Welcome to the first LAWS Program newsletter. You will find photos and program updates that bring to life the past 18 months of this unique partnership between the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and the Toronto District School Board. Read on to find out how LAWS is using legal education as a tool to improve student success at our partner high schools, Central Technical School and Harbord Collegiate Institute.
LAWS students go behind the scenes with the Court Experience Program
Judge Reinhardt meets with Central Tech students at Old City Hall court house
| "I used to think that court was boring, but when I sat at the table with other lawyers, the intensity made it exhilarating. It was incredible to find out that legal professionals [are not] the strict lawyers you see on television. I really enjoyed my experience and am considering becoming a Crown Attorney in the future" - Casey, CTS student. |
Casey is one of over 60 LAWS students who will participate this year in the Court Experience Program, a unique partnership between LAWS and the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall and College Park court houses. LAWS students spend a full day job shadowing a Justice of the Peace, Crown Attorney, Duty Counsel (defence lawyer), or a Judge. This is an extremely popular activity that gives students a glimpse behind the scenes of the legal system, and a chance to spend a whole day getting to know a legal professional.
The Ontario Justice Education Network is working with LAWS to help other jurisdictions set up similar programs with their local high schools and court houses.
For more information about the Court Experience Program, click here.
LAWS takes on music industry
Mr. Chandler's grade 11 LAWS English class at Central Tech took on the music industry when they visited Universal Music on October 19, 2006.
The students had been learning about intellectual property law and how it attempts to protect literary and other artistic creations. After a classroom workshop about music downloading facilitated by Faculty of Law student Shawn Richards, the grade 11s tested out their newfound knowledge and strong opinions with Universal Music Legal Counsel Darlene Gilliland, a Faculty of Law alumnus.
The result? A better understanding of the both sides of the issue, and free Jay-Z CDs!
The Universal Music field trip was one of several excursions (including to Toronto Police Headquarters, Queens Park, Old City Hall court house, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and Ryerson and U of T campuses) LAWS has organized to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities in the community.
LAWS students go to work
 Amon's first summer job was at Blake, Cassels & Graydon |
Amon is one of 25 grade 10 students who benefited from a summer job placement program run by LAWS. These 4-week paid summer jobs with law firms, government ministries, corporate legal departments, legal aid clinics and public interest organizations provided an outstanding first work experience for the participating students.
"Working at Blake Cassels & Graydon has been such a good experience. I had the opportunity to perform a number of tasks including: printing documents, researching, and organizing files. I job shadowed a lawyer who took me to small claims court where I observed how the courts operate. This job has given me confidence and I've learned to be more independent."
Over 50 students, their parents, employers, teachers, principals, Faculty of Law staff, and representatives of LAWS' funder The Law Foundation of Ontario attended a special reception at the Faculty of Law on August 30, 2006 to celebrate the success of the students in the summer job program.
LAWS is currently recruiting law-related employers willing to offer paid 4-week placements during July and August 2007. Please email laws.law@utoronto.ca or call 416-978-5841 if you would like to participate.
For photos and student testimonials from our 2006 Summer Job Program, please click here.
For a detailed description of the 2007 LAWS Summer Job Program, please click here (PDF file)
Dean Mayo Moran goes back to high school
On October 3, 2006, Faculty of Law Dean Mayo Moran revisited her roots as a high school teacher when she facilitated a LAWS workshop at Central Technical School about the Chinese Canadian Head Tax. Dean Moran is an expert in this issue and is the co-editor with Professor David Dyzenhaus of Calling Power to Account: Law, Reparations and the Chinese Canadian Head Tax Case.
 Faculty of Law Dean Moran facilitates a workshop about the Canadian Chinese Head Tax |
The grade 10 LAWS History class listened intently to Dean Moran's engaging overview of the issue. Afterward, they worked in small groups to come up with arguments for and against whether the Canadian government ought to formally apologize for actions it took over a century ago. Students took turns stating their positions, with Dean Moran acting as judge.
"I didn't realize that Chinese people in Canada faced so much discrimination," remarked one LAWS student. "I learned that apologizing for past actions is a complicated thing for a government to do."
Dean Moran's presentation is one of over 80 interactive classroom workshops LAWS has provided to expose students to a wide variety of legal topics and encourage them to formulate and express their own views. LAWS workshop facilitators have included Faculty of Law students, professors, alumni, lawyers and other legal professionals.
For more information about LAWS activities in the classroom, click here.
Faculty of Law students provide weekly after-school tutoring program
 Faculty of Law student tutors a grade 10 student at Harbord Collegiate Institute |
| "My experience with my tutor has been great. She helped me to understand my math homework and other stuff. I really want to come back here", - Chris, HCI student. |
One of LAWS' most popular programs is its after-school tutoring program. Faculty of Law students volunteer to spend 2 hours a week helping LAWS high school students to understand and complete homework and assignments, and providing guidance about personal, academic, and career issues. So far, LAWS has held over 50 tutoring sessions at its partner schools.
Faculty of Law students create new LAWS website
In September 2006 LAWS launched a new web site at www.lawinaction.ca. Created by two Faculty of Law students, Josh Chud and Renee Smith, the site is packed full of program information and photos that bring LAWS to life.
The site provides information about law-related careers and post-secondary programs, as well as easy-to-access information for high school students in the form of specially designed summaries on Canadian legal topics.
For more information please contact Alexis Archbold, LAWS Director, at 416-978-5841 or laws.law@utoronto.ca
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