Meet Karlson Leung

Wanderer

King’s passion for the public good has led him around the world, talking to and interacting with scores of average people. Through his time at the UN Development Programme in Beijing, as an intern at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, he became a truly global citizen. Yet, he remains deeply rooted to U of T Law, most notably lending his transnational expertise as contributor to and now Editor in Chief of Rights Review. His passion for human rights led to his executive role with the Canadian Bar Association’s Constitutional and Human Rights Section, where he works to promote the understanding of these sophisticated legal issues.

Unafraid of danger or civil unrest, Karlson often seeks out some of the most volatile regions of the Earth. Whether it be on the streets of Hong Kong during the Umbrella Revolution or the streets of Barcelona during the Catalonian independence movement, wherever there is an international news story or photo-op, the King finds a way to slip in.

Being a wanderer is not without its risks. King has watched his residence catch fire, been robbed by strangers, and gotten himself lost in unknown territories. He has also made his share of cultural faux pas, including walking into a Michelin-star restaurant without a reservation just to order a tea. However, he sees these experiences as learning opportunities to better understand the many differing and unique cultures. As a result of understanding the wide range of cultural norms and values, he has become a symbol of unity for individuals from all walks of life.

A believer in food as common ground between people, Karlson maintains a veritable repository of information on the most exquisite restaurants and local delicacies wherever he happens to be. When he was once asked by a professor how he decides what to eat at a new restaurant, the King replied: “It all entirely depends. If I cannot decide between two things, I would narrow it down to a group of stuff that I’m interested in eating, like noodles. Then I would go into that category and pick one option from there to reduce decision-making. Or whatever I feel like eating that day. Usually I would go for a dish that I usually like. But I wouldn’t read through the whole menu.”

“I wouldn’t read through the whole menu.”

Back in Toronto, King shares the novel perspectives on legal doctrine garnered from his transatlantic jaunts by serving as a working group leader with the International Human Rights Program. A tireless advocate, he has billed numerous hours toward his pursuit of global social equity by land, speedboat, and airplane.

Advocate

At a time when many were silent, Karlson took strong, principled positions on issues that mattered to students. After witnessing first-hand the stresses caused by ExamSoft, he felt the importance of ensuring that no student would be left behind. King quickly decried the unreliable software behind these problems, thus playing his part in one of the most effective grassroots campaigns in the law school’s recent history.

He has also been a progressive voice on social policy. Karlson has harshly criticized the global financialization of housing. He was quoted in Quartz for his expertise on direct action and protests during Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution. He has also opined on the significance of pluralism and religious freedom.

“We must stop the financialization of housing.”

Recently, Karlson assisted with the drafting of the 2017 annual report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva and for submissions to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. He continues to raise awareness about this issue in public forums, both as a private citizen and as a global citizen.

Statesman

As a believer in building relationships with all people, King was a member of both the Conservative and Labour Associations at Oxford. He remains steadfastly non-partisan, instead focusing on the importance of coming together. He is a firm supporter of local, national, and transnational institutions.

“It is essential that we live within our means.”

While at the UNDP in Beijing, his core projects focused on anti-corruption, rule of law reform, and strengthening civil society. He was a policy intern in the UK’s House of Commons, served on the executive board of the Canadian International Council, and is a leading member of the Faculty’s China Law Group.

Karlson has a diverse array of skill sets that make him comfortable in multiple environments. In addition to his numerous legal and policy skills, he is also a connoisseur of knitwear. He possesses an inordinate amount of knowledge about chairs and has assisted numerous people in selecting the right one. He is passionate about stationery, pens, seals, and card stock. He is also known for his skill in fashion buying, brand awareness, public opinion research, online marketing, martial arts, and contemporary dance.

As an emerging statesman, King regularly serves on the advisory boards of multiple start-up companies. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as an expert in political science, he recently participated in the testing of a disruptive app that promises to save democracy through targeted civic engagement. Karlson believes in supporting platforms that allow for a direct form of participation, enabling constituents to raise targeted issues with their local representatives more effectively.

Karlson’s unique verve, openness to experience, and dedication to public life have made him a unifying figure in Flavelle. Join the King’s team today.