PBSC Internship Experiences 2008

Among its many programs, the University of Toronto Chapter of Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) administers the Donner Civic Leadership Fellowships and the June Callwood Program in Aboriginal Law Fellowships.  These Fellowships give students the opportunity to do public interest work full-time during the summers.

In the following reports, the Donner and Callwood Fellows describe their experiences during the summer of 2008.

Erin Hallock Refugee Law Office of Legal Aid Ontario "I have learned an amazing amount about the law by immersing myself in it and taking on new and challenging cases. With the supervision, support and feedback of those at the RLO, I have gained confidence in my abilities and come to many realizations about the prospects for my future as a lawyer." Read more >>

Mark Gustafson Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated "I have had a chance to see the interaction between law and advocacy by drafting a resolution for adoption by the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut which urges the federal government to implement the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples. While that resolution has not been adopted yet, it was rewarding to be part of the effort to place pressure on the federal government to respect that important declaration." Read more >>

Pei Li Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic "One of my main projects involved developing a set of legal education materials on the criminal justice system for women who are actively participating in criminal proceedings, whether as Crown witnesses, complainants, or women who are facing charges themselves. I wrote comprehensive summaries on aspects of the trial process that survivors of violence may come into contact with." Read more >>

Staff meeting at ARCH (Viktoria Prokhorova is fifth from the right) Viktoria Prokhorova ARCH: Disability Law Centre "With the strong support of the staff at ARCH, I have been assessing the accessibility of the practices and procedures of the Social Benefits Tribunal, the Landlord and Tenant Board and the Workplace and Safety Appeals Board for people with disabilities.  I conducted primary research by developing and distributing surveys to appellants/applicants with disabilities, as well as lawyers and community workers." Read more >>

Tiffany Lau Beyond Borders "The most rewarding part of this Fellowship has been working with individuals who share my enthusiasm for children's rights and the confidence they have placed in me to see this project through to the end. To work with a group of such dedicated individuals who are willing to share their vast knowledge and who are actively looking for avenues for this project to flourish has been an incredible experience." Read more >>

Sara Weinrib Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) "The publicity surrounding Bill 107, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Code, increased awareness of Ontario's Human Rights Code.  As a result, CERA saw a dramatic increase in its intake calls from people complaining of discrimination in their search for housing, or in their interaction with their current housing providers.  I increased my caseload to accommodate this demand, advocating on behalf of fifteen clients." Read more >>

Tess Van Weelden Edmonton Community Legal Centre "I have been fortunate enough to gain hands-on experience in various aspects of client management and litigation preparation by working closely with our Staff Lawyer. Some of my daily activities have included drafting letters to clients and opposing counsel, summarizing files and writing memorandums outlining what steps need to be taken, interviewing clients, drafting civil claims and affidavits, and speaking with the clerks at the courthouse to get procedural instructions." Read more >>