Each year, the Students' Law Society awards 3 Fellowships to U of T law students to fund their public interest projects during the summer. Candidates must find a public interest organization where they would like work, obtain that organization's support for their project, and submit a proposal to the SLS. This year there were many excellent proposals submitted, making the selection process highly competitive. We are pleased to announce the three law students whose projects have been selected: Robin McNamara, Teresa MacLean, and Megan Strachan.
Robin McNamara
I am finishing my first year of law school at the University of Toronto. I am very grateful to the SLS for the opportunity to work at a Toronto legal clinic this summer. The clinic, called Justice for Children and Youth, represents and advocates for youth under 18 on a wide variety of legal issues. Most of my time there will be spent researching the effectiveness of different sentencing practises on young offenders. The goal is to update the JFCY position paper on the youth elements of bill C-10 and to help inform JFCY counsel in their sentencing submissions.
I've always enjoyed working with teenagers, so youth justice seemed like a natural fit. My older sister is a teacher at an alternative high school in BC, and many of her students attend that school in order to fulfil criminal sentences. She was both a bit of an inspiration for me wanting to learn more about youth justice and a huge help putting together the research proposal.
Teresa MacLean
Hi, my name is Teresa MacLean and I am really looking forward to spending my summer as an SLS Public Interest Fellow at Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD). ACPD is a non-profit organization based in Ottawa that advocates for progressive policies in the field of human rights and international development with a focus on reproductive and sexual rights. This summer, I will be developing briefing papers and advocacy tools which will be used to promote these issues at the United Nations Human Rights Council. My desire to work in the field of health rights stems from my background in the life sciences, where I was exposed to the various health issues that disproportionally affect vulnerable groups, including maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS. Working at ACPD will be an invaluable opportunity which will teach me how to effectively advocate for rights in the international sphere. Finally, I would also like to express my gratitude to the SLS for allowing me to pursue this opportunity.
Megan Strachan
Megan Strachan is a second year combined JD/MGA student. This summer, she will be completing an internship for the MGA program at the Refugee Law Office (RLO) of Legal Aid Ontario. Her work this summer will include clinical aspects as well as research components. Megan will be interviewing clients, researching country conditions, and representing clients before the Immigration and Refugee Board. In addition, she will be helping to overhaul the RLO's "Practice Manual" that serves as a source of information for lawyers, students and community groups. This manual is being edited in light of the impending Balanced Refugee Reform Act set to be implemented in June of this year. Finally, Megan will assist the RLO in on-going test-case litigation before the UN Human Rights Committee and the UN Committee Against Torture. Megan is thrilled to have the opportunity to work at the RLO this summer and be engaged with such a dynamic and changing area of the law. In particular, she is excited to gain litigation experience and be involved in test-cases at international bodies. Given her program, she feels very lucky to be able to combine learning more about a potential public interest practice area in Canada while also incorporating aspects of international law.
