When development of the program was first announced in November of 2023, Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law, explained the growing need to offer this program in Manitoba, where it had not previously been available. “This new program is a reflection of our commitment to the principles of justice, inclusivity, and diversity,” he said. “Having this program available at Robson Hall represents a critical step towards making the legal profession more accessible, not only for Internationally Trained Lawyers but also for the diverse immigrant communities they will serve upon graduation. It aligns with the province’s commitment to fair registration practices and creates a clear pathway for these lawyers, fostering connections within the legal profession, and ultimately, strengthening our pursuit of justice in Manitoba.”

Applications for the inaugural class of Internationally Trained Lawyers were accepted from last fall until March 31, 2025, a deadline that will remain the same for the next cohort in 2026.

The students accepted into the inaugural cohort started their school year early, by taking Preparation for the Study of Law in Canada, a two-week intensive course intended to prepare students for their studies and, eventually, their transition into the profession. 

“The ITL Program has the potential to make a significant impact on the careers of internationally-trained lawyers, the clients they will serve, and our ability to impact access to justice in Manitoba,” said Harris.

Harris (she/her) is the inaugural Director of the Internationally Trained Lawyer Program, Equity and Transformation at Robson Hall. Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Women’s Studies, History) and has undertaken graduate studies in Women’s Studies and Black Studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Harris earned her law degree in 2001 from Robson Hall and is an experienced litigator with formal training in mediation, arbitration and conflict resolution undertaken locally and at York University in Toronto, Ontario.

In addition to being a practicing litigator for her entire career, Harris has wide-ranging expertise in areas of equitable organizational assessment and design, policy development and implementation, workplace investigations, system reviews, leadership development, and anti-racism education. She has been called upon to act as a subject matter expert in antiracism and equity, including with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, and led the Review into Systemic Racism and Oppression at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. In addition to teaching Preparation for the Study of Law in Canada, Harris was previously named a “Jurist of Robson Hall”, for her contributions teaching Family Law, Gender and the Law, and anti-racism education.

In the coming weeks, the Faculty of Law will publish interviews with each of the members of this unique group of law students.

Applications for the 2026 cohort of the Internationally Trained Lawyer program at UM’s Faculty of Law are now being accepted until March 31, 2026. Learn more.

Twelve students showcased their work across four different thematic panels including Human Rights, Equity and Socio-Economic Rights; International Human Rights Law – Comparative, Indigenous Peoples, Race Relations; International Human Rights Law – Identifying, Shaping & Realizing Rights; and Human Rights and Justice – Case Studies.

Keynote speaker, Senator Marilou McPhedran.

Dr. Mary Shariff [LLB/02], Professor of Law and Director of the Master of Human Rights Program, introduced this year’s keynote speaker, Senator Marilou McPhedran, who discussed instances she has witnessed throughout her career of the need for Human Rights activism and the life-saving effects that evidence-based advocacy has had on such efforts. “Evidence-based advocacy is what makes for a turning point,” she told students.

The former lawyer and University of Winnipeg Global College professor and dean, then remained in the audience throughout the afternoon to take notes, listening carefully and asking questions following each presentation.

Each panel was moderated by an expert who also facilitated the question-and-answer sessions following each presentation. These individuals included:

• Amar Khoday, Professor at the UM Faculty of Law who specializes in the intersection of law and resistance. He teaches courses in criminal law and immigration law at Robson Hall, among other topics related to resistance and challenging injustice.
• Ran Ukashi, Manager and Research and Head of Knowledge Translation at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, who oversees the conduct of research supporting the Museum’s curatorial, programmatic, educational and digital initiatives. His doctoral degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from UM’s Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace and Justice focused on international conflict resolution and management, and international peace keeping.
• Laurelle A. Harris, K.C., [LLB/01] Director of the Internationally Trained Lawyer Program, Equity and Transformation at the UM Faculty of Law who leads anti-racism education, policy reform and systemic reviews, including at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
• Marc Kruse [JD/15], Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services at the UM Faculty of Law. In addition to engaging in academic research on social justice education and Indigenous educational ethics, he practices as a criminal defence lawyer at Rees Dyck Rogala Law Offices. He co-teaches the Indigenous Methodologies and Perspectives course at the UM Faculty of Law and is a proud member of Muscowpetung First Nation in Saskatchewan.

The Faculty of Law, together with collaborators and advisors from the Faculties of Arts, Education and Social Work and practicum site supervisors, extends sincere congratulations to all students on their hard work. We look forward to celebrating their upcoming graduation.

Students and their respective symposium topics are as follows:

Panel One: Human Rights, Equity & Socio-Economic Rights
Panel Moderator: Dr. Amar Khoday

Avery Selby-Lyons

Paper title: “A Matter of Human Rights, Not Luxury: Enacting Legislation for Uniform Guaranteed Access to Menstrual Products Across Canada”
Practicum site: PERIOD
Advisor: Dr. Rory Henry
Site supervisor: Damaris Pereda

Irene Uwase

Paper title: “Rural Women, Cooperatives, & Legislative Action in Addressing the Gender Pay Gap in Rwanda”
Practicum site: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Advisor: Dr. Jesse Hajer
Site supervisor: Molly McCracken

Augustine Caesar Nyero

Paper title: “Refugee Resettlement & Access to Socio-Economic Rights – Role of Settlement Agencies in Manitoba”
Advisor: Dr. Laura Rosenoff Gauvin
Practicum site: Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM)
Site supervisor: Carol Reimer

Panel Two: International Human Rights Law – Comparative, Indigenous Peoples, Race Relations
Panel Moderator: Dr. Ran Ukashi

Talia Mohammed

Paper title: “Ethnoracial Relations in Trinidad and Tobago: Analyzing how Racial Divisions Among Political Parties Block Progressive Realization”
Advisor: Dr. Amar Khoday
Practicum site:  Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties (MARL)
Site supervisor: Sandra Krahn

Piaroa Nunez

Paper title: “Dispossession, Violence, Resistance: First Nations and Mapuche Women in the Face of Settler Colonial Patriarchy”
Advisor: Dr. Adele Perry
Practicum site: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Site supervisor: Kaila Johnston

Priscila Alves Werton

Paper title: “Indigenous Genocide and the Pandemic: The Case of Brazil”
Advisor: Dr. Kjell Anderson
Practicum site: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Site supervisor: Dr. Ran Ukashi

Panel Three: International Human Rights Law – Identifying, Shaping & Realizing Rights
Panel Moderator: Laurelle A. Harris, K.C.

Kyra Campbell

Thesis title: “Reproductive violence in Armed Conflict: International Law and the Case of Gaza”
Advisor: Dr. Nathan Derejko 

Imtiaz Mahmud

Paper title: “A Critical Emanation of Bangladesh’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (CCSAP) from the Adaption Perspective”
Advisor: Dr. Nathan Derejko
Practicum site: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Site supervisor: Dr. Ran Ukashi

Atefeh Abedinpour

Thesis Title: “International Humanitarian Law under the Light of the Human Right to a Healthy, Clean and Sustainable Environment”
Advisor: Dr. Nathan Derejko

Panel Four: Human Rights and Justice – Case Studies
Panel Moderator: Marc Kruse

Victoria Nelson

Paper Title: “The Overlooked Human Rights Violations in Prisons and the Case Against the Death Penalty”
Advisor: Dr. Rick Linden
Practicum Site:  MARL
Site Supervisor: Sandra Krahn 

Wendy Daphne Ochola

Paper Title: “Reinterpreting Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Case for Harm Reduction as a Rights-Based Approach to Child Protection”
Advisor: Dr. Nathan Derejko
Practicum Site: Manitoba Harm Reduction Network
Site Supervisor: Jonny Mexico

Stella Louku

Paper Title: “Impact of Forced Early Marriage on Public Secondary Education: Maasai Girls in Kenya”
Advisor: Dr. Bruno de Oliveira Jayme
Practicum Site: MARL
Site Supervisor: Sandra Krahn

Christian, Jewish, and Muslim law students, to be specific. Together. Breaking bread, talking about, how their faith gets them through each day, where to find the best places to study, Professor Irvine’s Property Law class. A Robson Hall classroom was filled with laughter, smiles, the beginning and deepening of friendships, and searches for napkins, cutlery and extra plates.

It was the Dean of Law’s idea, according to three students in leadership roles from each group: Meseret Alem Bowles (3L), Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF); Emily Kalo (1L), Jewish Law Students’ Association (JLSA); and Yomna Eid (2L), Robson Muslim Law Students’ Association (RMLSA).

A Manitoba student chapter of the Canadian national organization Christian Legal Fellowship has existed at Robson Hall for a long time, but for the first time in known memory, a Muslim Law Students’ Association, and a Jewish Law Students’ Association were officially formed last fall – unbeknownst to and independently of each other.

When first Eid and then Kalo independently approached Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law, about forming their respective group in November and December of 2024, he immediately saw an opportunity for growing community and finding common ground. Here, for the first time in the law school’s history, were the three Abrahamic faiths forming student groups to support others of their respective beliefs. Why not bring them together?

Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law, welcomes Christian, Jewish and Muslim Law Students’ Association members to an inaugural gathering between the three groups. Photo: Christine Mazur

A Welcoming Space

“When the idea for Breaking Bread Together emerged, it struck me as a powerful opportunity to embody the very best of what legal education can offer—a space to foster connection across difference, grounded in shared values and mutual respect,” said Jochelson. “At its core, the legal profession demands more than knowledge; it requires an ethic of collegiality. We are called to engage with one another through dialogue, empathy, and principled disagreement. This event reflected the kind of professional culture we strive to cultivate at Robson Hall: dialogue, listening, shared purpose and freedom to disagree without making each other invisible.”

“I think that it made a lot of sense for our groups to come together, not only because of the clear historic ties, but also the shared values all of us as law students [have],” said Kalo. “We’re pursuing law degrees because we’re passionate about the justice system or international law, human rights, all of these different value points, but fundamentally we also have our own identity-based values. It’s clear in conversations that the three of us have had but also in terms of our religions that there’s clear community values and identity values that are ties. [This event is] an opportunity to get together and really dive deep into not only our passion for law but also our passion for our communities and our identity.”

When she first came to Robson Hall from Ottawa, Eid said she felt doubly isolated – not just as an out-of-province student, but also what seemed like the only Muslim in her class. Now in her second year, she recalled, “In first year, I only met one other Muslim at Robson – and that was by chance. I saw Humaira Jaleel, our MLSA Visible Minority Rep, speak at an event about her work with Healthy Muslim Families to support the Muslim community, and I remember feeling a quiet sense of relief – like, okay, I’m not the only one here. Everybody at Robson has been incredibly friendly, and I have made great life-long friends, but when religion and spirituality are a big part of your life, you can’t help but miss that deeper connection.”

The CLF has always welcomed students of different faiths, creating a space where religion is valued and embraced at Robson Hall. Eid explained, “Even before our group was formed, the CLF created a welcoming environment for Muslim students to connect with others who were grounded in their faith.”

Last year, Eid didn’t feel it was the right time to start a Muslim student group with so few students, but this year, she was surprised to find there were many Muslim students across all years. “We had the numbers to form a proper group and have an executive team. This year felt like the right time to start it.”

The group now has 12 active members.

When the JLSA was ratified as an official student group, Kalo said they needed to identify priorities in terms of what the group hoped to achieve over each year, and noted that building relationships was number one.

“That was something we spoke extensively to Dean Jochelson about,” she said. “That’s why when the CLF reached out, it was the perfect kind of kick-starter to doing that – the idea that fundamentally, we hoped Robson can be a place for interfaith relationships to really thrive and grow and not just on a superficial level but on a concrete level where conversations can be had and disagreements can even be shared but fundamentally that relationship is maintained.”

With each being in a different year of law school, the three student leaders didn’t know each other before organizing the event they called, “Breaking Bread Together”.

Bowles shared the perspective of the Christian Legal Fellowship on being asked by the Dean to organize a welcoming get-together. “As the host of this initiative, CLF is honoured and privileged to be the peacemaker as we’re directed by our faith. CLF executive members are looking forward to continuing this partnership into the future and continue welcoming students of all faiths. I personally wish to also commend many of the CLF members that have welcomed the Muslim and Jewish students to Robson Hall long before this initiative came into existence. It goes to show the values that CLF holds.”

“Meseret reached out to myself and Emily, sharing that the Dean suggested this event,” said Eid. “We all came together to start planning, and the faculty kindly sponsored the event.”

“Laurelle Harris, the Director of Equity and Transformation, played a key role in supporting our group during our early stages,” said Eid. “When our group first started in November, I met with her to touch base, share the concerns Muslim students were feeling, and explain why this group was so important for the law school community.”

“She mentioned that the Jewish student group had just been created and was surprised that both groups hadn’t existed before,” Eid added. “She said if Emily hadn’t started the Jewish group, she would have suggested it herself — both groups were long overdue at Robson.”

Fostering Conversations

 “The hope is that through fostering this relationship, [we can] create a brave space where, when necessary, we can have these conversations and come at it from a place of mutually trying to understand one another,” said Bowles.

“I think all of us independently and in our communities are having these conversations but I think part of the desire to do something like this was a desire to have those broader conversations to share different perspectives,” said Kalo. “As lawyers, we’re trained to critically think […] and recognize perspectives other than our own but also we’re taught that law is not just […] about the strict law and the word on the paper but it’s also a human practice and there has to be empathy and relational aspects to it. The hope is that as we develop these relationships those conversations can be had, not only more naturally but also more honestly. We’re friends, we’re law students and colleagues and it doesn’t feel like two sides of the aisle coming together – it just feels like law students coming together.”

When thinking about current world events, Eid shared how deeply it affected her and others and recalled not having anyone to talk to about it. “It would just occupy your mind. I remember going to class and hardly being able to focus because of what’s happening in the world. It contributed to that isolation I was mentioning. So having a group rally around you and provide a forum to express those concerns on your mind, while also serving as a platform to communicate students’ needs and aspirations within academic circles, was significant.”

The Dean has been clear about his position of the law school not issuing any particular position on any conflict happening in the world currently between different faiths, and has weathered out a storm of public comment as a result.

The three law students support his position and understand the reason for not making any statements on behalf of the law school regarding taking any sides. “He’s been very honest and quite clear about that position,” said Kalo, “but also that that position is not meant to shut down dialogue and conversation, it’s actually meant to foster it and allow us to talk about these things and not feel like we’re being stifled on either side or in either way by the institution.

“That’s been reiterated to us, obviously acknowledging that there’s lines when it comes to racism or discrimination that won’t be crossed, and that the university does have a hard stance on those things,” she added, “But that in terms of politics, the nature of being in law school is also being able to talk politics and discuss those things.”

Eid agreed that not having difficult conversations with fellow law students would only do a disservice to everyone. “We should have a safe intellectual space to freely express our differing views, civilly and professionally, and it’s okay to agree to disagree,” she said. “Most media portrayals of religious groups focus on the differences among us, but I believe, and this is why I founded the group, that there are more things that connect the three Abrahamic religions than what differentiates us.”

“Beyond the clichés of the usual interfaith dialogue, we don’t intend to focus on specific religious beliefs when we meet,” she continued. “This is more about being law students grounded in religion, connecting that to our profession, and learning how to engage with people of different faiths in our careers while promoting cultural awareness. The richer, more intellectual conversations happen when we recognize the similarities upfront.”

Laurelle Harris, K.C., Director of Equity & Transformation and the Internationally Trained Lawyer Program with Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law. Photo by Christine Mazur

The students shared that Laurelle Harris had been doing listening circles with law students with the goal of bringing the separate groups of students together as a “Robson Hall” community. “Creating these different safe spaces for independent communities to come and share, but also then creating intersectional opportunities [is] the ultimate vision,” said Kalo. “That’s also the vision that we have when we’re talking about our three groups working together […] having intersectional opportunities to embrace our faiths and communities and cultures. That seems at least to me the direction that Robson is ultimately trying to go in as well.”

At the event itself, about seven JLSA, 12 RMLSA, and 8 CLF members attended. The Dean did a land acknowledgement and said a few words about the importance of supporting each other and promoting acceptance. Then, while waiting for the food to arrive, students from each group were invited to answer each other’s questions about how aspects of their respective faiths influence or motivate their legal studies and how they envision their career paths.

The conversations that were held over the meal are their own private business, but they can safely be speculated to have ranged from how their faith gets them through each day, to finding the best places to study, to Professor Irvine’s Property Law class.

The students plan to make this gathering an annual event. Further, a new faith-based committee is being formed within the Manitoba Law Students’ Association (MLSA), aimed at advocating for faith communities and promoting inclusivity within student life at Robson Hall.

In 2017, the Report of the United Nations Working Group for People of African Descent  pointed out, during its mission to Canada, that anti-Black racism in Canadian institutions and policies has become so entrenched that it is “functionally normalized or rendered invisible, especially to the dominant group”. Black communities in Canada today continue to endure injustices and inequalities. The UN Working Group Report recommended the development and implementation of a justice strategy to address the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system.

Canada’s Black Justice Strategy is the federal government’s response to address anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in Canada that has led to this overrepresentation. The Strategy was developed in consultation with Black communities across Canada with an external Steering Group of experts and leaders. Faculty of Law alum Zilla Jones was appointed a member of this Steering Group and co-authored the resulting Steering Group Report titled A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy.

The Report sets out 114 recommendations to address anti-Black racism including eight overarching accountability measures that would have significant impact across the criminal justice system. The Report was published in July, 2024, and on February 25, 2025, the Department of Justice Canada announced the release of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy’s Implementation Plan.

Join the Faculty of Law for this unique opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion on justice and equity. This event is free but seating is limited, so please let us know you are coming. Register here.

Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Location: Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg
Doors Open: 5:30 PM | Keynote & Panel: 6:00 PM
Free parking behind Robson Hall – check Google Maps: “University of Manitoba L Lot: https://maps.umanitoba.ca

Supporting the Work: How new lawyers are being trained to overcome A2J barriers

Monday’s event, “Supporting the Work: How new lawyers are being trained to overcome A2J barriers”was presented by The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law and the Manitoba Bar Association’s Young Lawyers and Internationally Trained Lawyers sections. Panelists shared what legal supports are now becoming available for clients of diverse backgrounds including cultures, languages and faiths. Representatives from the three host organizations addressed what they are doing to train diverse lawyers who can help these diverse clients.

Panelists included Laurelle Harris, K.C., University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law; Kayleigh Lafontaine, University College of the North; and Ayodeji Olunlade, Restall & Restall LLP  (Co-chair, MBA’s Internationally Trained Lawyers Section) with moderator Mercedes Ayala, Mitousis Lemieux Howard (Co-chair, MBA’s Young Lawyers’ Section).

Watch a recording of “Supporting the Work”.

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Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons

Tuesday’s webinar was on “Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons.” Geared to practicing lawyers and students, this session presented an overview as to what different organizations are doing, parole and record suspensions, resources for clients who are, or may be, incarcerated, and an overview of issues related to prison libraries and literature in provincial prisons.

Panelists included Leif Jensen, University of Manitoba Community Law Centre; Marc Kruse, Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services at the Faculty of Law; Liz McCandless, Senior Instructor and Director of Clinical Programming at the Faculty of Law; and Kirsten Wurmann, Manitoba Law Library, Manitoba Library Association. Allison Fenske, Clinical Counsel at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law and Director of the University of Manitoba Community Law Centre acted as Moderator.

Watch a recording of “Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons.”

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Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements

On Wednesday, October 30, the webinar “Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements”featured insights from both Crown and Defense perspectives. This session explored the powerful role these statements play in the justice system, highlighting some examples of how they can be used at sentencing hearings in Manitoba. Participants learned how these statements can give voice to both individual victims and affected communities.

Panelists included Kathrine Basarab, Manitoba Justice, Public Prosecutions; Caleigh Glawson, a criminal defence lawyer with Brodsky Amy & Gould; and Monique St. Germain, Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.

Watch a recording of “Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements”.

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Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation

The final webinar took place on Thursday, October 31, and featured “Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation.” The panel members represented three different provisions of family legal services and hailed from the Community Legal Education Association, Family Resolution Services and Legal Aid Manitoba. They provided an explanation of the different pathways through the separation process and options available to avoid or at least reduce the conflict and stress of a traditional lawyer / court dispute.   This webinar was of interest to the general public to learn what is involved in the separation process and what alternatives might suit a particular situation.

Panelists included Nina Holatova, Community Legal Education Association; Michael Williams, Manitoba Justice, Family Resolution Services; Peter Kingsley, KC, Executive Director, Legal Aid Manitoba.

Watch a recording of “Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation.”

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The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law is home to Manitoba’s Access to Justice Hub, which is an extension of the Director of Access to Justice and Community Engagement’s office at the Faculty of Law. The Hub’s blogspace is a central location for existing participants in the A2J network to connect to their community.