Architects of Justice: Recent Episodes
The Action Group for Access to Justice
The Law Society of Ontario assumed responsibility for the regulation of paralegals in 2007 making the province the first jurisdiction in North America to regulate paralegals. Today, nearly 9000 paralegals are licensed in Ontario providing consumers with more choice, protection and improved access to justice. This episode helps to mark a decade of paralegal regulation by featuring a range of voices from this professional community.
• Robert Burd, Bencher and Chair of the Paralegal Standing Committee at the Law Society of Ontario • Michelle Haigh, Bencher at the Law Society of Ontario • Stephanie Ball, Ball Executive Dean of the School of Justice & Emergency Services and School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Durham College. • Stephen Parker, President of the Ontario Paralegal Association • Laurie Marshall, Director of the Ontario Paralegal Association • Brian Houghton, Litigation Projects Manager for Pro Bono Ontario
Recent research indicate that lawyers are at a higher risk for anxiety, substance abuse and depression than those in the general population. This susceptibility begins in law school and eventually has an impact on society by affecting people who rely on lawyers to manage their everyday legal problems. This episode will speak with a range of access to justice advocates about status and mental health in the legal profession. • Patrick Krill, Principal and Founder of Krill Strategies • Doron Gold, Staff Clinician Homewood Health • Yukimi Henry, Manager, Academic/Personal and Wellness Coordinator at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
At 37% millennials are currently the largest generation in the workforce. They make over a quarter of the population in Canada and the most educated among them are women – they make up the majority in professions. In 2019, millennials will make up the largest block of voters. This generation is shaping our expectations around technology and convenience. In this episode we look at how they are influencing the justice sector. Last year we worked with Abacus Data to publish a report that examined how Ontario millennials looked at access to justice technology. Our results found that Millennials show keen interest in a range of access to justice initiatives. The most appealing was an online legal database that allows user to search for information about common legal problems, learn from other people’s experiences, or find a legal professional in their area. Nine in ten (91%) respondents felt this initiative was a good or very good idea. But what does this mean for the justice sector more broadly – how is it responding? We spoke with Ontario’s former Attorney General Yasir Naqvi for his thoughts.
Guests: • Yasir Naqvi, former Attorney General of Ontario • David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data • Geevith Rubakumar, Founder of ParDONE
Recent high profile cases have sparked new dialogue about sexual violence. High profile cases, mandatory training for judges in sexual assault law and the role of social media in accelerating conversations all point to a significant shift towards survivor informed paths to justice. But what does that mean?
Current discussions have focused on sexual violence at home, at work, on public transit and everywhere in between indicating that this issue is a concern for the majority of the population. Even if it’s not happening to you, there’s a high likelihood that it’s happening or has happened to someone you know. Movements like #MeToo have highlighted the ubiquity of the issue and are shaping a more nuanced understanding of sexual violence. We speak with three advocates about this critical moment and what needs to come next to ensure inclusive access to justice outcomes.
Guests: • Farrah Khan, Manager of the Office of Sexual Violence Support and Education at Ryerson University • Deepa Mattoo, Legal Director of the Barbra Schlifer Clinic • Lucrezia Spagnolo, CEO of Vesta Social Innovation Technologies
Digital Diversity: Developing Justice Solutions For Real Life
The justice sector is under pressure to use more technology. But how does this affect those who don’t have regular access to a computer or the internet? In this episode we feature different perspectives on how technology-based solutions can reflect the diverse needs of justice system users.
• Michael Gottheil Executive Chair, Social Justice Tribunals Ontario
• Monica Goyal Lawyer, Engineer, Entrepreneur Adjunct Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School
• Julie Mathews Executive Director, Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
• Gabe Sawhney Executive Director, Code for Canada
• Amina Juma Student-at-Law
Want to learn more about Steps to Justice? Check out the full list of partners and legal topics.