The Forum included presentations by Meredith Brown and Sarah McCoubrey (A2J Strategists, CALIBRATE); Mandela Kuet (Mark 1T Consulting, Steering Committee Member of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy); Mark Benton, KC and Peter Kingsley, KC (Steering Committee Members of the National Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters); and Dr. Gerard Kennedy (University of Alberta, Faculty of Law).

Brown and McCoubrey outlined the A2J challenges shared across Canada, and the value of supporting each other along the A2J journey. Kuet discussed Canada’s Black Justice Strategy, an initiative by the Department of Justice to address anti-Black racism in Canada’s criminal justice system. Benton and Kingsley introduced the work of the National Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters, which includes the promotion of legal needs research and people-centred justice. Kennedy presented a recent study conducted on the views of Manitoba legal practitioners of A2J needs in the province.

A2J Stakeholders in attendance also presented organizational updates, which will be included in an upcoming A2J newsletter.

A2J organizations represented at the 2025 Forum included the following:

• Manitoba Court of Appeal
• Manitoba Court of King’s Bench
• Manitoba Provincial Court
• Law Society of Manitoba
• Manitoba Bar Association
• Manitoba Métis Federation
• First Nations Family Advocate Office – Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
• Legal Aid Manitoba
• Public Interest Law Centre
• Manitoba Justice (Crown Law, Family Law, Prosecutions Service)
• Manitoba Justice (Family Resolution Service)
• Manitoba Law Reform Commission
• Manitoba Law Foundation
• University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
• L’Association des juristes d’expression française du Manitoba (AJEFM)/Infojustice
• Perrie Law
• Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg
• Community Legal Education Association
• Manitoba Library Association – Prison Libraries Committee and the Legal Information for Incarcerated Manitobans Initiative
• Community Unemployed Help Centre
• Mediation Services
• Manitoba Council of Administrative Tribunals
• Manitoba Human Rights Commission
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba
• At the Root Consulting (Gladue Writers)
• Ending Homelessness Winnipeg
• HoodFams
• Healthy Muslim Families
• Fisher River Cree Nation – Restorative Justice Project
• Pro Bono Students Canada
• A Welcome Place
• Centre Juridique Franco-Justice
• Kíwétinohk Consulting

Sydney Reimer took 2nd place Top Negotiator for the National Family Law Negotiation Competition.

“This experience was incredibly rewarding, allowing me to learn, grow, and gain confidence in my skills,” said Reimer in a LinkedIn post.

Competitors were welcomed by Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law at the University of Manitoba, followed by a talk from keynote speaker Patricia Hebert, K.C.. A mediator, collaborative lawyer, child advocate and litigator for 30 years, Hebert was able to share words of wisdom and experience with the competitors.

Attendees were also treated to a conversation / discussion panel between Justice Sheilaugh O’Connell of the Ontario Court of Justice, with Professors Shelley Kierstead and Patricia McMahon of Osgoode Faculty of Law, York University.

The first-place winning team was from the University of Saskatchewan College of law, and the first-place student negotiator was Mackenzie Singer from U of S.

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”.

—–

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.”

—–

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”.

—–

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.”

—–

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. 

• Monday, October 28, 2024
  Supporting the Work: How New Lawyers Are Being Trained to Overcome A2J Barriers
• Tuesday, October 29, 2024
  Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons
• Wednesday, October 30, 2024
  Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements
• Thursday, October 31, 2024
  Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation

Supporting the Work: How New Lawyers are being Trained to Overcome A2J Barriers – Monday

Monday’s event will feature panelists from the Faculty of Law and the Manitoba Bar Association’s Young Lawyers and Internationally Trained Lawyers sections who will discuss legal supports are now becoming available for clients of diverse backgrounds including cultures, languages and faiths. The three host organizations will address what they are doing to train diverse lawyers who can help these diverse clients.

Register for Supporting The Work: How New Lawyers Are Being Trained to Overcome A2J Barriers

Panelists:

• Mercedes Ayala, Mitousis Lemieux Howard (Co-chair, MBA’s Young Lawyers’ Section) (Moderator)
• Chidera Anadi-Mbanefo, Cam’s Law Office (Co-chair, MBA’s Internationally Trained Lawyers Section)
• Laurelle Harris, K.C., University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
• Kayleigh Lafontaine, University College of the North
• Ayodeji Olunlade, Restall & Restall LLP  (Co-chair, MBA’s Internationally Trained Lawyers Section)
• Stephanie Bauch, Mitousis Lemieux Howard (MBA’s Young Lawyers’ Section)

Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons – Tuesday

Tuesday’s event is geared to practicing lawyers and students, and will present an overview as to what different organizations are doing, parole and record suspensions, resources for clients who are, or may be, incarcerated, and provide an overview of issues related to prison libraries and literature in provincial prisons.

Register for Educating and Advocating in Manitoba Prisons

Panelists:

• Allison Fenske, The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law (Moderator)
• Leif Jensen, University of Manitoba Community Law Centre
• Marc Kruse, The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
• Elizabeth McCandless, The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
• Kirsten Wurmann, Manitoba Law Library, Manitoba Library Association

Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements – Wednesday

Wednesday’s webinar on Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements, will feature insights from both Crown and Defense perspectives. This session will explore the powerful role these statements play in the justice system, highlighting some examples of how they can be used at sentencing hearings in Manitoba. Learn how these statements can give voice to both individual victims and affected communities.

Register for Victim Impact and Community Impact Statements

Panelists:

• Kathrine Basarab, Manitoba Justice, Public Prosecutions
• Caleigh Glawson, Brodsky Amy & Gould
• Monique St. Germain, Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc.

Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation – Thursday

The panel members for this presentation represent three different provisions of family legal services.  Our three presenters from the Community Legal Education Association, Family Resolution Services and Legal Aid Manitoba will provide 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.   Members of the public are invited to join us to learn what is involved in the separation process and what alternatives might suit each person’s particular situation.

Register for Family Law Services: Pathways to Healthy Separation

Panelists:

• Nina Holatova, Community Legal Education Association
• Michael Williams, Manitoba Justice, Family Resolution Services
• Peter Kingsley, KC, Legal Aid Manitoba

*Each of these programs offers 1.5 hours of CPD to members of the Manitoba legal profession, all of which may be reported as EPPM (Ethics, Professionalism, Practice Management) hours.

Kruse presented on “Epistemic Injustice” and common foundational principles of Indigenous legal orders. Harris gave a workshop on anti-racism and equity for legal professionals, and the BC Indigenous Justice Centre gave overview of their work and how they have developed their centres with an access to justice and Indigenous perspective.

In addition to the presentations, 24 A2J stakeholders presented organizational updates which may be found in the most recent A2J newsletter.

This Forum marked the first time since the 2021 establishment of the Manitoba Access to Justice website, a joint initiative of the Law Society of Manitoba and the UM Faculty of Law.

A2J organizations represented at this year’s inaugural Forum included the following:

• Manitoba Court of Appeal
• Manitoba Court of King’s Bench
• Provincial Court of Manitoba
• University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
• Manitoba Law Foundation
• Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs/First Nations Family Advocate Office
• Manitoba Metis Federation
• The Law Society of Manitoba
• The Manitoba Bar Association
• Legal Aid Manitoba
• Public Interest Law Centre (Office of Legal Aid Manitoba)
• Manitoba Justice – Prosecution Service
• Manitoba Justice – Family Resolution Services
• Manitoba Law Reform Commission
• AJEFM/Infojustice
• Healthy Muslim Families
• Community Legal Education Association
• Legal Help Centre
• Community Unemployment Help Centre
• Manitoba Law Library
• Library Hub Project
• Manitoba Council of Administrative Tribunals
• Mediation Services
• Pro Bono Students Canada

Anyone wishing to stay up to date on Access to Justice in Manitoba and future A2J events, check out the Access to Justice Hub and subscribe to the newsletter.

Brown has worked in Access to Justice for at least the past four years after having first practiced Family Law and worked as the Legal Director of the Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg for much of her legal career. She was a sessional instructor at the Faculty of Law, teaching Family Law, before becoming the Director of Professional Practice and Externships. She was Access to Justice Coordinator for the Law Society of Manitoba from May 2021 to May 2023 before returning to the Faculty of Law as Director of Access to Justice and Community Engagement. In her role at Robson Hall, Brown is responsible for coordinating the Access to Justice Advisory Network, which serves as a resource for justice system stakeholders and helps to address access to justice issues in Manitoba. She coordinates the annual Access to Justice week for Manitoba and brings an access to justice lens to the Faculty’s many clinical programs.

Brown teaches a section of the Legal Profession and Professional Responsibility course which is mandatory for all upper-year law students. In 2020, she received the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, given to sessional instructors demonstrating exceptional teaching and mentorship of  law students.

The Manitoba Bar Association’s Access to Justice Award recognizes an MBA member for outstanding pro bono legal services or outstanding contributions on the issue of access to justice. It is one of eight MBA Recognition Awards, honouring colleagues who demonstrate excellence and commitment to the law, the legal profession and the community at large.

Events were intended to inform and educate both members of the public and the legal community. All events were free, livestreamed and recorded for public access and education. Other Manitoba events included an online panel hosted by the Law Society of Manitoba on Wednesday, October 25^th titled “Are we there yet? Reflecting on A2J Progress & the Obligation to Advance A2J in Manitoba”, and two Manitoba Bar Association Section online panels: “Racial Equity, Legal Education, and Access to Justice“ (Thursday, October 26th, 2023), and “Access to Justice in Family Law and Navigating a File with a Self-Represented Litigant” (Friday, October 27th, 2023).

Natasha Brown, Director of Access to Justice and Community Outreach at the Faculty of Law said, “Manitoba’s A2J Week demonstrates a commitment of the law school, the Law Society and the MBA to work together, in collaboration with Manitoba’s justice system stakeholders, to discuss meaningful solutions to advance access to justice. Making the law accessible and transparent to the public is of utmost importance to all three organizations.  Between us, we had a total of 750 registrants this year which would not have been possible without the many individuals who devoted their time and expertise to make the week a success.  I look forward to working with all three organizations for A2J Week 2024.”

The Faculty’s event featured Manitoba’s Chief Justice Marianne Rivoalen as the Keynote speaker, along with Judge Denis Guénette of the Provincial Court who moderated a panel that included Dr. Lorna Turnbull and clinical instructor Andrea Doyle of the Faculty of Law, 

Tarik Daoudi, Executive Director of the Association des juristes d’expression française du Manitoba (AJEFM), Ruphine Djuissi, a lawyer at AJEFM, and Jean-René Dominique Kwilu, Executive Director and Lead Counsel at la Clinique Juridique Franco-Justice (CJFJ).

Panelists discussed bilingualism and the important role it plays in legal practice in jurisdictions where French and English versions of laws are equally authoritative. They noted how the demand for French legal services in Manitoba and in Canada has been increasing and shared how each has tried to work towards addressing this demand and what further work needs to be done. The panelists spoke in French and an online interpreter translated the discussion into English to enable a completely accessible session.

Guénette introduced the session, emphasizing the importance of training lawyers in French in order to help French-speaking communities and immigrants from French-speaking countries. He explained that linguistic insecurity is a major barrier to access to justice.

Turnbull shared what the Faculty of Law is doing to fill the gap by training French-speaking law students in the Access to Justice in French Concentration program. Currently, 24 law students are receiving both linguistic and practical legal training in French at Robson Hall. Doyle shared achievements of the program to date, including examples of the many successes the programs’ students had competing in last year’s moot competitions.

Daoudi described the AJEFM’s activities to facilitate access to justice for French-speaking Manitobans. A major step toward this, he noted, is having a bilingual Chief Justice who can be a resource for both lawyers and judges for statutory interpretation in French and English.

Djuissi spoke from personal experience in her legal practice about how the need to understand the law in one’s own language extends to all areas of law including domestic violence, family and criminal law.

Kwilu, who lectures on commercial law at l’Université de Saint-Boniface, in addition to practicing family, criminal and immigration law, shared his experiences representing French-speaking clients in court, describing the nuances and difficulties that arise with both cultural and language differences. For example, he said, family law in Canada is very different for individuals not from countries based in a common law justice system, and needs to be both translated and explained culturally.

Chief Justice Rivoalen shared her experiences practicing for 15 years as a bilingual lawyer and reflected on how the law in Canada says that everyone is supposed to have legal representation in the official language of their choice and how that plays out in reality where often clients go unrepresented because they cannot find a French-speaking lawyer. She also summarized areas of ongoing need such as connectivity to remote areas of Canada, translation of documents and the need for bilingual clerks, staff and judges. She noted that while there’s an obligation for areas of public law to have bilingual services, there is no such obligation in areas of private law. Ultimately, having legal services in French is not a luxury but is essential for people to live their lives.

Audience members attending the Robson Hall event included a number of law students from the Faculty’s Access to Justice in French Concentration, some of whom reacted strongly to hearing support for French language access in the legal system.

Bradley Légaré (3L), and other students hoped the Faculty would hold more similar events. “Improving access to justice in French has been something near and dear to my heart since I started in the A2JF Concentration at Robson Hall, and this is the first time we’ve had a seminar that has focused on this topic in French,” he said. “On a personal level, it was really validating having members of the French legal community explain the importance of pursuing an education which will allow myself to help members of the community. Moreover, I feel like it allowed a light to be shone on the true goals of the A2J in French Concentration, and the important role it has played in the lives of myself and many of the other students who are in [the program].”

“I appreciated the opportunity to hear from lawyers, academics, and jurists who are working hard to improve access to justice in French,” said Dominique Gibson, 3L. “In particular, it was interesting to learn more about various initiatives to improve French legal services in Manitoba, such as InfoJustice. While I left the event feeling optimistic, I also recognize that there is a lot of work to be done to improve access to justice in both official languages in our province. As a future lawyer, I look forward to being part of that work.”

 Access to justice does not demand perfection; rather, it requires open-mindedness, cultural humility, and compassion.

– Avery Alexiuk, 1L

New to the A2JF Concentration this fall, Avery Alexiuk (1L) said, “What I took away from this event is that being a lawyer and an advocate means being a part of something much greater than yourself. As lawyers, we must adapt and evolve to best accommodate the needs of the populations we serve. In order to bridge the gap that exists for diverse and multicultural individuals when accessing legal services, they must have access to legal representation and proceedings in the official language of their choice. Access to justice does not demand perfection; rather, it requires open-mindedness, cultural humility, and compassion.”

Tess Poulton, also in her first year of law shared that, “The opportunity to engage with the legal francophone community of Manitoba is very valuable as a first year law student in the Access to Justice in French program. This panel discussion further inspired me to engage with the French language to the best of my abilities.”

Yomna Eid (1L) shared, “This session provided a great opportunity to hear about the progress that has been made thus far in our community regarding access to justice in French in Manitoba. It was encouraging to hear open and honest interpretations about the challenges that the panelists have encountered. As future legal professionals, it is very valuable to hear about the advantages of offering services in French from current practitioners. These opportunities, along with the A2J concentration in French at Robson Hall allow us to feel empowered to use languages other than English when it best serves the interest of our clients and our communities.”

Adam Gislason (1L) said the panel “emphasized the need for French legal services in all fields of law. With a continually growing Franco-Manitoban community, it becomes increasingly important for law practitioners to facilitate services in both languages such that unilingual French-speaking Manitobans can properly understand the services they require and receive.”

Finally, 3L Eric Gagnon said, “It was wonderful to hear firsthand from deeply respected members of the French-speaking legal community in Manitoba. As a francophone from rural French Manitoba, I deeply appreciate how involved our Faculty of Law has been in organizing initiatives such as L’accès à la justice en français: Un monde à découvrir.”

A member of the public listening to the event online said they were glad they had stayed and listened to the whole Manitoba event, adding, “The information has been great. Makes me want to move to Manitoba, as you seem to havea greater grasp on the importance to litigants.”

The Faculty of Law event was recorded:

Watch the English version here.

Watch the French version here.

Volunteers at the University of Manitoba chapter have gained valuable legal experience in clinical settings, on research projects, and as legal interns throughout the Academic Year. Past partners have included the Community Legal Education Association, the Legal Help Centre, and JusticeTrans. PBSC Volunteer Placements are posted each September with details about the type of project, who the project is for, an overview of the project, and the areas of law the placement engages with. Applications are sent out to students with the postings and are due in September as well, with placements starting in October. Exact dates change year to year, but PBSC will email all students prior to each important recruitment date as well as post on its social media and the MLSA Facebook page. The PBSC Manitoba chapter can be emailed at probono@umanitoba.ca any time throughout the year for more information in regards to recruitment and volunteering with PBSC.

In 2022 – 2023, the PBSC Manitoba Chapter coordinators were Tyson Priebe (2L), and Ashley Bains (3L). They reported that 68 law students participated in PBSC placements over the last year assisting the following 17 organizations:

• Canadian Civil Liberties Association
• Community Legal Education Association
• Community Unemployed Help Centre
• Creative Manitoba
• Elizabeth Fry Society
• JusticeTrans
• Law Society of Manitoba
• Level Justice
• Manitoba Eco-Network
• Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties
• Manitoba Harm Reduction Network
• Manitoba Law Reform Commission
• New Directions
• Rainbow Resource Centre
• Resource Assistance for Youth
• Sex Workers of Winnipeg Action Coalition
• Winnipeg Food Council

Developing advocacy & research skills

Students worked on a variety of projects that centred around conducting legal research, creating Public Legal Education materials, and directly assisting clients by providing legal information or referrals. All students involved in PBSC learned about the barriers to Access to Justice that many communities face in Manitoba, and received legal research training. However, the specific communities and barriers that students learned about during their volunteer experiences differed between partner organizations. For example, students placed with the Community Unemployed Help Centre would have learned about communities that face barriers to access to justice from their socio-economic circumstances. These students worked to create plain-language documentation for the advocates that assist these individuals navigate the Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) system, which solidified the students’ legal research and plain-language writing skills.

Supervisors and Student Volunteers  

The PBSC-Manitoba Chapter was supervised over the past year by Trina McFadyen, Director of Professional Development. McFadyen graduated from the Faculty of Law in 2000 and practiced law at Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP and Great-West Life. McFadyen hands the supervisory reins over this year to Natasha Brown, another alum of the Faculty (Class of 2005), and its new Director of Access to Justice and Community Engagement. Brown, a former family law practitioner, served as Access to Justice coordinator at the Law Society of Manitoba prior to returning to Robson Hall, and was former Legal Director of the Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg.

With Ashley Bains having now graduated (Class of 2023), Erin McIntyre (2L) joins Priebe (now going into his third year) as co-coordinator for 2023 – 2024. Together, they gathered some feedback from fellow law students who volunteered for PBSC last year.

Talia David, who graduates in 2025, volunteered throughout her first year and was placed with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

Through this placement I assisted with transcription and research for a Bail and Pre-Trial Detention Report. I began by visiting the listening room at the courthouse and transcribing my assigned dates, and I was also given the opportunity to continue researching detention and bail related matters across Canada to be utilized in the report. This was an amazing opportunity to not only learn about the conditions of our justice system, but to also be a part of positive change so early on in my legal journey.

Jordan Wagner will enter his second year of law as class representative and will graduate in 2025. He worked with the Community Unemployed Help Centre, a non-profit organization that provides support and resources to unemployed individuals in the community.

Our team developed an Advocate’s Guide to Employment Insurance. We designed the document to help the organizations advocates better assist clients with their EI claims. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to improve my research skills by analyzing EI legislation. Furthermore, I had the privilege of working with an exceptional and highly skilled team. Lastly, volunteering with PBSC allowed me to further develop valuable teamwork and communication skills. Joining PBSC was one of the best decisions that I made during 1L because of the positive impact that our project can have on the community!

Lauren Martin will also graduate in the class of 2025 and volunteered with New Directions during her first year of law school. She worked on a project aimed at providing access to healthcare for marginalized populations. Her contributions included researching provincial and federal legislation to create a plain language document to ensure that every Canadian understands their rights with regards to healthcare. 

I was grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with New Directions during 1L. PBSC allowed me to not only gain valuable hands-on experience and skills, but also discover my own potential to make a tangible difference. It’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, broaden your perspectives, and contribute to causes that resonate with your values. I would recommend to every incoming 1L to sign up with PBSC if they are able!

The PBSC Manitoba Chapter will host its official launch event for the 2023 – 2024 school year on October 6. All law students at the University of Manitoba are invited to watch for an email with details about the program coming from the coordinators this fall.

PBSC Manitoba can be contacted at: probono@umanitoba.ca

Information about the chapter is online:

PBSC Manitoba
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

PBSC Manitoba operates due to the generous funding provided by the University of Manitoba and the following various external funders:

• The Manitoba Law Foundation
• The Manitoba Law Students’ Association
• McCarthy Tetrault
• WestlawEdge Canada
• The Law Foundation of Ontario

The Manitoba Law Foundation had funded the creation of the former Manitoba Access to Justice Coordinator position two years ago, and Brown had served in that role on a term position.

In her new role at Robson Hall, Brown will be responsible for coordinating the Access to Justice Advisory Network, which will serve as a resource for justice system stakeholders and will help to address access to justice issues in our province. She will also bring an access to justice lens to the Faculty of Law’s many clinical programs.

“On behalf of the Faculty of Law, I want to thank the Law Society of Manitoba and the Manitoba Law Foundation for their ongoing support of access to justice initiatives in Manitoba,” said Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law. “We know that Natasha will continue to excel in her leadership role on the access front, and we look forward to collaborating with her and other justice system stakeholders in a new, more collaborative model.”

No stranger to Robson Hall, Brown has taught various courses at the law school over the past seven years, including the Access to Justice course, Family Law, and organized the former Western Canada Family Law Negotiation Competition.

“Her expertise and experience will be a tremendous asset to the legal education community and beyond,” said Jochelson.

Brown officially begins her work with at the Faculty of Law on Monday, April 10th.

“The guidance you provide to our students is one of the greatest gifts this law school could receive from this community,” said Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law, in each letter sent to the Jurists. “Our partnership in educating prospective members of our profession is part of what makes the Manitoba legal community a special place.”

“The years of experience in the practice that you bring to the classroom are invaluable,” he added. “You help our students chart their own path while signposting the road that they will travel.”

Dean Jochelson described the Practicing Professionals as the “lifeblood” of the Faculty of Law in its endeavour to teach law students both theory and practice to ensure the highest quality of legal education.

Each plaque read simply, “University of Manitoba Faculty of Law Designates [name] a Jurist of Robson Hall. In recognition of exceptional contributions to the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law Juris Doctor program. With deepest thanks and appreciation from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law.”

The Faculty plans to continue adding outstanding instructors to the list of Jurists each year and will formally present tokens of appreciation at an annual reception for its Practicing Professionals. Currently, the Faculty awards one Faculty member and one Practicing Professional with a teaching award at its annual Grad Dinner.

The Faculty proudly shares the list of recently recognized Jurists of Robson Hall as follows:

Natasha Brown
Jessica Dillon
Karen Dyck
Serena Ehrmantraut
Gregory Evans, K.C.
Lisa Fainstein
Allison Fenske
Jeffrey Gindin, K.C.
David Gisser, K.C.
Bailey Harris
Laurelle Harris
Nichole Cyr Hiebert
Jeffrey Hirsch, K.C.
The Honourable Charles Huband
Sarah A. Inness, K.C.
The Honourable Timothy Killeen
Ami Kotler
Frank Lavitt
Sarah Lugtig
James McLandress, K.C.
Maria Mitousis
Wayne Onchulenko
Sacha Paul
Shoshanna Paul
Sergio Pustogorodsky
Melissa Serbin
Nick Slonosky
Stacey Soldier
Dan Torbiak
Robert Tyler
Michael Walker
Eleanor Wiebe, K.C.
Jon Woolley
The Honourable Raymond Wyant