Fellowship Experiences 2016

Caroline Garel-Jones

Donner Fellow
Justice for Children & Youth (JFCY)

The Donner Fellowship allowed me to spend my summer working at Justice for Children & Youth (JFCY), a specialty legal aid clinic and children’s rights organization. As a Donner Fellow, I was able to participate in all aspects of JFCY’s legal work including: representing low-income child and youth clients on a wide variety of legal matters, producing public legal education materials, and engaging in test case litigation on child and youth rights issues. I assisted with interventions at the Ontario Superior Court and Court of Appeal on issues including children’s rights in parental custody proceedings, and youth privacy rights under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

I also worked with JFCY’s Street Youth Legal Services (SYLS) program, which provides legal assistance to unstably housed youth under the age of 25. I created public legal education materials for the program on legal issues commonly faced by this population. I also frequently represented SYLS clients in criminal court. 

Through the Donner Fellowship I was able to gain valuable experience working in a clinic environment with vulnerable clients, developing my legal research and writing skills, and attending criminal court. I am very thankful to the Donner Fellowship and JFCY for this opportunity.   

 Caroline Garel-Jones in her office at JFCY

Emily Gerhard

Donner Fellow
FCJ Refugee Centre 

The Donner Civic Leadership Fund Fellowship allowed me to spend my summer with the FCJ Refugee Centre, a grassroots organization in Toronto that provides multi-faceted support to newcomers with precarious immigration status. My project was to write a proposal for a new immigration class that would admit refugee claimants who had applied under old legislation and have been waiting for years with no status determination and an uncertain future. I was able to take a closer look at high-level policy issues and speak with government officials and community service providers, but I also spent time working directly with refugees and other migrants on their applications. I learned a lot about conflict, corruption, and systemic abuse that’s going on in various parts of the world and met some really remarkable people.

Moreover, I was able to explore an area of law that I’d been interested in practicing since the moment I applied to law school. I represented a client at her refugee hearing, and filed an appeal for another. I helped people who were facing bleak futures in their home countries to stay in Canada.

Like many NGOs, the FCJ Refugee Centre relies on volunteer and community support to continue operating. Many of the people they help are those who fall just outside the umbrella of state assistance, or who have special circumstances that need attention which isn’t contemplated in current government policy. The Fellowship allowed me to provide an invaluable service to a lot of people this summer, and gave me an awareness of populations who fall in the margins that I will carry with me for the rest of my career.

Emily Gerhard at FCJ Refugee Centre

Graham Henry

Donner Fellow
The Pembina Institute

The Donner Fellowship gave me the opportunity to spend a summer working for the Pembina Institute in Calgary Alberta. The Pembina Institute is a national climate change and clean energy NGO working to help Canada and its communities transition away from fossil fuels and towards a renewable energy economy. 

Over the course of the summer I worked on a wide range of legal topics for projects aiming to limit the environmental damage of the fossil fuel extraction sector as well as promote the growth of alternative energy sources. The largest project of the summer was an advocacy project attempting to broaden the test for whom is granted standing in front of Alberta energy regulatory bodies. The current system appears to be inadequate for hearing from relevant citizens and public organization when determining whether or not a project is in the public interest. The work I contributed this summer will hopefully expand this test to better hear from affected parties and take into account the full social, economic, and environmental impacts of energy infrastructure expansion.

This summer at Pembina offered an amazing opportunity to explore what I can do with a law degree outside of the rigid and traditional practice of law. I learned to apply my legal skills and knowledge to the challenge of policy advocacy and these lessons will undoubtedly shape my future practice of law. 

Graham Henry on Fellowship in BC

Donner Fellow
Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) 

Through the Donner Fellowship, I worked as a human rights and housing caseworker with the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA). Founded in 1987, CERA is the only organization in Canada which focuses primarily on human rights in housing.

As a Donner Fellow, I was able to experience CERA’s unique human rights’ based approach to housing through work with the organization’s intake line. Sponsored by the City of Toronto, CERA’s intake line provides assistance and support to individuals experiencing housing issues related to evictions and human rights. From evictions for consistent late payments to landlords failing to accommodate tenants’ disability needs, CERA’s intake line provided me with invaluable exposure to the housing issues faced by Ontarians. A significant portion of my work as a caseworker involved providing information to clients about the eviction process and writing advocacy letters to landlords and property managers. As well, I reached out to landlords and lawyers to negotiate and advocate for clients who required household accommodations for disabilities.

What made my fellowship particularly memorable was receiving a thank you card in the mail from one of my clients. My work with CERA truly made me feel like I was making a positive impact on people’s lives. Had it not been for the Donner, I would have never had such an incredible experience, and it is my hope that future students can benefit from the Donner as much as I have. 

 
Madison Hass with colleagues at CERA

Joshua Watts

Donner Fellow
Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) 

The Donner Fellowship allowed me to spend my 1L summer working with Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS). CLAS is a non-profit public interest law organization based in Vancouver. CLAS carries out legal work and policy research to aid individuals who are disadvantaged because of physical, mental, or social issues.

In my time at CLAS I worked in the Mental Health Law Program (MHLP). In the MHLP I provided legal information to people detained under the BC Mental Health Act and advocated for clients at Review Panel Hearings. As an advocate CLAS taught me how to how to structure and present oral arguments at a hearing, how to collect evidence, and how to build relationships with participants. As a first year student it is rare to have so much responsibility. Aside from aiding in the resolution of legal issues, I connected with participants on an emotional level. It was rewarding to help improve the social and legal conditions of those who have been marginalized for most of their lives.

The summer experience at CLAS is fantastic! The staff is knowledgeable and incredibly supportive.  I was fortunate to train and work with two amazing interns that quickly became close friends. The office is an extremely comfortable environment. Speaking to my peers I believe that I had a unique summer position. I would highly recommend the Donner fellowship to all students. My work at CLAS was the highlight of my law school experience to date. 

CLAS interns - Lydia Chu (Law Student), Joshua Watts (Law Student), Emily Chant (Criminology Student)

Lewis Fainer

Donner Fellow
Transparency International Canada

As a Donner Fellow, I spent the summer working with Transparency International Canada’s Legal Committee. Throughout my time with the organization, I had the opportunity to help draft and edit reports relating to a number of topical anti-corruption issues. Specifically, I worked on projects relating to CFPOA enforcement, deferred prosecution agreements, and beneficial ownership.

The Donner Fellowship allowed me to spend the summer contributing to a registered charity, while improving my legal research and writing skills. I had the chance to work with legal professionals with a diversity of backgrounds and was invited to attend several of the organization’s events throughout the summer. The highlight of the experience was the chance to work closely with both academics and practitioners to develop concrete recommendations for increased governmental transparency. I am extremely grateful to the Donner Fellowship Program for providing me the opportunity to work with such an exciting organization. 

 
Lewis Fainer at TI Canada

Donner Fellow
Canadian Civil Liberties Association

Through the Donner Fellowship, I spent my summer as a legal intern at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), where I was able to explore my interests in litigation, privacy law, and human rights. The CCLA is a national public interest organization that focuses on protecting civil liberties through litigation, law reform, advocacy and public education.

My project was part of the CCLA’s ongoing Privacy, Technology and Surveillance project, and over the course of the summer I worked with my supervisor to produce a policy paper for submission to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, as well as a “Know Your Rights” guide to be published on the CCLA website. I was also able to be involved with several of the CCLA’s ongoing interventions on cases with important civil liberties implications. Being involved with the CCLA’s litigation work, from writing legal memoranda evaluating potential legal interventions, to observing expert counsel make oral arguments at the Ontario Court of Appeal, enabled me to develop practical legal skills while providing me with valuable insight into the process of constitutional advocacy, As a student, I also assisted with the CCLA’s public enquiries, drafting responses and providing legal information about civil liberties matters over the phone or via email.

Overall, my summer as a Donner Fellow exposed me to a wide range of civil liberties issues within Canada, and allowed me to develop a range of practical legal skills. I am grateful to both the Donner Fellowship and the CCLA for giving me this exciting opportunity to be involved in such important and timely work.

Madeleine Dusseault at the CCLA

Donner Fellow
PBLO at SickKids

The Donner Fellowship allowed me to intern with PBLO at SickKids, a program that helps families address some of the non-medical issues that impact a patient’s health. The program provides free legal advice, legal information, belief services and referrals to families with children in the hospital. I was involved in the Resource Navigation Program and conducting legal research.

In the resource navigation program, I helped families navigate the numerous government programs, charitable funding and tax credits available to them. In addition, I conducted legal research on a variety of health topics, and coincidently was able to attend a client meeting involving a topic I researched. My fellowship was a wonderful opportunity to learn the legal issues families face in hospitals and orientate myself on health law topics such as consent and capacity.  

The opportunity to learn about health law under the mentorship of the triage lawyer at SickKids and to assist families under stressful times was a wonderful experience. I am grateful to PBLO at SickKids and to the Donner Fellowship program for making this outstanding summer experience possible. 

Mimi Chen at Sick Kids

Ryan McNamara

SLS Fellowship 
Canadian Civil Liberties Association

Thanks to the SLS Fellowship, I was able to work at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), a national nongovernmental organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of civil liberties, human rights, and democratic freedoms in Canada. My time at the CCLA gave me the opportunity to work on behalf of Canadians to ensure that the laws they are subject to respect their fundamental rights as well as reflect the values that are integral to a free and democratic society.

During the course of the summer, I was exposed to numerous constitutional law cases in which the CCLA had intervened, researching and writing memoranda in support of CCLA’s position, preparing document summaries, and engaging with colleagues and external counsel to devise successful litigation strategies. Being involved in both the decision as to whether to the CCLA should intervene in a case as well as preparations for hearings was exciting and thoroughly enjoyable. As a member of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the CCLA, I worked on a number of cases and projects related to the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, which gave me a chance to reflect upon larger questions about the role of the state in regulating socially undesirable conduct and the limits that should be placed on individual liberties. I was also closely involved in the CCLA’s advocacy campaigns and interventions aimed at upholding the right of Canadians to meaningfully participate in the electoral process. One of the highlights of my summer fellowship was going before a committee at Queen’s Park and presenting, along with my supervisor, submissions recommending changes to a bill amending Ontario’s current election finance laws. Overall, I found my summer fellowship to be a fantastic experience; both the work that it exposed me to and the people I had a chance to collaborate with were outstanding. Whether or not you intend to practice law in the non-profit public interest sector I would highly recommend applying for one of the fellowships offered through the Faculty of Law – the opportunities such fellowships provide are personally and professionally valuable as are the contribution that one can make to society through them. 

Ryan at CCLA

Matthew Milne

SLS Fellowship  
Pro Bono Ontario

Thanks to the SLS Fellowship, I had the opportunity to spend my summer at Pro Bono Ontario, a charity helping to provide low-income Ontarians with access to justice.

Throughout the summer I was responsible for developing the new Employment Law Clinic at Law Help Ontario, connecting individuals facing issues at their workplaces with summary legal advice and providing them with the resources to adequately protect their rights. Working with a roster of talented employment lawyers, I discussed client cases with them and developed practice guidelines to ensure continuity of service and consistency across client interactions.

Looking at PBO’s other services, I involved myself in research for self-represented litigants seeking to appeal their cases from a range of tribunals, from administrative boards to provincial appeal courts, through the Appeals Assistance Project, attempting to match clients with pro bono counsel. As well, and perhaps most meaningful to me, I was able to take on individual vulnerable client files which required more assistance then our walk-in centre permits, and help get them closer to their desired outcomes.

Jane Zhang

SLS Fellowship  
 West Scarborough Community Legal Services

The SLS Public Interest Advocacy Summer Fellowship gave me the opportunity to spend the past summer interning at West Scarborough Community Legal Services (WSCLS), one of six LAO funded clinics that is part of Toronto East Employment Law Services (TEELS). WSCLS provides low-income residents in west Scarborough with a wide-range of legal services. As part of TEELS, WSCLS is also active in community development and advocacy
for law reform. My research at WSCLS primarily focused upon drafting a submission to address the increasing prevalence of precarious work and the need for shared legal liability between employers and supervisors of workers’ immediate working environments. In addition, I was privileged to be a part of many community development initiatives that really enriched my development as a legal professional.

I am very grateful to the staff at WSCLS and the SLS Fellowship for having made the experience possible. This past summer has been one of the most incredible and challenging experiences of law school so far. I would highly recommend the SLS Fellowship to anyone with a strong interest in social justice work and advocacy.