Monday, August 15, 2022

Meaza Damte is an incoming 3L at the Faculty of Law. Over the past two years, Meaza has been a vocal advocate for enhancing the law student experience at the University of Toronto. In 2L, she served as a Student Life and Academic representative where she was delighted to sit on the committee that successfully instituted a mandatory 1L course in Indigenous Law. As the Students' Law Society (SLS) President, Meaza is committed to fostering a more inclusive and student-centered environment.

“The highlight of my time at U of T Law has been my fellow students, who are tenacious advocates and kind friends," says Meaza. "I hope to use my time as SLS President to make students the number one priority at U of T Law. From facilitating more engaging events to ensuring there is a transparent, comprehensive and equitable accessibility policy, I want U of T Law to be somewhere every student is proud to attend."

In addition to enhanced supports for students with disabilities, Meaza is also committed to ensuring students receive all the supports U of T Law has to offer regardless of whether they want to work in private practice or public interest. She looks forward to working closely with the Career Development Office (CDO) to help students gain meaningful public interest employment.

Meaza is also grateful to the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights for funding her 1L summer to pursue public interest work. As an Asper-Faculty fellow, Meaza worked at Justice for Children and Youth (JCY) where she assisted with the constitutional challenge to the minimum voting age in Canada.

Read U of T News: U of T's David Asper Centre prepares constitutional challenge to lower Canada's voting age

Meaza is currently a summer student at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, pursuing her budding interest in litigation.

Meaza's photo courtesy of McCarthy Tétrault LLP