We asked our 2023-2024 Public Interest Articling Fellowship participants to share some highlights of their articling experience. Here is some of what they shared.
Kassandra Neranjan
Law school: McGill University
PIAF placement: Amnesty International
My experience at Amnesty has helped me put the law I studied throughout my JD/BCL into practice to see the practical tensions of applying international human rights law in Canada. Throughout my articling experience I have written, re-written, and researched countless documents to address the gaps in international human rights interpretation in Canadian jurisprudence. I am motivated, more than ever, to use this experience to craft compelling and clear arguments so that the most vulnerable communities can continue to rely on international human rights law in Canadian courts. Canada has a long way to go, but it won’t get there without zealous advocates willing to push the contours of the Canadian jurisprudential and legal landscape towards the moral arc of justice – I hope to do my part in shaping the law to this aim.
Emma Partridge
Law school: Osgoode Hall Law School
PIAF placement: Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
My time at the Clinic has been transformational in terms of how I approach legal practice and especially, trauma-informed practice. It was both challenging and extremely rewarding to be able to prepare arguments for a judicial review in front of federal court, or to be centrally involved in a family law trial that involved an extensive history of family violence. I would have never worked this closely to issues of gender-based violence in another setting and, thanks to my experience here, I will be applying an anti-violence lens whenever I work on family or immigration law issues, again. Moreover, I hope to continue to work with marginalized populations in a clinical setting and this experience has provided real, tangible examples of the intersectional nature of violence and the importance of holding nuance when approaching legal issues experienced by oppressed groups.
Sarah Gordon
Law school: Dalhousie University
PIAF placement: Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
During my Fellowship and work at the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, I learned a lot about access to justice. Issues that tenants face with their housing are unique because the conflict is occurring in the tenant’s home, in their safe space. The legal support that is available to assist tenants is sorely underfunded or, in some cases, completely absent. This experience has provided me with so many learning moments which strengthened my skills at working with vulnerable populations. I hope to continue working in public interest law for the rest of my career. I know that I always want to be working with the public, helping people. It is important to me to use the privilege that I have to help others, instead of simply helping myself.
Chantal Larocque
Law school: University of Alberta
PIAF placement: Innocence Canada
Throughout my articles, I have learned a great deal about the causes of wrongful convictions, the systematic and institutional problems leading to miscarriage of justice, the groups who are most affected by those mistakes, and the policies being lobbied for at the federal level to address miscarriages of justice more efficiently. One of the highlights of my articling term was conducting a file review to determine whether there are potential avenues of reinvestigation. This work has engaged and broadened my analytical skills about forensic and expert evidence and trial and appeal procedures. I am grateful to the Public Interest Articling Fellowship for providing me with this invaluable experience in learning about and working for the public interest. This experience reinforced my commitment to advocate for those who are most affected by systematic issues and involved in our criminal justice system to prevent the miscarriage of justice.
Megan Linaric
Law school: Queen’s University
PIAF placement: John Howard Society of Canada
One of the most significant endeavors during my fellowship was managing a Charter challenge test case, which sought to enhance the standards of health care and humane treatment within correctional institutions through appropriate temperature regulation. Engaging with these issues provided me with a profound understanding of the challenges faced by incarcerated individuals, as well as the broader implications of access to justice within the prison system. My work with the John Howard Society of Canada has deepened my understanding of complex social issues and instilled within me a strong sense of community responsibility and devotion to effecting positive change. As I transition from this fellowship, I am committed to continuing the fight for accessible justice by leveraging my education and experiences to amplify the voices of those often overlooked by society.
Abigail Anderson
Law school: University of Windsor
PIAF placement: Peacebuilders Canada
During my fellowship, I’ve honed a range of practical skills and acquired in-depth knowledge that has significantly enhanced my understanding of the communities I’ve served and the intricate barriers they encounter in accessing justice. One of the most significant projects I undertook was drafting an affidavit for the Supreme Court of Canada. Though daunting at first, this task presented an invaluable opportunity to advocate for equitable outcomes in a high-stakes legal setting. My fellowship has not only influenced my career plans and aspirations, but it has also deeply reshaped my personal identity. It has reconfirmed my dedication to pursuing a career in public interest law, with a specific focus on youth justice and addressing systemic injustices. The transformative experiences and meaningful work I’ve been involved in have solidified my determination to advocate for vulnerable populations and confront systemic inequalities head-on.
Myka Kollmann
Law school: University of Ottawa, Common Law
PIAF placement: Public Interest Advocacy Centre
The Fellowship provided me an opportunity to use my law degree to improve conditions for those who face barriers on an everyday basis. I played an active role drafting submissions and appearing before regulatory boards advocating for consumers. Working in consumer protection, I have been able to advocate for the public and their access to affordable essential services such as groceries, cell phone plans, Internet, and transportation. One impactful experience was participating and co-leading a lobbying project where we met with Members of Parliament to discuss the state of the grocery sector in Canada. We looked at why prices of food were increasing for Canadians and discussed recommendations to improve the sector and how the government can make food more affordable. Seeing how food prices impact everyone around me made the work even more significant.
