From October 23-25, 2024, the vibrant city of Toronto became a hub for justice advocates, scholars, practitioners, and policymakers who gathered at Osgoode Hall Law School‘s Osgoode Professional Development centre. The conference welcomed participants from around the globe to engage in meaningful conversations on transforming justice systems to enhance accessibility, equity, and fairness for all.

Keynote remarks from the Honourable Michael Tulloch ‘89, Chief Justice of Ontario; the Honourable Andromache Karakatsanis ’83, ’23 (LLD), Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada; and the Honourable Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario, set a powerful tone for the conference. Their remarks highlighted the critical importance of improving access to justice in today’s society.

This year’s program, available on the Forum’s website, offered a diverse lineup of panelists who discussed pressing issues such as the role of technology in justice delivery, systemic barriers affecting marginalized communities, and innovative strategies to make law more accessible. A key theme throughout the conference was the importance of community engagement and policy reform in achieving access to justice.

The success of this year’s Forum was made possible by the leadership of conference co-chairs Dean Trevor Farrow and Professors Suzanne Chiodo and Patricia McMahon, who brought together a dynamic group of voices dedicated to advancing the global access to justice movement.

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, and contributed to the Forum’s impactful discussions. We look forward to continuing this vital work and building upon the insights gained over these memorable three days.

Stay tuned for details on next year’s conference, as well as recordings and materials from this year’s conference which will soon be available on the website.

Osgoode Hall Law School is proud to announce that 18 of its students have secured highly sought-after judicial clerkships at the Federal Courts and across various levels of courts in Ontario. These one-year clerkships provide an invaluable opportunity for young lawyers, particularly those interested in litigation and academia, to gain hands-on experience by assisting judges with research, drafting, and editing judgments.

Among those selected for apex or appellate courts for the 2025-26 term are Jordana Borzellino ’24 at the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as Zoe Bernicchia-Freeman ’24, Emma Workman ’24, and David Jones ’25 at the Ontario Court of Appeal. Joining the Federal Court of Appeal will be Misha Potrykus ’25 and Geoffrey Vendeville ’25.

The Tax Court of Canada clerks for the 2025-26 term include Kyle Smyth ’25, Arielle Zhivko ’24, and Mariam Bacchus ’24. Linda Manziaris ’25 will clerk at the Divisional Court of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Additionally, eight Osgoode students will clerk at the Federal Court for the 2025-26 term: Alex Cachon ’25, Alexandra Robbins ’24, Ariel Goldberg ’25, Bridget Allen O’Neil ’24, Hayden Cheung ’25, Kathleen Smith ’24, Sage Hartmann ’25, and Soliyana Yared ’24.

“We are tremendously proud of and inspired by all of our students who successfully obtained clerkship positions,” said Dean Trevor Farrow. “They will have an exciting opportunity to witness and impact our judicial system from the inside while continuing to develop their legal research and analytical skills. Everyone at Osgoode looks forward to their future accomplishments and continued leadership in the profession.”

Current Osgoode students and recent alumni interested in judicial clerkships, including opportunities at the Supreme Court of Canada, are encouraged to reach out to Associate Dean of Students, Amar Bhatia, or Nicola Martin in the Career Development Office for more information.

Dean Trevor Farrow was invited to participate in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) 2024 Global Roundtable on Equal Access to Justice, joining an international panel titled High-Level Dialogue on People-Centred Justice and the Rule of Law to Reinforce Democracy and Build Trust. The panel explored the role of justice in strengthening democracies and addressing global challenges such as climate change and artificial intelligence.

This year’s roundtable provided an opportunity for global leaders to exchange best practices and discuss how justice systems can become more inclusive, while supporting Sustainable Development Goal 16—peace, justice, and strong institutions. Discussions focused on improving the response of the justice sector to emerging global issues, with a special emphasis on people-centred justice strategies aimed at restoring public trust.

Dean Farrow’s contributions underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in fulfilling SDG 16’s commitment to equal access to justice for all. He highlighted that advancing justice systems can directly reinforce democracy, combat insecurity, and support societal well-being. The roundtable concluded with a shared commitment to building more responsive and inclusive justice systems, using innovative strategies to address justice problems globally.

Soliyana Yared ’24 has been honoured with the Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize by the Royal Society of Canada. Throughout her time at Osgoode, Yared has been dedicated to advocating for social justice. She worked to advance refugee policy reform at the Refugee Law Lab, supported women facing intimate partner violence through the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, and co-authored a Black applicant stream proposal with Osgoode’s Black Law Students’ Association.  She will soon begin articling at an immigration law firm before clerking at the Federal Court.

The Abella Prize is awarded annually to one graduating student from each of Canada’s 23 law schools, recognizing the individual most likely to have a positive impact on equity and social justice in Canada.

RSC Awards celebrate exceptional contributions across disciplines and generations. This year’s winners will be recognized during the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, November 9, 2024, as part of the Royal Society of Canada’s Celebration of Excellence and Engagement.

Founded in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) comprises the Academy of Arts and Humanities, the Academy of Social Sciences, the Academy of Science, and the RSC College. The RSC promotes excellence, advises government and society, and fosters a culture of knowledge and innovation in Canada and globally. Learn more at www.rsc-src.ca.

Adaora Nwajiaku, a PhD student at Osgoode, was one of only three people worldwide to receive the prestigious 2024 Doctoral Award from the Hague Academy of International Law. As the leading institution in the field of international law, the Hague Academy granted her the opportunity to take its venerated course in international law and to work at the Peace Palace library in The Hague, home to both the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration.