Established by the LGBT Purge Fund in 2021 and named in honour of renowned Faculty of Law alumnus R. Douglas Elliott (LLB 1982), the R. Douglas Elliott Fellowship supports a Faculty of Law student’s work with public interest-oriented LGBTQ+ organizations, or research on antidiscrimination class actions more broadly.
The R. Douglas Elliott Fellowship is one of several experiential opportunities available to Faculty of Law students. Experiential learning opportunities are a key component of a well-rounded legal education and a meaningful way to nurture professional growth and development, while supporting organizations in the community.
The 2024 R. Douglas Elliott Fellow, Katie Bray Kingissepp (JD 2025), is entering her third-year of law school this fall. Katie’s summer placement has been with Egale Canada — a national leading organization for 2SLGBTQI people and issues.
“One of the most meaningful aspects of this position has been the opportunity to participate in meetings regarding Egale's strategic impact litigation. I have been immersed in the work it takes to launch a constitutional challenge: from gathering witnesses and experts, to crafting arguments and filing facta. Though our world is often plagued by injustice, working at Egale has been an empowering experience, reminding me of my own power to effect positive change," says Bray Kingissepp.
In addition to the opportunity to work closely with the team at Eagle Canada, Bray Kingissepp has been tasked with researching and reporting on the current state of law in Canada as it affects the 2SLGBTQI community.
“Through this research I have learned a great deal about the history of the community, the legal and social barriers which entrench inequity and the ways in which the law can be utilized to advance greater equality,” says Bray Kingissepp.
“It has been so meaningful for me to be able to give back to my own community and help to defend the rights of queer and trans people across Canada."
Bray Kingissepp is the third student to undertake the R. Douglas Elliott fellowship. Alumnus Ben Kitching (JD 2024) and Jarren Fefer (JD 2025) were named Elliott fellows in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Read more: Human rights champion R. Douglas Elliott named inaugural Carl Mitchell Award recipient
