International report explores community legal services for better access to justice

York U legal expert co-authored report analyzing research from three African countries and Canada, highlights benefit of grassroots support in addressing global justice crisis

 TORONTO, April 20, 2023 — Community legal clinics, paralegal services, social workers and others assisting those who cannot easily access legal help, are a few ways of narrowing the gap in accessing justice that’s prevalent across the globe, says York University legal expert Professor Trevor Farrow, co-author of a new international report released today.

The report, Exploring Community-Based Services, Costs and Benefits for People-Centered Justice, is a review of recent studies conducted by researchers in Kenya, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Canada, to understand how effective grassroots support systems are in alleviating, if not eliminating, barriers to justice.

The research is part of Community-Based Justice Research (CBJR) project, funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre. The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice (CFCJ), based at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, played a lead role in co-ordinating the project.

According to Farrow, associate dean of research at Osgoode, the inaccessibility of legal services is a common issue, be it in Kenya, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Canada, or rest of the world. In fact, the United Nations has identified access to justice as a global crisis that – through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – requires collective efforts and shared solutions, continues Farrow.

According to earlier research from the CFCJ, approximately 50 per cent of adult Canadians will experience a legal problem in any given three-year period. “Like the rest of the world, there is an access-to-justice crisis in Canada,” notes Farrow, who also serves as chair of the CFCJ. “Law and legal issues are everywhere, but very few people can afford legal help.”

Grassroots-level support can help change this situation for the better, says CFCJ Senior Research Fellow Ab Currie, who also co-authored the report.

“Getting access to trained social workers at drop-in shelters, support workers at community centres, paralegals, religious advisors and many others who work and interact with people where and when they most need help, are primary goals and benefits of community-based justice,” explains Farrow. “The core idea is to find ways to get legal services and law-related help to people in the places that they live and work, and to identify – and ideally avoid – legal problems or to help address them before they get worse.”

“Generally, there’s a benefit to having these services in the community and the recent research indicates that the cost-benefit analysis is positive for these community justice services,” he adds. “There are also non-financial benefits of trust, access and awareness when it comes to supporting local help for local communities.”

South African researcher Busiwana Winne Martins, of the Centre for Community Justice, agrees. “Because support workers are close to the community, they understand their problems and socio-economic conditions,” she says. “They share the same geographic space and culture and can negotiate plural legal systems and determine how to straddle the formal law and traditional African customary law.”

“People who work in the grassroots justice structures, especially community-based paralegals, are able to translate difficult legal and bureaucratic language into frames that local people can understand and help them to resolve their justice issues, she adds.

Farrow agrees that managing problems within a community and with the help of community members, is often simpler, quicker and allows for community values and interests to be present in the process. “Community justice initiatives can provide exciting opportunities for innovative and inclusive problem-solving that allows for important justice options and strategies,” he notes.

To help solve the access-to-justice crisis, Farrow concludes, “community-based justice provides significant and exciting opportunities for meaningful assistance – in addition to numerous other options and processes, including strong legal institutions.”

With the addition of access-to-justice to the United Nations SDGs, calling on all nations to work toward equal access by 2030 is a significant move and driver for action, according to the report.

About York University

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York’s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, founded in Toronto in 1889, is among the oldest, largest and most distinguished law schools in Canada, with a diverse and accomplished alumni community of more than 18,000 worldwide.  

MEDIA CONTACTS:

John Schofield, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, 416-736-5820, jschofield@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 647-463-4354, suhasini@yorku.ca.

 

Osgoode alumni give back by establishing $1.2-million Davies Fellows Award to create positive change in the legal profession

York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School receives transformative contribution to its No Barriers campaign from alumni working at leading Canadian law firm Davies

TORONTO, March 1, 2023 – York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms, jointly announced today a $1.2-million Davies Fellows Award that is designed to break down barriers to legal education.

The new bursary is created with donations from Osgoode alumni at Davies with matching funds from the law school.

Every year, the bursary will help support one first-year student in the law school’s juris doctor (JD) program, who has demonstrated financial need and exceptional promise.

The successful candidate’s personal and professional achievements will include overcoming obstacles related to financial means, racial, cultural, gender inequalities, mental health, and/or physical or learning challenges. The recipient will be known as a Davies Fellow.

The award is renewable for the student’s second and third years in the JD program, provided the student remains in good academic standing and continues to demonstrate financial need and exceptional promise.

“We count among our lawyers at Davies, individuals who have overcome obstacles to achieve excellence in the profession, and we recognize that we have an opportunity to expand access to a legal education to students from equity-deserving groups,” says Osgoode alumna and Davies senior partner Patricia Olasker.

She adds that the initiative reflects the firm’s commitment to creating a more inclusive legal profession by removing barriers that stand in the way of students of exceptional promise. “Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is a core value of our firm, and the creation of the Davies Fellows Award is an impactful way for us to turn our values into action.”

“I am so grateful for the amazing support our alumni working at Davies have given to this initiative, which will see generous alumni donations matched by Osgoode to help reduce systemic barriers to law school for students from equity-deserving groups who will, in turn, change the face of the legal profession,” says Mary Condon, dean of Osgoode. “The creation of the award is a transformative contribution to the law school’s No Barriers campaign, which aims to make Osgoode one of the most diverse and inclusive law schools in Canada.”

As the first Canadian law school to adopt a holistic admissions policy 15 years ago, Osgoode has been a leader in making legal education more open, inclusive and diverse, the dean adds.

Images from the cheque-presentation event available for download:

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About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, founded in Toronto in 1889, is among the oldest, largest and most diverse law schools in Canada, with an accomplished alumni community of more than 18,000 worldwide.  

About York University

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, York brings a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare its students for success.

About Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Davies is a leading Canadian business law firm focused on high-stakes matters. The firm is pre-eminent across each of its practice areas, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, tax, litigation, and competition law. Davies has made equity, diversity and inclusion a fundamental component of its corporate culture and is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives both within and beyond its doors.    

Media Contacts:

John Schofield, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Osgoode Hall Law School, 416-736-5820, jschofield@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 647-464-4354, suhasini@yorku.ca

 

Osgoode Hall Law School and Toronto District School Board join forces to break down barriers to legal careers

TORONTO, Monday, Nov. 28, 2022 — Canada’s leading law school and the country’s largest school board are coming together to create a unique program designed to break down barriers for Black high school students considering careers as lawyers.

Known as Raise the Black Bar (RTBB), the initiative is the result of a ground-breaking partnership involving Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, the Osgoode chapter of the Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA Osgoode) and the Toronto District School Board. It will officially launch during a ceremony at Osgoode Hall Law School on Nov. 30.

“We believe this is the first program of its kind focusing specifically on the needs of Black high school students,” said Bunisha Samuels, president of BLSA Osgoode and a third-year law student at Osgoode. The program was initiated by members of BLSA Osgoode who wanted to bridge the gap to university and create more opportunities for Black students in the legal sector.

“I’m optimistic that Raise the Black Bar is going to help create a whole new generation of Black law students and Black lawyers,” she added. “I wish I had had this when I was in high school.”

Osgoode Hall Law School Dean Mary Condon said that Osgoode’s goal to be the most diverse, accessible law school in Canada is integral to its vision for excellence.

“Beginning with the introduction of our holistic admissions policy 15 years ago, Osgoode has been a leader among Canadian law schools in breaking down barriers to inclusion,” she said.

“We’re proud and very excited to continue that tradition by partnering with Canada’s largest school board to create the Raise the Black Bar program,” she added. “Like the TDSB, we believe to our core that diversity is our strength and the path to true excellence in the legal profession and beyond. RTBB will open the door to a new generation of talented lawyers and we can’t wait to witness their amazing achievements.”

Colleen Russell-Rawlins, TDSB Director of Education praised the new program as a potential springboard into legal careers for Black students.

“The Toronto District School Board is committed to improving the experiences and outcomes for Black students and is proud to partner with Osgoode Hall Law School for the Raise the Black Bar initiative,” she said. “This initiative is an incredible opportunity for Black secondary students to learn more about the diverse career options in law, enhance their understanding of legal education and pathways, and connect directly with Black law student mentors.”

Samuels said the program is open to all Black students across the TDSB’s 110 secondary schools, with a focus on those in Grades 10, 11 and 12. As the program ramps up, RTBB will give students the opportunity to participate in small group mentorship meetings with practicing Black legal professionals and Black law students.

Among other things, students will learn about diverse career opportunities in law, pathways to law school and financial aid. Mentors will also help students navigate barriers unique to Black students and will debunk myths about law, law school and legal careers. They will also coach them on how to build a winning resume and cover letter and how to network in professional and academic areas of interest prior to entering law.

As RTBB evolves, high school students will also be eligible to participate in additional outreach events, including presentations from Osgoode administration and Black law students focused on the admissions process and what it means to be a legal professional. In addition, RTBB organizers are planning law firm and court tours to showcase a typical day in the life of a lawyer, judge or court clerk, a mock trial to help develop skills such as written and oral advocacy, and a panel event with select Black lawyers at the annual Know Your Worth youth empowerment conference, which is open to all Black students.

The official, Nov. 30 Raise the Black Bar launch will take place at Osgoode Hall Law School on York University’s main Keele Campus, beginning at 9:30 a.m., and will feature a tour of Osgoode Hall Law School, a panel discussion with Black legal professionals on the topic of “So, you want to become a lawyer,” and a Black law student panel discussion on “What can I do NOW to prepare for law school.” About 100 high school students are expected to attend.

About the Toronto District School Board

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is the largest and one of the most diverse school boards in Canada. We serve approximately 235,000 students in 583 schools throughout Toronto, and more than 100,000 life-long learners in our Adult and Continuing Education programs.

About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, founded in Toronto in 1889, is among the oldest, largest and most distinguished law schools in Canada, with a diverse and accomplished alumni community of more than 18,000 worldwide.  

About York University

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York’s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

John Schofield, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, (416) 736-5820, jschofield@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Shari Schwartz-Maltz, TDSB Media Relations and Issues Management, 416-518-5551, shari.schwartz-maltz@tdsb.on.ca.

 

Losing billions: Osgoode professor key organizer, speaker at conference addressing huge amounts lost to corporate tax avoidance

TORONTO, Friday, July 22, 2022 — A tax law professor with Osgoode Hall Law School at York University will join top Canadian tax experts in Ottawa July 27 to consider how Canada could implement a proposed global minimum corporate tax designed to help nations reduce the billions of dollars lost to corporate tax avoidance every year.

Professor Jinyan Li is a co-organizer of the Pillar Two Symposium along with HEC Montréal and the Toronto-based Canadian Tax Foundation.

Pillar Two is one of two key components in an international tax agreement signed in October 2021 by Canada and 135 other member nations of the G20/OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS). Pillar One, if made law by signatory nations, would involve reallocating a portion of profits from major multinationals such as some U.S. tech companies to countries where they made their sales. Pillar Two sets a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 per cent.

BEPS refers to tax planning strategies used by multinational corporations that exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules to avoid paying tax. Developing countries’ higher reliance on corporate income tax means they suffer disproportionately from BEPS.

A report by the U.K.-based Tax Justice Network last year concluded that countries are losing a total of $483 billion in tax a year to global tax abuse committed by multinational corporations and wealthy individuals – enough to fully vaccinate the global population against Covid-19 more than three times over.

The G20/OECD tax agreement is facing stiff opposition from Republican Party representatives in Washington and some governments such as Hungary. The OECD secretary-general said in May that the deal may not come into force until 2024 instead of 2023, as originally hoped.

Li said that some huge multinationals like Amazon and Apple used to pay an effective tax rate of only zero to five per cent. “They’re quite innovative and very bold in taking advantage of all the legal tax-avoidance strategies,” she explained.

Countries were motivated to reach a deal out of a common desire to reduce tax avoidance, money laundering, terrorism financing and the risk of another global financial crisis as in 2008, said Li.

“But it’s very complicated to turn this (tax) agreement into law, so that’s what this conference is about,” she added. “It can only be done by countries according to their own national laws. There is no international tax organization.”

Li and HEC Montréal accounting professor Jean-Pierre Vidal applied for funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to help cover the cost of the conference. The event is a response, in part, to the federal Liberal government’s April 2022 budget, which called for public consultation on how to implement a global minimum corporate tax. It will bring together academics, practitioners and government officials.

Li will speak on a panel addressing the mechanics of legal implementation of Pillar Two and the implications for domestic law (including the existing Canadian international tax regime). The panellists will also discuss Pillar Two in the context of dispute resolution, tax treaties and existing investment and trade agreements, as well as the challenges of consistency across jurisdictions.

 

About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, founded in Toronto in 1889, is among the oldest, largest and most distinguished law schools in Canada, with a diverse and accomplished alumni community of more than 18,000 worldwide.  

About York University

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York’s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

MEDIA CONTACT:

John Schofield, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, (416) 736-5820, jschofield@osgoode.yorku.ca

Osgoode Hall Law School at York University honours outstanding alumni

TORONTO, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 — The first racialized judge to sit on the Ontario Court of Appeal is the 2022 recipient of Osgoode Hall Law School’s Alumni Gold Key Award for achievement – 50 years after his graduation.

The Honourable Russell Juriansz ’72 is one of seven recipients of Osgoode’s 2022 Gold Key Awards for distinguished alumni in the categories of achievement, public sector, community service and ones to watch. The Gold Key Awards celebrate the contributions of Osgoode alumni to the legal profession and the community in those four categories.

This year’s awards will be announced on Wednesday, May 18 during the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Board annual general meeting, which will be held virtually.

Other 2022 honourees include human rights lawyer Ena Chadha ’08 (LLM) and environmental lawyer Ramani Nadarajah ’87, ’07 (LLM) – both in the public sector category – and Toronto corporate lawyer Samuel Schwartz ’72 in the service category.

Recipients in the ones-to-watch category are Ann Marina Elias ’13 of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Toronto intellectual property lawyer Maneesha Gupta ’17, and New York City-based commercial real estate lawyer Lucas Kilravey ’18.

“Our students and alumni are all accomplished individuals by definition,” said Osgoode Dean Mary Condon. “But our annual Alumni Gold Key Awards celebrate those who have reached remarkable heights in representing Osgoode’s values of excellence, innovation, justice, equity and service.”

Condon also announced the recipients of the law school’s other major alumni awards for 2022: Mentor of the Year (nominated by students in the Osgoode Mentor Program) and the Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice Through Law – awarded to members of the Canadian legal community who demonstrate the kind of commitment to achieving social justice and fairness through the law that was exemplified by Dianne Martin (1945-2004), a leading criminal lawyer and former Osgoode faculty member.

The recipient of the 2022 Dianne Martin Medal is Tracy Heffernan ’93, who was most recently tenant duty counsel program director for the Toronto-based Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario. The Mentor of the Year award goes to Derrick Guo ‘08, chief legal officer at Traferox Technologies Inc., a Toronto-based medical device company.

 

About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, founded in Toronto in 1889, is among the oldest, largest and most distinguished law schools in Canada, with a diverse and accomplished alumni community of more than 18,000 worldwide.  

About York University

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York’s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

NOTE: See below for biographies of recipients.

MEDIA CONTACT:

John Schofield, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, (416) 736-5820, jschofield@osgoode.yorku.ca

 

Russell Juriansz ’72 (2022 Alumni Gold Key Award, Achievement): The Honourable Russell Juriansz’s career exemplifies a dedication to the law, the profession and to public service. As an Osgoode student, he served as president of the Legal and Literary Society, the law school’s students’ association, and received a students’ Gold Key Award. He went on to lead an accomplished career as a human rights and constitutional law lawyer, arguing several seminal cases before the Supreme Court of Canada, including Bhinder v. CNR, one of the first cases to recognize the concept of adverse-effect discrimination, and Robichaud v. Canada (Treasury Board), the first sexual harassment case to reach Canada’s highest court. In 1988, he became the first person of South Asian origin to be named to the Superior Court of Ontario. He was elevated to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2004 and retired from that role in September 2021. Throughout his career, he has been a frequent writer, editor, speaker and teacher on subjects related to human rights law. In 2015, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the Law Society of Upper Canada, now known as the Law Society of Ontario. “His work as a lawyer and a judge helped shape Canadian law as he sought to find a delicate balance between the rights of individuals and the needs of the state” the law society said in its citation.

Ena Chadha ’08 (LLM) (2022 Alumni Gold Key Award, Public Sector): From the beginning of her legal career, Ena Chadha has been committed to the advancement of equity in the legal profession, social justice and public service. Currently the chair of the board of directors of the Toronto-based Human Rights Legal Support Centre, Chadha is also a sessional lecturer with the Schulich School of Business at York University and a former chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. In part of 2019 and 2020, she served as a co-reviewer for an Ontario Ministry of Education probe into systemic racism at the Peel District School Board. She has also worked as director of litigation with the ARCH Disability Law Centre, a sole practitioner in human rights, refugee and employment law, and external counsel to the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Along with regular volunteer work, she has spoken widely on human rights issues and published extensively on equality rights. “Ena is an outstanding candidate for this award as she exemplifies a longstanding commitment to dismantling discrimination and bringing critical light to processes that institutionalize exclusion,” wrote another nominator. “Few have had such meaningful impact in raising awareness in the area of disability and human rights, and in supporting law students, than Ena. Her expertise and dedication have driven transformative, positive change in Ontario.”

Ramani Nadarajah ’87, ’07 (LLM) (2022 Alumni Gold Key Award, Public Sector): During the course of her legal career, Ramani Nadarajah has made a significant contribution to the development of environmental law and policy in Canada. She has served as counsel for the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) since 1994. Prior to that, she worked as counsel in the Legal Services Branch of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and counsel in the Crown Law Office for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. Certified as an environmental law specialist by the Law Society of Ontario, Nadarajah has appeared before almost all levels of court on prosecutions, appeals, civil actions, judicial review applications and interventions. Among other things, she played a central role in advancing the enactment of legislation in Ontario to counter the use of so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), which are defined as frivolous legal actions by plaintiffs designed to prevent individuals or groups from engaging in issues of public interest. As counsel for CELA, she has also worked on complex litigation files, including as co-counsel for Concerned Walkerton Citizens, which represented residents of Walkerton, Ont. who were affected by the contamination of the town’s water supply in 2000. She has also made significant contributions to her alma mater, the community and the profession. “I believe that her career demonstrates a sustained and extraordinary commitment to social justice and public service,” says her nomination package. “Her involvement in cases establishing important principles in regulatory and administrative environmental law, beginning with her work at the MOE (Ministry of the Environment) and continuing at CELA, is exemplary.”

Samuel Schwartz ’72 (2022 Alumni Gold Key Award, Service): Sam Schwartz’s distinguished legal career has always been marked by a dedication to giving back. He is the founder of Toronto-based The Strategy Law Group and was managing partner for the Toronto office of Davis LLP, now DLA Piper, from 2008 to 2016. He practises in the areas of corporate/commercial law, corporate finance structuring and securities law, including merchant banking and public and private company transactions. In June 2015, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from York University in recognition for his successful corporate legal career, community building and volunteerism. He is a member of the York University Board of Governors, an honorary university governor for life, and a 2014 recipient of the university’s Bryden Alumni Award for Outstanding Contribution. He served on the Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Board from 2015 to 2021 and was the Osgoode alumni representative in the search for the law school’s new dean in 2019. In that role, he solicited the views of fellow Osgoode alumni, attended all meetings and reported to the board. He is also a generous donor to the law school and is always willing to mentor Osgoode students. “We are blessed to be able to have the best and the brightest lead us into the next generation,” he told the law school’s alumni newsletter, Osgoode Brief, in the Fall 2018 issue. “But they won’t do that – they can’t do that – without the senior members of society putting themselves out and providing their experience and understanding.”

Tracy Heffernan ’93 (2022 Dianne Martin Medal for Social Justice Through Law): Tracy Heffernan’s inspiring career has been driven by a dedication to ensuring that low-income people have access to justice. Her 25-year career in the community legal clinic system began as a tenant duty counsel before becoming a longtime staff lawyer with Kensington Bellwoods Community Legal Services in downtown Toronto. Most recently, she was a staff lawyer and provincial director of the tenant duty counsel program at Toronto-based Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO). From 2009 to 2017, she served as co-counsel for the pioneering Right to Housing Coalition, whose lobbying and legal efforts helped persuade the federal Liberal government in 2017 to introduce its National Housing Strategy and to enshrine the right to housing in legislation. Among her many other achievements, Heffernan was awarded the Community Leadership in Justice Fellowship in 2012 by the Law Foundation of Ontario to explore the potential of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other legal instruments to reduce homelessness. Throughout her career, she has acted as a lawyer and an educator, authoring papers, giving guest lectures and speaking many times at public legal education events, deputations, workshops and town halls. “She is a tireless and highly respected advocate and a leading voice in her field,” says her nomination letter. “In our view, Tracy Heffernan’s life’s work exemplifies the essence of what Dianne Martin represented in her own fearless and principled commitment to ‘kick through the darkness until it bleeds daylight’ and to the ideal of ‘justice through law.’”

Derrick Guo ’08 (2022 Mentor of the Year): During a difficult year still permeated by pandemic restrictions, Derrick Guo went the extra mile as a mentor to help students – even amid his many commitments as chief legal officer for Traferox Technologies, a rapidly growing, Toronto-based medical technology firm. Prior to that, Guo served as chief legal officer for Novadaq Technologies Inc. and was a Toronto-based associate with Stikeman Elliott LLP from 2007 to 2014. “Derrick has far exceeded my expectations and I am so very thankful for his mentorship this year,” said one mentee. “(He) is available at a moment’s notice. Derrick has been great when it comes to talking about law firm life,” the mentee added. “But he also offers a second perspective as an executive and in-house counsel to a private company.”

Lucas Kilravey ’18 (2022 Alumni Gold Key Award, One to Watch): Lucas Kilravey is a dynamic leader with a passion for service and an impressive record of achievement early in his career. He began his career with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) in Toronto, where he was brought in early on some of BLG’s largest deals. In his first year at BLG, he was appointed chair of the BLGTQA+ Affinity Group, the firm’s LGBTQ2S+ employee resource group, launching initiatives aimed at improving equity, diversity and inclusion and promoting systemic change in the legal profession. He designed, developed and executed LGBTQ2S+ “firm hops,” bringing together hundreds of LGBTQ2S+ law students from across Canada to tour and engage with more than 40 law firm partners. He then leveraged the event to launch Canada’s first national LGBTQ2S+ legal mentorship program and is leading a team organizing the Canadian legal profession’s first conference for LGBTQ2S+ lawyers and law students, slated for Toronto in June 2022. Kilravey, who now works as an associate with Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in New York, also proposed and co-organized BLG’s first national Indigenous recruitment and engagement strategy. In recognition of his work, he received the Start Proud Emerging Leader Award in 2021 and was featured in CBC-TV’s Proud to Shine series in 2020. “The hallmark of Lucas’s budding career,” says his nomination letter, “has been his bold vision and his willingness to think big, even when the task ahead is difficult. His exceptional, sustained and impactful professional achievements to date make him most deserving of the prestigious One-to-Watch Award.”

Ann Marina Elias ’13 (2022 Alumni Gold Key Award, One to Watch): In a young career marked by “passion, persistence and creativity,” Ann Marina Elias has already made significant contributions to social justice, the public service, Osgoode Hall Law School and the community-at-large. As a federal prosecutor since 2017 with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Elias has developed particular expertise in the areas of trial advocacy and the use of confidential informants, sharing her expert knowledge as an adviser, presenter and teacher to new prosecutors, police investigators and law students. Her work as an educator includes teaching courses at Osgoode Hall Law School and Osgoode Professional Development. She is also a formal mentor for the Osgoode Black Law Students’ Association.  At the same time, she has actively worked within the federal prosecution service to recruit and develop talented and diverse students. In a first for the federal prosecution service, she created and implemented the Ontario Regional Office Mentorship Program. And as chair of the program, she designed and launched a virtual trial advocacy master class over the summer of 2020. She has also sought to give back to her community as a committed mock-trial coach for St. Augustine Catholic High School. For her extracurricular work in the context of her career and community, she was awarded the 2020 national Innovation and Creativity Award by the director of public prosecutions and the Altman Award for Fellowship and Excellence in Legal Education by the Ontario and Superior Courts in the Central East Region. “I have no doubt that she will continue to be a leader in the public sector,” wrote her nominator.

Maneesha Gupta ’17 (2022 Alumni Gold Key Award, One to Watch): Maneesha Gupta has shown exceptional leadership, professionalism and compassion not only in her career, but in her dedication to promoting mental health and equity and opportunity for racialized lawyers and law students, women, youth and people with disabilities. The intellectual property and technology lawyer with TD Bank is the founder of Mindful Lawyer Canada, which she launched in 2018 to help lawyers who experience isolation, mental illness, addiction and burnout. She expanded her innovative group meditation sessions and community-building activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including weekly, virtual guided meditation sessions for Osgoode students through the law school’s peer support centre. For her work in improving lawyer mental health, she was selected as one of York University’s Top 30 Under 30 Changemakers and one of Canadian Lawyer magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada. As a director with the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, she has developed career advancement and mentorship opportunities for foreign-trained lawyers, racialized law students, women and persons with disabilities. She has shown the same dedication to diversity and inclusion in her work as vice-chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Law Practice Management Section and as a mentor for a youth program in Toronto’s Jane and Finch community. “Maneesha is a driven lawyer,” reads her nomination letter, “who has improved the lives of others by pioneering initiatives in mental health, community building and diversity representation.”

New Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages launches at York

TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2021 – York University is launching a new Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages (CIKL) which will host Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and students engaged in Indigenous research.

That research could focus on traditional and contemporary knowledges as care-taken, shared and created by Indigenous scholars at the University and from Indigenous knowledge holders in the community.

The goal of the centre is to facilitate knowledge production and dissemination that re-centres Indigenous knowledges, languages, practices and ways of being.

Associate Professor Deborah McGregor, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Justice and director of the Indigenous Environmental Justice Project is the inaugural director of the organized research unit. She is cross appointed to Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, and is Anishinaabe from Whitefish River First Nation, Birch Island, Ont. Her research focuses on Indigenous knowledge systems and their applications in water and environmental governance, environmental and climate justice, and sustainable self-determined futures.

“The Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages offers a generative space within and beyond York University to advance Indigenous scholarship, research theories, methodologies and practices that supports a keen understanding of the goals and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples,” says McGregor.

“CIKL will foster collaborations and partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and others that create ethical space for dialogue on how research relationships can be envisioned, negotiated and practised in support of Indigenous futurities. Creating this ethical space in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and our colleagues across the University also creates opportunities for critical dialogue, reflection and change to take place in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Faculty of Health Assistant Professor Sean Hillier, York Research Chair in Indigenous Health Policy & One Health, is CIKL’s associate director. He is a queer Mi’kmaw scholar from the Qalipu First Nation.

“Having dedicated Indigenous research resources and space, as offered by the new CIKL, which is run by and for Indigenous Peoples on campus, is a critical first step,” says Hillier. “This centre will assist York in becoming a research-intensive institution and serves the principles of the Indigenous Framework and University Academic Plan.”

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York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York’s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future. 

Media Contact:
Sandra McLean, York University Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca

Noted international law scholar and human rights practitioner to give Osgoode lecture

NYU Prof Philip Alston to speak on the role of Human Rights Watch in responding to the rise of neoliberal economic policies and the global inequality these produce

TORONTO, March 15, 2021 – Philip Alston, John Norton Pomeroy Professor of Law at New York University Law School and UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, will give the annual ‘Or ‘Emet Lecture at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST on Zoom. The topic of his address will be “Neoliberalism and Human Rights: The Role of Human Rights Watch.”

RSVP: https://bit.ly/37jSTf9

Alston was UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions (2004-10), Chairperson of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1991-98), Independent Expert on reform of the UN human rights treaty body system (1989-97), Special Advisor to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Millennium Development Goals (2004-07), a member of the Security Council Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic, and he participated in the Independent International Commission on Kyrgyzstan.

One of the most consistent and telling lines of criticism of the international human rights movement in recent years is that it has had all too little to say in response to the rise of neoliberal economic policies, especially as inequality has grown dramatically. While states and international organizations have been key players in shaping this response, non-governmental organizations have also played a leading role. This lecture considers the contribution made by Human Rights Watch, a successful and influential organization whose policies have been the subject of little scholarly analysis.

The ‘Or ‘Emet Lecture is presented annually by Osgoode’s Jack & Mae Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security, with the assistance of the ‘Or ‘Emet Fund. The Fund, which was established in 1976, seeks to promote through public discussion, research and scholarly writing, public and professional appreciation of the significance of religion, ethics, culture and history in the development of the legal system. ‘Or ‘Emet means “the light of truth.”

About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University has a proud history of 132 years of leadership and innovation in legal education and legal scholarship. A total of about 900 students are enrolled in Osgoode’s three-year Juris Doctor (JD) Program as well as joint and combined programs. The school’s Graduate Program in Law is also the largest in the country and one of the most highly regarded in North America. In addition, Osgoode Professional Development, which operates out of Osgoode’s facility in downtown Toronto, offers both degree and non-degree programming for Canadian and international lawyers, non-law professionals, firms and organizations. Osgoode has an internationally renowned faculty of 60 full-time professors, and more than 100 adjunct professors. Our respected community of more than 18,000 alumni are leaders in the legal profession and in many other fields in Canada and across the globe.

 About York University

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York’s fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contacts:

Virginia Corner, Communications Manager, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, 416-736-5820, vcorner@osgoode.yorku.ca

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 22094, suhasini@yorku.ca

 

 

Osgoode Hall Law School establishes special fund to assist JD students experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19  

TORONTO, February 23, 2021 – In a gesture of support for its Juris Doctor (JD) students who are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University has announced that it will commit $1 to $1.5 million to assist those students over the next 18 months.

The Osgoode student relief plan will see up to $500,000 of the Law School’s surplus funds made available in the current (2020-2021) academic year to students in all three years of the JD program. An additional amount of up to $500,000 will also be available in the upcoming (2021-2022) academic year.

The decision to offer the financial assistance follows on the heels of a report by the Law School’s Working Group on Tuition Fees that detailed student concerns about the economic effects of the pandemic, particularly unexpected expenses associated with learning from home and loss of employment opportunities. “Students were placed under increasing pressure by the fact that the Law School was closed and that this would increase the costs of adjusting to the new status quo,” said the report’s authors.

The seven-member working group – comprised of students, staff and faculty including a representative from the Dean’s office – concluded that some relief to students was both desirable and possible.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has financially impacted many of our students,” said Osgoode Dean Mary Condon.  “We know that they are having challenges as a result of all of the ways that learning is being transformed. We want them to know that we are doing our very best to support them through these difficulties.”

The first $500,000 will be distributed to students by the end of March, Condon said.

“The way it will work is that all students who received a fall bursary will automatically receive an additional top-up of either $500 or $1,000, depending on the level of their fall bursary assessment,” Condon said. “In addition, students who did not apply for a fall bursary, or who applied and did not receive a fall bursary and have experienced financial hardship directly related to COVID-19, will be invited to apply for assistance and, if eligible, will receive $500 each.”

Condon said this is not the first time that the Law School has provided financial relief to students who are feeling the economic effects of the pandemic and the overall financial burden of attending law school.

Last September, the Law School was able to ease some mental and economic strain by creating a $250,000 fund to assist returning JD students who had lost income or had unexpected expenses since March 15, 2020 that were directly attributable to COVID-19, she said.

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About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University has a proud history of 132 years of leadership and innovation in legal education and legal scholarship. A total of about 900 students are enrolled in Osgoode’s three-year Juris Doctor (JD) Program as well as joint and combined programs. The school’s highly selective Graduate Program in Law is also one of the finest in the country and one of the most highly regarded in North America. In addition, Osgoode Professional Development, which operates out of Osgoode’s facility in downtown Toronto, offers both degree and non-degree programming for Canadian and international lawyers, non-law professionals, firms and organizations. Osgoode has an internationally renowned faculty of almost 60 full-time professors, and more than 100 adjunct professors. Our respected community of more than 18,000 alumni are leaders in the legal profession and in many other fields in Canada and across the globe.

About York University

York University is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. York U’s fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contacts:

Virginia Corner, Communications Manager, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, 416-736-5820, vcorner@osgoode.yorku.ca

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 22094, suhasini@yorku.ca

 

 

 

Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic will use $157,750 court-directed award to provide pro bono advice

TORONTO, Wednesday, November 18, 2020 — An Osgoode Hall Law School clinic that provides free access to legal services for vulnerable investors has received a cy-près award of $157,750 from a class action settlement approved by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

“The Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic fills a critical gap in the retail investment landscape. We’re grateful for this award that allows us to continue our important work in the face of growing demand, while also raising awareness of the potential benefits of directing a cy-près award to our clinic,” says Professor Poonam Puri, the clinic’s academic director. Ontario’s Class Proceedings Act gives the court discretion to grant cy-près (French for “as near as possible”) awards when it’s not cost-efficient or feasible to distribute the awarded funds to members of the class action.

The first of its kind in Canada, the Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic was launched at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School in 2016 to provide pro bono legal advice to people who believe their investments were mishandled and who cannot afford a lawyer. Funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada, the clinic pairs 12 second- and third-year Osgoode JD students for a year with supervising lawyers from leading business law firms in Ontario. Together, they support clients ranging from seniors who lost their entire retirement savings, to people swindled by trusted members of their community, to investors who had their portfolio mishandled by advisors.

Among many impacts, “the cy-près award will assist with the development of investor education, the recruitment of Osgoode students as summer interns and with the clinic’s research activities,” says Puri. By acting as a “living lab” to collect data, Puri and her team identify trends in investor protection, inform public policy debate and contribute to legal practice and reform.

The Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic was awarded the funds as the result of a decision by Justice Benjamin T. Glustein in a class action case involving global pharmaceutical company Endo International PLC. The representative plaintiff, an Endo investor, alleged that the company had misrepresented and/or omitted important information about its generic pharmaceutical business and certain other risks that, when revealed, caused a significant decline in the price of Endo’s securities.

The court approved the cy-près donation at the request of the plaintiff and with the approval of the defendant “so as to provide an indirect benefit to Class Members on top of the monetary recovery that most of them will be entitled to under the U.S. Settlement,” wrote Justice Glustein in his decision.

This marks the second time in as many years that the Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic has been named in a class action settlement.

“A cy-près award aims to serve the interests of class members, which makes us an ideal match in securities class action cases where it’s impractical to directly compensate class members,” points out Puri.

Osgoode alumni and legal representatives seeking further information on the Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic and court-directed awards are invited to contact Professor Poonam Puri at 416-736-5542 or ppuri@osgoode.yorku.ca.

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About Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School of York University has a proud history of 131 years of leadership and innovation in legal education and legal scholarship. A total of about 900 students are enrolled in Osgoode’s three-year Juris Doctor (JD) Program as well as joint and combined programs. The school’s highly selective Graduate Program in Law is also one of the finest in the country and one of the most highly regarded in North America. In addition, Osgoode Professional Development, which operates out of Osgoode’s facility in downtown Toronto, offers both degree and non-degree programming for Canadian and international lawyers, non-law professionals, firms and organizations. Osgoode has an internationally renowned faculty of almost 60 full-time professors, and more than 100 adjunct professors. Our respected community of more than 18,000 alumni are leaders in the legal profession and in many other fields in Canada and across the globe.

About York University

York University is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. York U’s fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contacts:

Virginia Corner, Communications Manager, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, 416-736-5820, vcorner@osgoode.yorku.ca

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 22094, suhasini@yorku.ca

Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic releases video series about investor rights

TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2020  Osgoode Hall Law School’s Investor Protection Clinic – the first clinic of its kind in Canada – has released four information videos to help educate and protect retail investors who may be vulnerable to financial mismanagement. Addressing topics such as the securities regulation system in Canada, red flags for investment fraud and ways to recover lost funds, the Points of Interest video series was produced by Osgoode students and funded through a grant from The Law Foundation of Ontario.

“We’re pleased to offer these important resources as part of our mission to provide pro bono legal advice to people who believe their investments were mishandled and cannot afford a lawyer,” says Osgoode Professor Poonam Puri, the clinic’s academic director. “We believe that better educated and informed investors are better protected.”

Almost 60 percent of the Investor Protection Clinic’s clients identify as having low or no investment knowledge. They place their trust in financial advisors to handle their investments wisely without understanding the information on the documents provided to them or the risks.

The Law Foundation of Ontario supported the project as part of its mission to help people understand the law and use it to improve their lives. “We provide grants to support public legal education and information resources, like the Points of Interest video series, to help people understand and exercise their legal rights,” says Lisa Cirillo, the Foundation’s CEO. “This is especially important for people who may be more vulnerable, including those with low financial literacy.”

Osgoode students developed the videos in consultation with the clinic’s supervising lawyers and representatives from the Ontario Securities Commission and the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI). Topics include: An Introduction to Regulating Securities; Your Advisor’s Responsibilities & Identifying Investment Mismanagement; Reporting a Wrongdoing and Seeking a Remedy; and Navigating the OBSI Complaint Process. The final two videos in the series — Navigating the IIROC (Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada) Arbitration Process and Is Civil Litigation Right for You and Your Claim? — will be released later this academic year.

“The experience of distilling complex information into 10-minute video clips highlighted how challenging the securities regulatory market can be for retail investors to navigate,” says former student caseworker Jessie Armour, who co-led the project in 2019-20 with her classmate, Marco Castelli, JD’20.

Castelli agrees: “We hope these videos will help retail investors identify signs of investment mismanagement sooner so they can prevent losses and have a better sense of their options.”

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About Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University has a proud history of 131 years of leadership and innovation in legal education and legal scholarship. A total of about 900 students are enrolled in Osgoode’s three-year Juris Doctor (JD) Program as well as joint and combined programs. The school’s highly selective Graduate Program in Law is also one of the finest in the country and one of the most highly regarded in North America. In addition, Osgoode Professional Development, which operates out of Osgoode’s facility in downtown Toronto, offers both degree and non-degree programming for Canadian and international lawyers, non-law professionals, firms and organizations. Osgoode has an internationally renowned faculty of almost 60 full-time professors, and more than 100 adjunct professors. Our respected community of more than 18,000 alumni are leaders in the legal profession and in many other fields in Canada and across the globe.

 About York University

York University is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. York U’s fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contacts:

Virginia Corner, Communications Manager, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, 416-736-5820, vcorner@osgoode.yorku.ca

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 22094, suhasini@yorku.ca