09.2026 — 05.2028
Juris Doctor Candidate · Upper-Year Transfer · London, ON
Ruisi Liu
Upper-Year JD Candidate at Western Law — legal researcher & award-winning film producer.
01
Education
University of Windsor Faculty of Law · University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
09.2025 — 05.2026
Canadian JD & U.S. JD Candidate (Dual JD) — 1L · Windsor, ON & Detroit, MI
- CGPA: 3.27 (~80%) · Dean's Entrance Scholarship.
- Book Award — Legal Writing & Research: 4.0 GPA (96%), ranked first in class.
- Three moots: G. Mennen Williams Moot Competitor (86%); Hicks Morley Labour & Employment Law Moot (prevailed against opposing Appellants); Windsor 1L Moot.
- Activities & Societies: Community Legal Aid (CLA) · Discipline Committee Rep, Students' Law Society (SLS) · Dual JD Rep, Asian Law Students' Organization (ALSO) · VP of Speakers Committee, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) · 2025 Zuber Moot Court Clerk.
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
Ongoing · 05.2026 — Present
University of Windsor, Faculty of Law · for Professor Myra J. Tawfik · Windsor, ON
- Drafted a comparative U.S.–Canada legal research memorandum analyzing 60+ cases, statutes, law review articles, and secondary sources to assess the trademark-law impact of Matal v. Tam (2017) and Iancu v. Brunetti (2019), which struck down portions of section 2(a) of the Lanham Act.
- Investigated the structure and best practices of expert panels and community advisory groups — including New Zealand's Māori Trade Marks and Patents Advisory Committees and the Kaitiaki Relationships Framework — and assessed potential implementation within Canada's trademark-registration system.
- Conducted comparative legal analysis of USPTO and CIPO practices, section 9(1)(j) of the Canadian Trademarks Act, First Amendment protections, and the Canadian Charter's section 1 Oakes test.
05.2026 — 07.2026
Macomb County Probate Court · Mt. Clemens, MI U.S.
- Interned under the supervision of Attorney Jessica Lane at the Macomb County Probate Court, reviewing and processing filings involving probate estates, guardianships, conservatorships, foreclosures, and fiduciary accountings under Michigan probate law and procedure.
- Audited probate court dockets to confirm service on all interested persons and identify notice deficiencies under Michigan Court Rules 5.105 and 5.125 — including notice and service requirements, interested-person determinations, application versus petition procedures, and appointment of personal representatives.
Windsor Law Review of Legal & Social Issues · Windsor, ON
- Authored and presented original research titled The Legal Gray Zone of Cross-Border Sex Trafficking in Canada, examining the procedural complexities of prosecuting domestic interprovincial trafficking.
- Analyzed jurisdictional conflicts between Ontario's common law regime and Quebec's civil law system, with a focus on the Highway 401 trafficking corridor.
- Evaluated systemic evidentiary barriers facing survivors — including inconsistencies in the application of the Criminal Code's section 276 rape-shield provisions and the judicial influence of the "perfect victim" myth.
Beyond Law
Sales and Marketing Representative (Seasonal)
04.2025 — 07.2025
Pirate Taxi Toronto · Toronto, ON
- Drove ticket sales through high-volume, face-to-face engagement with families and tourists, promoting a high-energy pirate taxi ride to the Toronto Islands.
- Coordinated the daily dispatch of 100+ boats from Toronto to three drop-off points on the Toronto Islands, working closely with captains and passengers to manage routes, schedules, and service changes.
- Processed cash and point-of-sale transactions while performing in character as a pirate to create a memorable, family-friendly experience.
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.
Whose
Duty
★ Elvino Sauro
2021
Duty
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
05
Languages