivery of exceptional media materials.

English Instructor (Summer Contract)

04.2023 — 07.2023

North York Academy · Toronto, ON

Delivered English-language education to a class of new Chinese international students through reading, essay writing, group projects, and oral skills — supporting their transition into a Canadian academic environment.
Drafted course content aligned with the Ontario Ministry of Education's standards.
Designed and delivered 30+ assessments; students demonstrated measurable gains in reading, writing, and overall language proficiency over the term.

03 Film Awards Toronto Metropolitan University · 2019—2023

Student Film Producer — Image Arts Thesis Films

09.2019 — 06.2023

Produced three short films — Under the Kasaya, VELA, Hope — securing $21k+ in total funding through pitches, crowdfunding, and grants.
Performed due diligence on contracts, permits, crew coordination, and production logistics; secured City of Hamilton filming permits and ensured equipment safety.
Directed 40+ crew members across departments during multi-day shoots, ensuring efficient and seamless production operations.

Under the
Kasaya

★ NFFTY Audience 2024 — 2026

Producer

Under the Kasaya

▶ Watch IMDb ↗ VAFF ↗

VELA

★ 6× Award Winner 2023 — 2024

Producer

VELA

▶ Watch IMDb ↗

Hope

★ WFW Award 2023

Producer

Hope

▶ Watch IMDb ↗

Whose
Duty

★ Elvino Sauro 2021

Writer · Director · Editor

Whose Duty

Link available upon request

Under the Kasaya — ★ Audience Award Winner (NFFTY). Selected: Fantasia International FF 2026 · Breakthroughs FF 2025 · Toronto Chinese FF 2024 · Vancouver Asian FF 2024.

VELA — ★ Best Cinematography (Latino Feedback FF) · Best Student Short (Viva Texas FF) · Audience Choice & Best Makeup (Image Arts FF) · Best Student Film (Ciudad de México IFF) · Best Student Short + Best Cinematography Nom. (Busan New Wave) · Finalist (Canada Shorts FF). Also selected: Toronto Latin American FF · Korea International Short FF · Buffalo International FF · LA Latinx FF.

Hope — ★ William F. White Int'l Film Equipment Award. Selected: Image Arts Film Festival 2023.

Whose Duty — ★ Elvino Sauro Award (Exemplary Film Production). Short investigative documentary on systemic racism within the RCMP, using archival footage and interviews with legal professionals. Selected: Lift-Off Sessions 2021.

04 Skills & Interests

🎨Visual Artist 10+ Yrs 🎙️Audio Engineering Radio & Podcast ⚖️FACL Toronto Conference & Gala Volunteer ⛸️Endurance Ice Skating Rideau Canal

05 Languages

English Fluent Français Fluent 中文 / Mandarin Fluent Español B2 Proficiency