"I selected AU because I could not attend a traditional university with set day/evening classes, fixed exam schedules, and so on. I was living in Leduc, Alta. at the time, working for the RCMP, and was on shift work, which made this impossible. So initially it was the time flexibility of the AU model that drew me in. I have happy memories of studying at AU, especially the frequent contact with my tutors in almost all my courses."

Two years after obtaining his degree he was accepted by the University of Victoria Faculty of Law. He says that never would have happened if he had not been able to study at AU, "as I simply would not have been able to obtain my BA at U of A or another traditional university, given the restrictions on my time imposed by being an active RCMP member."

Ahern has been a lawyer for over 15 years, all spent in the Metro Vancouver area. Most of that has been as a prosecutor with the Attorney General of British Columbia. From 2002-2007 he was one of the prosecutors on the infamous case of serial murderer Robert William Pickton. He is now with the Commercial Crime, Proceeds and Securities Prosecutions Section in Vancouver.

Ahern shares his advice to current students. "Stick with it. It can be hard doing distance education at first, as no one is breathing down your neck to hand in an assignment by such and such a date. It all comes from inside. But if you learn how to do this, you'll have self-motivation and organizational skills that will last you a lifetime."