Ruisi Liu — Juris Doctor Candidate (Dual JD)

01 Education

University of Windsor — Faculty of Law

09.2025 — 05.2028

Juris Doctor Candidate (Dual JD) · Windsor, ON

Speaker / Panelist — 19th Annual Canadian Law Student Conference, Windsor Review of Legal & Social Issues; presented research on interprovincial human trafficking in Canada.
Hicks Morley Labour & Employment Law Moot — succeeded against opposing Appellants.
Community Legal Aid (CLA) · Discipline Committee Rep, SLS · Dual JD Rep, ALSO · VP 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

Dean's Entrance Scholarship — 80th percentile LSAT.
Access to Bankruptcy Program — shadowed a bankruptcy attorney filing Chapter 7 & 13 intakes for at-risk populations in metro Detroit.
G. Mennen Williams Moot — Competitor (score: 86%).

Toronto Metropolitan University

09.2019 — 06.2028

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

Producer of three thesis films: Under the Kasaya (2024), VELA (2024), Hope (2023).

02 Experience

Summer Externship — Judicial Externship

Incoming · 05.2026 — 07.2026

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

Provide direct assistance to a State Court Judge by researching, analyzing, and writing on complex legal issues.
Draft legal memoranda; assist the judge and court staff with daily proceedings and case preparation.
Represent clients or the agency in court proceedings, depending on placement arrangements.
Complete a supervised legal research project; maintain a detailed weekly journal across a 120–180-hour placement.

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," on 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 exploitation of the Highway 401 trafficking corridor.
Evaluated systemic evidentiary barriers facing survivors — inconsistencies in the application of s. 276 "rape shield" laws and the judicial impact of the "perfect victim" myth.

Courtroom Navigator — OCJ & POA

01.2026 — 03.2026

Community Legal Aid · Windsor, ON

Front-desk representative for CLA at the Ontario Court of Justice and Provincial Offences Court — guided dozens of individuals twice weekly with court navigation and inquiries.
Filed client triage documents and connected individuals with CLA lawyers for criminal and family matters.
Requested disclosure packages and scheduled prosecutor meetings for individuals facing regulatory and traffic offences.

English Instructor (Summer Contract)

04.2023 — 07.2023

North York Academy · Toronto, ON

Delivered English language instruction to a class of new Chinese international students through reading, essay-writing, group projects, and oral skills.
Drafted course content based on Ontario Ministry of Education standards.
Designed and delivered 30+ assessments; students demonstrated measurable gains in reading, writing, and overall language proficiency.

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 Languages

English Fluent Français Fluent 中文 / Mandarin Fluent Español B2 Proficiency