Lawyers
There are many opportunities for lawyers to get involved in OJEN programs across the province. Lawyers play a central role in advancing justice education by speaking with students about their work during courthouse and classroom visits. OJEN’s Charter Challenge program and at-risk youth outreach programming also invites counsel to teach, coach and mentor students and youth preparing for mock hearings.
Through the Adopt-a-School program, lawyers are matched with a local secondary school where they can provide ongoing law-education support, such as mentoring students, acting as a legal resource for law teachers, coaching student mock trial teams, providing career information to classes or helping arrange justice sector classroom speakers.
Lawyers also organize education events through their participation on local OJEN committees. Many of OJEN’s curriculum resources are developed by lawyers and law students, drafting plain language versions of cases or legal definitions for use in the classroom.
Law students, articling students and judicial clerks make a significant contribution to the development of OJEN classroom resources by taking on pro bono projects prior to their call to the bar. High school students have the opportunity to discuss the career path they might be considering and picture themselves in a legal environment.
To read more about the work of lawyers in OJEN’s justice education activities:
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Crowns Reach Out to Ontario Students
For many years Crowns across the province of Ontario have generously donated their time and energy to create greater awareness about the justice system by speaking to schools, organizing courtroom visits, mentoring students and conducting community legal education initiatives. |
Defence Counsel in the Community
Long a tradition with Ontario’s Criminal Bar, defence counsel across the province continue to prioritize justice education for youth as an important component of their practice. Hundreds of defence counsel tirelessly contribute countless hours each year to ensuring the continued success of OJEN’s outreach programs. |
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Volunteer Profile: Suzanne Johnson & Roots Gadhia
When OJEN was looking for criminal lawyers to participate in an exciting new initiative with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), Suzanne Johnson and Roots Gadhia both jumped at the chance to work with marginalized youth who have had few positive experiences with the justice system. |
Volunteer Profile: Kristen Bucci
Kisten Bucci, a Family Law practitioner at the firm of Buset & Partners in Thunder Bay, has been the driving force behind Thunder Bay’s annual Law Day activities and the expansion of justice education programs in that area over the past few years. In 2003, when she was elected President of the Thunder Bay Law Association (TBLA). |
