PLEAC 2026 Conference
Explore and Innovate: Public legal education in a time of change

Governor General Ballroom

At the outset of 2026, “rule of law” continues to receive intense and deserved attention. People across Canada hear, talk and ask questions about the rule of law and its importance in our free and democratic society and throughout the world. As foundation and framework, rule of law attracts concern and curiosity; public literacy, confidence and participation related to rule of law require constant investment. Professor Shauna Van Praagh, President of the Law Commission of Canada, draws connections between public legal education and responsive law reform to support a shared commitment to the promise and practice of rule of law.

Click here to register for the livestream: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-myyyl6YTjCA2htYUY2zUw

Shauna Van Praagh
President, Full Professor Law Commission of Canada (LCC) and the Faculty of Law McGill

×

Shauna Van Praagh

Shauna Van Praagh is the President, as of June 2023, of the Law Commission of Canada, an independent federal agency committed to engaging the people of Canada in the ongoing and dynamic evolution of law. She is currently on leave from McGill University, where she is a FullProfessor of Law, has taught since 1993, served as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Law (2007-2010), and received the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2023. Shauna’s areas of teaching, research and writing include children and law, social diversity and law, legal education, civil liability, comparative legal traditions, and storytelling in law. Her service to community includes public lectures, primary school workshops, contributions to literary journals, podcast interviews, opinion pieces in newspapers, and the organization of public symposia.A graduate of the University of Toronto (BSc 1986, LLB 1989) and Columbia University (LLM 1992, JSD 2000), Shauna clerked for the Right Honourable Brian Dickson, Chief Justice of Canada, in 1989-1990. Born in Toronto, she grew up in New Delhi, Singapore and Ottawa.

Governor General Ballroom

Building on the keynote, panellists will discuss the role – and responsibilities – of public legal educators in helping ensure that the rule of law in our country remains robust. Drawing on their experience in civic engagement and education, legal advocacy, and community organizing, panellists will share their perspectives on how organizations can play a constructive role at this turbulent time.

Click here to register for the livestream: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-myyyl6YTjCA2htYUY2zUw

Sabreena Delhon
CEO The Samara Centre for Democracy

×

Sabreena Delhon

Sabreena Delhon is the CEO of the Samara Centre for Democracy, Canada’s leading non-partisan organization focused on strengthening and protecting Canadian democracy. For over a decade she has directed multi-stakeholder research and public engagement initiatives that have made an impact across justice, academic, and non-profit sectors. Sabreena has appeared as an expert witness before Parliamentary committees on matters relating to political participation and frequently provides commentary about democratic engagement for various media outlets such as The Globe & Mail, CBC Radio, The Social and The Toronto Star. She is the host of Humans of the House, an award-winning podcast that explores the lived experience of former Members of Parliament, and Group Chat, a podcast about contemporary issues in Canada’s democracy. Sabreena is a Senior Fellow at Massey College and is a recipient of the Coronation Medal for service to Canada. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Alberta and an MA in Sociology from Dalhousie University.

Nat Paul
Director of Education Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)

×

Nat Paul

Nat Paul comes has a theoretical background informed by critical pedagogy, a deep commitment to emancipatory education and over a decade supporting Ontario teachers engaging with the law in their classrooms. As Director of Education at CCLET and CCLA, Nat oversees rights-focused programming in school and community settings and joins his colleagues in presenting to a variety of audiences to build a sense of ownership and agency with respect to the justice system and the rights and freedoms of people in Canada. Firm in the belief that eventually, teachers will change the world, Nat is grateful for the chance to do good work with outstanding colleagues and audiences.

David Wiseman
Associate Professor University of Ottawa Faculty of Law

×

David Wiseman

David Wiseman is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section (English program), University of Ottawa.  David has recently completed terms as Vice-Dean (Academic) and as Academic Director of Experiential and Clinical Learning. The primary focus of David’s teaching, research and service activities is access to justice, including reports co-authored with Julie Mathews on community justice help.

Shauna Van Praagh
President, Full Professor Law Commission of Canada (LCC) and the Faculty of Law McGill

×

Shauna Van Praagh

Shauna Van Praagh is the President, as of June 2023, of the Law Commission of Canada, an independent federal agency committed to engaging the people of Canada in the ongoing and dynamic evolution of law. She is currently on leave from McGill University, where she is a FullProfessor of Law, has taught since 1993, served as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Law (2007-2010), and received the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2023. Shauna’s areas of teaching, research and writing include children and law, social diversity and law, legal education, civil liability, comparative legal traditions, and storytelling in law. Her service to community includes public lectures, primary school workshops, contributions to literary journals, podcast interviews, opinion pieces in newspapers, and the organization of public symposia.A graduate of the University of Toronto (BSc 1986, LLB 1989) and Columbia University (LLM 1992, JSD 2000), Shauna clerked for the Right Honourable Brian Dickson, Chief Justice of Canada, in 1989-1990. Born in Toronto, she grew up in New Delhi, Singapore and Ottawa.

Shalini Konanur
Executive Director South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO)

×

Shalini Konanur

Shalini Konanur is the Executive Director and a lawyer at the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO). Shalini has been SALCO’s ED since it received Legal Aid funding in 2007 and has spearheaded SALCO’s tremendous growth over the past 15 years.  Shalini has worked in the legal clinic system since as a law student and since her call to the bar in 2000.  She has worked in both rural and urban legal clinics and her focus at SALCO has been in dismantling racism, discrimination, and gender-based violence to improve life-outcomes for the communities that SALCO serves.  Shalini is actively involved in several areas of poverty law reform, including lobbying at the municipal, provincial, and federal level for social assistance, housing, immigration, employment, human rights, and gender-based violence reform. Shalini also spearheads SALCO`s test case work, challenging issues of racial, gender, and religious discrimination at the Supreme Court of Canada, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court. Shalini’s work focuses on the promotion of access to justice for racialized communities in Canada and on addressing poverty for SALCO’s low-income constituency.  Shalini works alongside an incredible group of colleagues who are deeply committed to social justice for South Asians in Canada.

Governor General Ballroom

This session will provide insights gained through the Your Way Forward project. The Your Way Forward is an initiative undertaken by 9 legal clinics to improve access to fill in gaps in legal services for people in rural areas who have experienced sexual and/or intimate partner violence. The session will share insights learned from the past 5 years of best practices for reaching the people most vulnerable and in need of our assistance, and the bridges we have been able to create with the help of other service providers in the community to improve our clients’ access to justice in the hopes that this can serve as a service model across the province and all of Canada.

Anne-Marie Langan
Lawyer Peterborough Community Legal Centre

×

Anne-Marie Langan

Anne-Marie Langan is a lawyer with a background in social work who has been working in the Community Legal Clinics for 12 years in various capacities. She studied social work at McGill University and obtained her law degree from Queen’s University. She has since gone on to do a Master of Family Law at York University and a M.A. in Leadership, Ecology and Equity from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa. As a lawyer, she has mainly worked in the areas of family law, employment law and human rights.In 2016 Anne-Marie assisted several clinics in the eastern region of Ontario with a pilot program to provide employment law services. The demand for these services grew and continue to be provided at several legal clinics across Ontario. Anne-Marie has also assisted in developing and implementing a multi-clinic project to increase awareness and access to justice for those who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. As part of this project, she has given workshops and engaged through social media with employers, employees, and high schoolstudents about how to prevent and appropriately address sexual harassment in the workplace. As of September 2023, Anne-Marie has been working at the Peterborough Community Legal Clinic on the Your Way Forward project offering independent legal advice and assistance to people who have experienced intimate partner violence and sexual violence in an effort to fill in gaps in legal services.

Governor General Ballroom

Kristen McKinnon's research examines how caregivers of autistic children experience school exclusion and the barriers they face when advocating for meaningful inclusion. Using Access to Justice, critical disability theory and Kristen's own lived experience, she analyzes gaps in current policies and resources. The project culminates in a curated Public Legal Education (PLE) toolkit designed to help caregivers understand their rights and advocate with confidence.

Kristen Mckinnon
Paralegal Ontario Tech University

×

Kristen Mckinnon

Kristen is a licensed (non-practicing) paralegal, a mom of five and a caregiver to her youngest son, who is autistic. As a mature master’s student, her work is grounded in both lived experience and a strong commitment to accessible education and justice. Kristen is passionate about supporting families and helping caregivers navigate systems that are often difficult to access.

Governor General Ballroom I

Parallel Paths explores how survivors of gender-based violence move through the legal system while also forging their own pathways to healing, connection, and agency. Through a blend of documentary film, survivor-created photography, and practice-based insights from the Journey Project, the session illustrates how trauma-informed, survivor-led approaches reshape our understanding of justice. Participants will be invited to reflect on how legal professionals can better respond to the lived realities of trauma and resilience and how creative expression can strengthen systems that are often experienced as silencing.

Ashley MacDonald
Social Worker The Journey Project

×

Ashley MacDonald

Ashley MacDonald is a registered social worker whose frontline, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed work in the non-profit sector has shaped her commitment to community change and survivor support. Now a Legal Support Navigator with the Journey Project, she draws on both professional experience and lived expertise to centre those most marginalized in the legal system. During the pandemic, Ashley turned to documentary filmmaking, creating the internationally recognized September 7, 2012, a film that reclaims a traumatic anniversary through collective storytelling and a reimagined sense of justice.

Janet Lee
Provincial Director The Journey Project

×

Janet Lee

Janet Lee is the Provincial Director of the Journey Project, where she leads a dedicated team of Legal Support Navigators working to strengthen access to justice for survivors in Newfoundland and Labrador through survivor-led, trauma-informed collaboration. A registered social worker with roots in rural Newfoundland, Janet spent a decade in community organizing, residential care, and alternative education before finding her passion of supporting survivors of gender-based violence in 2014. Janet is passionate about aligning evidence-informed policy with survivor-focused practice and is continually inspired by the strength and resilience of the individuals and communities she works with and for.

Governor General Ballroom II

This session will showcase the work happening in York Region Ontario by different legal and non-legal community agencies, and how localized coordinated supports can increase the impact and effectiveness of public legal education in addressing housing instability. In this workshop you will hear from different perspectives on the benefits of getting everyone to the table and how networks can collaborate to support public legal education.

Camilla Singh
Coordinator Agincourt Community Services Association

×

Camilla Singh

Camilla Singh is the Coordinator of the South Markham Community Action Table in York Region. In her role, she leads a network of residents, community agencies, and local partners working together to strengthen housing stability, mental health and mental well-being in South Markham. Camilla holds a Master of Public Health and brings extensive experience in community development, systems-level collaboration, and program coordination.

Jessie Tang
Outreach and Education Advisor Canadian Centre for Housing Rights

×

Jessie Tang

Jessie Tang is the Outreach and Education Advisor at the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights. She is a dedicated advocate focused on strengthening housing stability through education and direct community outreach. In her role, she regularly conducts neighborhood outreach and delivers tenants' rights workshops designed to empower tenants with essential knowledge. Jessie also works extensively on capacity building initiatives, collaborating with partner organizations to enhance their ability to effectively address their clients' housing needs.

Michelle Sutherland
Director of Legal Services Community Legal Clinic of York Region

×

Michelle Sutherland

Michelle Sutherland (she/her) is the Director of Legal Services at the Community Legal Clinic of York Region. She has been involved in legal clinics since the first year of law school. She most recently led the housing team but has previously practiced in all areas of clinic law. She grew up in poverty in York Region and her lived experience continues to shape her commitment to community-driven, client-centred advocacy. Michelle is deeply committed to interagency collaboration and plain language public legal education as a tool to stretch finite resources and increase community impact. She regularly partners with frontline and municipal service providers to strengthen cross-sector responses to poverty and housing insecurity.

Ayesha Adamjee
Community Lawyer Canadian Centre for Housing Rights

×

Ayesha Adamjee

Ayesha Adamjee is a Community Lawyer at CCHR, where they’ve been advocating for and educating tenants since 2021. Ayesha holds a Juris Doctorate from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours with Distinction) from the University of Toronto. Having grown up in Pakistan, Ayesha is fluent in Urdu, Hindi and Bengali. They enjoy playing soccer, climbing and going on walks with their cat, Skype.

Governor General Ballroom III

This panel presents practical, real-world applications of generative AI that improve access to justice, drawing on People’s Law School’s Beagle+ chatbot and CLEO’s Guided Pathways research. Speakers will demonstrate how GenAI chatbots can safely route people to high-quality legal information and support at scale and how decision-tree outputs can be transformed into clearer, more persuasive legal narratives for court forms, with robust testing, governance, and human-in-the-loop review. Participants will leave with concrete frameworks, evaluation methods, and templates they can adapt to responsibly deploy AI tools in their own public legal education programs.

Chris McGrath
Founder & CEO Tangowork Software

×

Chris McGrath

Chris builds AI systems for the public legal sector. His company, Tangowork, leads the technical development of Beagle+, a RAG-powered legal information assistant for People’s Law School. Tangowork also partners with CLEO on a GenAI tool that improves legal narratives for court use and incorporates privacy-enhancing technology. Chris has a terrible poker face, a mediocre golf swing, and a penchant for hasty decisions. On the plus side, he pulls a mean espresso, speaks two obscure languages (Bosnian and St. Lucian Creole), and never turns down an invitation to go kitesurfing.

Drew Jackson
Digital & Content Lead People's Law School

×

Drew Jackson

A lawyer and librarian, Drew has worked for two decades in public legal education. As Digital & Content Lead with People's Law School in Vancouver, he spearheads content development and digital initiatives, including its websites, webinars, and GenAI-powered Beagle+ chatbot. Drew is keenly interested in using GenAI in a bold but thoughtful way to help people understand and navigate legal problems in their daily lives.

Erik Bornmann
Director, Guided Pathways Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

×

Erik Bornmann

Erik is a lawyer who leads the development and delivery of interactive legal tools that help the pubic navigate complex legal processes, including completing court and tribunal forms. CLEO’s Guided Pathways support people in areas such as family law, small claims, housing, social security appeals, and immigration. Before joining CLEO, Erik practiced litigation at a community legal clinic and led a digital innovation initiative aimed at expanding service capacity across Ontario’s legal clinic system.

Governor General Ballroom I

An interactive workshop building from lessons learned in visits to remote Nunavut communities to suggested best practices for public legal education in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.

Dr. Rebecca Jaremko Bromwich
Lawyer, Writer, Professor, Project Manager, Advisor Law Society of Nunavut

×

Dr. Rebecca Jaremko Bromwich

Dr. Rebecca Jaremko Bromwich, PhD, MBA, LLM, LLB has a varied career in legal education, legal writing, and the practice of law. She serves as senior project manager and advisor with the Law Society of Nunavut.

Governor General Ballroom II

This session presents two legal initiatives from the Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC): a community-based legal clinic and a Sexual Harassment Awareness and Response Program for workplaces. Together, they use culturally informed and trauma-aware approaches to improve access to justice for newcomers and racialized communities. The session also introduces the Community Legal Support Liaison model, which strengthens connections to legal and social resources.

Doaa Higazy
Project Lead Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC)

×

Doaa Higazy

Doaa Higazy is a settlement services professional at the Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC), where she leads initiatives that advance equitable legal access for racialized and underserved newcomers. She oversees the Legal Awareness and Navigation Services Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace project, to support safer, more inclusive workplaces. Doaa’s work focuses on culturally responsive programming, cross-sector partnerships, and legal navigation support that empowers newcomers to understand their rights and access fair, inclusive services.

Lina Gharbiya
Settlement Team Manager Saint John Newcomers Centre (SJNC)

×

Lina Gharbiya

Lina Gharbiya is the Anglophone Settlement Team Manager at the Saint John Newcomer Centre, holding a degree from the University of New Brunswick-Saint John. She has been instrumental in devising innovative programs tailored to the specific needs of newcomers, facilitating their integration into Canada and Saint John. She became a certified Cultural Competency Trainer from the New Brunswick Multicultural Council in 2020. Lina's multifaceted efforts in antiracism and GBA+ implementation contribute significantly to creating more inclusive and equitable communities, making her a powerful advocate for systemic change and social justice, consistently amplifies diverse voices and addresses pressing issues related to racism and discrimination through different programs and projects. Lina's journey is a testament to the resilience and determination of newcomers striving to create a better future.

Governor General Ballroom III

This session will draw on some key findings from critical community-engaged research conducted by Luke’s Place in collaboration with Dr. Mavis Morton, University of Guelph about access to justice issues in the Ontario family law system that diverse women and 2SLGBTQIA+ IPV victims-survivors experience. The interactive workshop will identify some of the most common challenges and recommendations IPV survivors identified in accessing timely legal information to support them in making informed decisions about engaging with the family law system. The session will also reflect on how individuals and organizations could provide public legal information and support in ways that are more accessible, useful and culturally responsive.

Samara Mascarenhas
Program Manager Luke's Place

×

Samara Mascarenhas

Samara Mascarenhas serves as Program Manager on the Knowledge Mobilization team at Luke’s Place, where she leads a team of dedicated knowledge mobilization specialists. In this capacity, she oversees the organization’s community-based research initiatives and directs the development, implementation, and dissemination of training and resources designed to ensure that service providers, legal professionals, and communities are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to respond safely and effectively to intimate partner violence.Samara plays a central role in guiding the creation and delivery of accessible, culturally sensitive, plain-language, and community-informed resources. She draws on insights from survivors of intimate partner violence, service providers, legal professionals, and women’s advocates, applying system-level analysis to inform both resources and training programs.She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Mental Health from the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Health from the University of Waterloo. Samara brings extensive expertise in community-based research, knowledge mobilization, program evaluation, policy analysis, and community engagement to her work.

Helena Tizaa
Program Manager Luke's Place

×

Helena Tizaa

Helena Tizaa (She/Her) holds a master’s degree in Sociology from Brock University, Canada. Her area of research interest focuses on interrogating and dismantling intersecting systems of oppression that shape the experiences of equity-deserving communities and populations. She is currently the research coordinator at Luke’s Place and is responsible for developing, managing, implementing, and coordinating community-based/engaged research that contributes to the organization's knowledge base, informs and enhances service delivery, and supports the organization’s mandate.

Emily Murray
Legal Director Luke's Place

×

Emily Murray

Emily Murray (she/her) serves as Legal Director at Luke’s Place, where she leads the organization’s knowledge mobilization and law reform initiatives. Since joining in 2022, Emily has played a key role in creating resources, delivering training and expanding legal service delivery, including launching limited scope legal services. Called to the Ontario Bar in 2014, she earned her J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School (2013) and holds a Master of Arts in Psychology from Simon Fraser University (2010). Before her current role, Emily practiced family law and served as a panel lawyer for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.

Dr. Mavis Morton
Associate Professor, Chair University of Guelph

×

Dr. Mavis Morton

Dr. Mavis Morton is an Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph. Her research focuses on critical community-engaged approaches to addressing social justice issues, particularly in relation to gender-based violence. With the help of community partners she integrates community engaged learning opportunities into all of her junior and senior undergraduate and graduate courses and thinks the best way to teach and train students in sociology is to work collaboratively on real world social problems. Dr. Mavis Morton was the recipient of the University of Guelph's John Bell Award, 2025 and the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association (OCUFA), Teaching Award of Distinction, 2024.

Governor General Ballroom

Organizations that provide public legal education face unique challenges in reaching and supporting rural and remote communities. Connecting with and supporting Indigenous communities in non-urban areas also brings its own set of challenges. Three panellists who serve these communities – two in Canada, one in the US – will discuss strategies for connecting with and building the legal knowledge and skills of community members.  

Click here to register for the livestream: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4OZYEWu8Sk-6ElBHiQ38EA

Kevin O' Shea
Executive Director Public Legal Information Association Of NL (PLIAN)

×

Kevin O' Shea

Kevin O’Shea has been PLIAN’s Executive Director since 2014. He is proud to lead a team of dedicated and caring professionals in St. John’s and Happy Valley-Goose Bay who provide legal education and information services and support to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally from St. John’s, Kevin completed a law degree at the University of Ottawa in 2009 and a Master of Laws at the University of Turin in 2013. He was called to the bar as a Member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011. Prior to joining PLIAN, Kevin worked as Crown Attorney with Public Prosecutions in St. John’s. He also has prior experience working in the fields of education and human rights advocacy in the United States, Cambodia, and Tanzania. Kevin currently serves as the Chair of the Access to Justice Steering Committee for Newfoundland and Labrador and is a member and former Chair of the Public Legal Education Association of Canada.

Valerie Falls Down
Tribal Advocacy Coordinator Montana Legal Services

×

Valerie Falls Down

Valerie Falls Down joined Montana Legal Services Association in July 2021 as the Tribal Advocacy Coordinator. Valerie currently holds a license to practice at the Crow Tribal Court, Chippewa Cree TribalCourt, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Court and Fort Peck Tribal Court in Montana. Valerie is also a member of the Montana Supreme Court–Access to Justice Commission to develop, coordinate and implement initiatives to expand access to and enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters. Valerie has extensive experience as a Board Member for difference organizations including the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, Montana Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains, Montana Native Women’s Coalition and the Montana Mortality Review Commission. Her prior work experience includes fifteen years working within the Crow Tribal community in different capacities as a Domestic Violence Director, Victim Advocate, Addiction Counselor and Youth Empowerment Coordinator. Also, serving as an Adjunct Instructor for five years for the Little Big Horn College in the areas of Legal, Ethical, Professional Issues in Counseling and Multi-Cultural Counseling. Through her work and board member experience she has assisted in the areas of strategic planning, policy development, program development & management, forming and linking collaborative networks as well as strengthening and fostering community partnerships.

Doreen Stone
Director of Legal Services Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services

×

Doreen Stone

Doreen Stone is a member of Eabametoong First Nation and has had the privilege of working with Nishnawbe-Aski Legal for over 28 years in the Legal Aid Department. She is a graduate of the Aboriginal Law and Advocacy program as well as the Business Administration program. As Director of Legal Services, Doreen oversees a range of vital programs, including the Legal Aid Certificate Program, the Staff Lawyer Program, the Gladue Program, the Community Release and Reintegration Program, the Indigenous Bail Release Supervision Program, the Public Legal Education Program, and the Court Services Program. Outside of her professional work, Doreen is passionate about the outdoors, particularly fishing and enjoying the simplicity of a boat ride on the lake. These experiences are deeply meaningful to her, offering opportunities to connect with the land and the communities she serves. Doreen is dedicated to strengthening relationships with First Nations leadership and ensuring that legal services are responsive to the unique needs of the communities. She looks forward to continuing this important work and visiting communities to further build and sustain those relationships.

Paula Michelin
Access to Justice Coordinator Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PLIAN)

×

Paula Michelin

Paula is the busy mom of two teenage girls. Originally from the Straits portion of Labrador, she has spent the last 30 years living and working in Labrador’s central hub, Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Through her current role with Public Legal Information Association of NL, she brings legal information, education and supports to people all over Labrador. In 2025 Paula was appointed to the board of directors of the Newfoundland and Labrador Legal Aid Commission and also currently sits on the board for the Libra House women’s shelter in Happy Valley-Goose Bay which are both organizations that are near and dear to her heart.

Join us for a casual post-conference social on the first day, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, at Luxe Bistro (47 York St., Ottawa, ON), just a 5–10 minute walk from the Westin.

Stop by for light snacks (on us!) and connect with colleagues from across the country or catch up with familiar faces. Drinks and additional food will be available for purchase. Whether you’re heading out for dinner, exploring the city, or getting ready for day two of the conference, we’d love to see you, even if just for a short visit.

Governor General Ballroom

Many US states have established “community justice worker” programs to support people with housing, social assistance, and other problems that disproportionately affect people living on low incomes. These programs, delivered by trained workers at community organizations and set up with the permission of legal regulators, are growing in number. Panellists will share their experiences with these programs: how they emerged, who they’re serving, and how well they’re working.

Click here to register for the livestream: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mXyntVGmTTCvd_q8QcTFEg

Hayley Cousin
Executive Director Community Justice Advocates of Utah

×

Hayley Cousin

Hayley Cousin is the Executive Director of Community Justice Advocates of Utah, where she directs community justice worker programs and supports nonlawyers in their provision of legal services. Hayley is a member of the Utah State Bar and currently serves on the Utah Supreme Court ad hoc Committee on Regulatory Reform.

Antonio Coronado
Community Legal Education Co-Coordinator Innovation for Justice (i4J)

×

Antonio Coronado

Antonio M. Coronado (they/them/elle) is a Professor of Practice and Co-Coordinator of Community Legal Education Programs at Innovation for Justice, housed at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. Antonio co-leads Innovation for Justice's suite of Justice Worker programs, training and certifying community-based advocates in three civil legal practice areas across Arizona and Utah. They currently serve on the executive board for Collaborative Research Network 19 of the Law and Society Association and focus their scholarship on critical legal empowerment, reparative pedagogies, as well as the work of building a democratized legal profession.

Sarah Carver
Co-Director Alaska Legal Services Corporation - Community Justice Worker Resource Center (CJWRC)

×

Sarah Carver

Sarah Carver is Co-Director of Alaska Legal Services Corporation’s Community Justice Worker Resource Center (CJWRC). She started her legal career with ALSC as the sole staff attorney in the rural Nome, Alaska office. Since 2018, she has worked on building up the Community Justice Worker program, developing curriculum and training volunteers in 40+ communities throughout Alaska.

Julie Mathews
Public Legal Education Researcher Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC)

×

Julie Mathews

From 2000 to early 2023, Julie Mathews served as Executive Director of CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario), an Ontario-based community legal clinic that specializes in public legal educationand information. In recent years, Julie has been conducting research with Professor David Wiseman at the uOttawa Faculty of Law on the role of community workers in supporting people with law-related problems. Julie and David have produced several reports on this topic, including Shifting the Paradigm: Exploring Opportunities for Community Justice Help and Community Justice Help Across Canada: A Snapshot of Programs.

Governor General Ballroom

Building on the previous panel, this townhall will engage conference participants in a discussion of what community and public legal education organizations in Canada can learn from community justice worker programs in the US. What elements or features of these programs already exist in community-based initiatives and programs in Canada? Are there elements of the US programs that we might want to adapt, in a “made-in-Canada” way? What should we avoid? What are the strengths of our programs in Canadian communities – and how can we do better (and get more support)?

Jamie Liew
Lawyer, Professor University of Ottawa

×

Jamie Liew

Jamie Chai Yun Liew is a lawyer, professor, podcaster and writer. She specializes in immigration, refugee and citizenship law and has appeared before numerous administrative tribunals and courts including the Supreme Court of Canada. She is the author of the best selling novel Dandelion and a non-fiction book, Ghost Citizens: Decolonial Apparitions of Stateless, Foreign and Wayward Figures in Law.

Governor General Ballroom I

This session shares lessons from Mediate BC’s collaboration with the Okanagan Indian Band’s Youth Leadership Council to co-create public legal education resources with Indigenous youth. Participants will explore practical strategies for youth-led, culturally grounded, and trauma-informed PLE design, including approaches to mentorship, evaluation, and Indigenous data sovereignty. Through storytelling, case examples, and interactive discussion, the session invites participants to rethink how their organizations engage youth and Indigenous communities in access-to-justice initiatives.

Lori Frank
Director, Child Welfare Initiatives Mediate BC

×

Lori Frank

Lori Frank is the Director of Child Welfare Initiatives at Mediate BC, where she leads the Child Protection Mediation Program and the Navigator Project. She has extensive experience working at the intersection of child welfare, mediation, and collaborative decision-making, with a particular focus on youth voice, cultural safety, and systems change. Lori works closely with Indigenous communities, service providers, and government partners to design processes that are trauma-informed, relational, and grounded in self-determination.

Kaity Laverman
Indigenous Outreach Coordinator Mediate BC

×

Kaity Laverman

Kaity Laverman is the Indigenous Outreach Coordinator at Mediate BC. With extensive experience in emergency services, including work as an Unexploded Ordnance tech, which has strongly informed her commitment to public safety, risk reduction, and community resilience. Her background underpins her work in advancing cultural safety, advocating for Indigenous peoples, and supporting the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous and youth voices in Collaborative Decision-making processes, while addressing the systemic barriers faced by Indigenous communities. As a learner of her people’s language, she is committed to reconciliation as an ongoing responsibility and to contributing to sustainable, respectful change within government and community systems.

Governor General Ballroom II

This workshop will give conference participants the opportunity to learn more about community justice worker programs in the US. Come prepared with questions for the panellists!

Hayley Cousin
Executive Director Community Justice Advocates of Utah

×

Hayley Cousin

Hayley Cousin is the Executive Director of Community Justice Advocates of Utah, where she directs community justice worker programs and supports nonlawyers in their provision of legal services. Hayley is a member of the Utah State Bar and currently serves on the Utah Supreme Court ad hoc Committee on Regulatory Reform.

Antonio Coronado
Community Legal Education Co-Coordinator Innovation for Justice (i4J)

×

Antonio Coronado

Antonio M. Coronado (they/them/elle) is a Professor of Practice and Co-Coordinator of Community Legal Education Programs at Innovation for Justice, housed at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. Antonio co-leads Innovation for Justice's suite of Justice Worker programs, training and certifying community-based advocates in three civil legal practice areas across Arizona and Utah. They currently serve on the executive board for Collaborative Research Network 19 of the Law and Society Association and focus their scholarship on critical legal empowerment, reparative pedagogies, as well as the work of building a democratized legal profession.

Sarah Carver
Co-Director Alaska Legal Services Corporation - Community Justice Worker Resource Center (CJWRC)

×

Sarah Carver

Sarah Carver is Co-Director of Alaska Legal Services Corporation’s Community Justice Worker Resource Center (CJWRC). She started her legal career with ALSC as the sole staff attorney in the rural Nome, Alaska office. Since 2018, she has worked on building up the Community Justice Worker program, developing curriculum and training volunteers in 40+ communities throughout Alaska.

Governor General Ballroom III

Public legal education programs can significantly increase their impact by using document assembly and guided interview technology to move beyond information and deliver real, actionable help at the moment people need it. This session makes the case for why A2J Guided Interviews should be a core part of any PLEI toolkit, and demonstrates how tools like A2J Author can support intake, form completion, referrals, and staff capacity, drawing on the experience of Chicago-based CALI in supporting organizations across the United States and beyond, alongside Ontario-based examples from CLEO’s Guided Pathways. Attendees will see the technology in action and learn, step by step, how their organization can realistically implement and adapt guided interviews to meet their own clients’ needs.

Tobias Nteireho
Backend Developer Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI)

×

Tobias Nteireho

Tobias Nteireho is the Backend Developer for CALI. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University. Tobias has been working on A2J since November 2017. He is currently developing software including A2J.org, maintaining and deploying servers, and providing support to A2JAuthor Authors and A2Jviewer.

Max Scheffel
Guided Pathways Project Coordinator Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

×

Max Scheffel

Max Scheffel is a Guided Pathways Project Coordinator and Analyst at CLEO. He studied Philosophy at the University of Toronto. In his time at CLEO, he has helped design and develop guided interiews covering a number of areas on law, and has helped train many of his team members on the ins and outs of using the A2J Author tool.

Elizé Khan
Guided Pathways Project Coordinator and Analyst Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

×

Elizé Khan

Elizé Khan is a Guided Pathways Project Coordinator and Analyst at Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO). She holds an Honours BA in Sociology and Criminology and a Master of Information (UX Design) from the University of Toronto. In her role, she develops guided interviews for Small Claims Court, coordinates a tester program, and coordinates communications and social media for guided pathways initiatives.

John Mayer
Executive Director Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI)

×

John Mayer

John Mayer is the Executive Director of the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI), a non-profit consortium of US law schools incorporated in 1982 to develop tools and content for legal education.  CALI is the developer of the open-source project A2J Author used by over 8 million people to fill out court forms.  John has a BS in Computer Science from Northwestern University and an MS in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology, and has been at CALI since 1994.

Join the Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society (PLEO) over lunch to discuss the next phase of the Law for Nonprofits project. Learn about the vision for expanding the project across the country -- starting with the Yukon on March 4 -- and how you might collaborate with local non-profit networks to make this happen in your province or territory.

Martha Rans
Founder, Legal Director, Law For Non-Profits Law For Non-Profits

×

Martha Rans

Martha Rans has been a lawyer for 30 years. Her Vancouver-based law practice specializes in the legal needs of non-profits, charities and digital creatives. She spent 10 years as labour employment and human rights lawyer/mediator with the BC and Ontario governments. She has appeared before administrative tribunals, provincial and BC Supreme Court. She advises on charity law, incorporation, governance, privacy, employment, labour, health & safety and human rights. Her advice is practical and strategic, tailored to the needs of her clients.Martha is an advocate for public legal education and information. The founder of lawfornonprofits.ca, a free digital platform dedicated to providing the non-profit sector with timely and reliable legal information, she is also a copyright educator and teaches the next generation of artists and designers at post-secondary schools across Canada. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 2021 and formerly sat on the National Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector.

Governor General Ballroom I

The presenters will discuss their plain-language booklet: Legal Information for Indigenous People: National Edition, and about the need to ensure that plain language legal materials and training are relevant to Indigenous people.

Anne Fletcher
Founder, Program Coordinator Bella Coola Legal Advocacy Program

×

Anne Fletcher

Anne is the Founder and Program Coordinator of the Bella Coola Legal Advocacy Program. Anne is the Legal Advocate providing services to Bella Coola, and 4 neighboring remote and Indigenous communities. Anne is the Editor of the Legal Information for Indigenous People: National and BC Editions.

Marion Anderson
Administrative Assistant Bella Coola Legal Advocacy Program

×

Marion Anderson

Marion is the Administrative Assistant for the Bella Coola Legal Advocacy Program, supporting Anne and contributing to all aspects of the program’s initiatives. Marion is the Editorial Assistant of the Legal Information for Indigenous People: National Edition.

Governor General Ballroom III

A key pillar of the Indigenous Human Rights Program is the development of public legal education for urban Indigenous communities. This workshop will focus on the how public legal education builds awareness and understanding of legal rights within Friendship Centre communities in support of access to justice.  It will also highlight recent program successes, challenges, and practical strategies for building partnerships and reaching urban Indigenous people in Ontario.

Nick Haisell
Senior Program Advisor Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)

×

Nick Haisell

Nick Haisell is a Senior Program Advisor – Justice with the OFIFC. His work is focused on advancing restorative, cultural, and community-based justice practices, building partnerships, and working to reduce barriers to justice for urban Indigenous people. He lives in Toronto.

Hayden Moore
Senior Policy Advisor Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)

×

Hayden Moore

Hayden Moore is a Senior Policy Advisor – Justice at the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. She lives and works in Toronto.

This workshop invites participants to critically examine how dominant evaluation practices define what counts as “effective” PLE. Drawing on examples from Indigenous and youth-led PLE initiatives, the session opens space to question how funder-driven metrics can narrow program goals and obscure forms of impact valued by communities. Through discussion and shared analysis, participants consider approaches to data collection, accountability, and value in PLE that reflect trust, reciprocity, and local priorities rather than external performance demands.

Natasha Jaczek
Lawyer, PhD candidate University of Ottawa Faculty of Law

×

Natasha Jaczek

Nat Jaczek is a settler lawyer and PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law. Her work focuses on legal empowerment, community-based PLE, and critical approaches to evaluation. She brings extensive experience co-developing youth-led and Indigenous PLE programs that advance relational accountability, community authority, and innovative approaches to legal learning.

Governor General Ballroom

Note: This spotlight session will be presented exclusively in French. The Worldly app will be available to all attendees for live translation. Details to be provided.

Nous présenterons différentes initiatives québécoises qui intègrent le droit à la santé pour favoriser l’accès à la justice des populations vulnérables. Nous échangerons sur la manière de rejoindre ces populations en appliquant des approches de proximité et d’interdisciplinarité. Nous aborderons aussi les difficultés et les stratégies reliées aux mesures d’impacts dans des services préventifs.

We will present various initiatives in Quebec that integrate the right to health to promote access to justice for vulnerable populations. We will discuss how to reach these populations by applying community-based and interdisciplinary approaches. We will also address the challenges and strategies related to impact measures in preventive services.

Élizabeth Sigouin
Cofondatrice, directrice générale Maison Bleue

×

Élizabeth Sigouin

Elizabeth Sigouin a participé à ouvrir la première Maison Bleue en 2006. Elle a ensuite travaillé comme avocate recherchiste à la Cour d'appel du Québec, en défense en droit criminel, à Éducaloi puis à la Commission des droits de la personne et de la jeunesse. En 2021, elle est revenue à La Maison Bleue et a mis en place le service d'accompagnement juridique.Elizabeth Sigouin helped open the first Maison Bleue in 2006. She then worked as a research lawyer at the Quebec Court of Appeal, in criminal defense, at Éducaloi, and then at the Commission des droits de la personne et de la jeunesse (Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission). In 2021, she returned to La Maison Bleue and set up the legal support service.

Alexandra Bourcier
Avocate, médiatrice Maison Bleue

×

Alexandra Bourcier

Alexandra Bourcier est titulaire d’un baccalauréat en droit et d’un diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées en droit et politiques de la santé. Avocate et médiatrice en droits des enfants, elle exerce au sein de deux centres de pédiatrie sociale en communauté ainsi qu’à la Fondation Dr Julien. Elle œuvre au sein d’équipes pluridisciplinaires pour promouvoir l’intérêt supérieur des enfants en situation de vulnérabilité et veiller au respect de leurs droits fondamentaux.Alexandra Bourcier holds a bachelor's degree in law and a specialized graduate degree in health law and policy. A lawyer and mediator specializing in children's rights, she works at two community-based social pediatrics centers and at the Dr. Julien Foundation. She works with multidisciplinary teams to promote the best interests of vulnerable children and ensure that their fundamental rights are respected.

Governor General Ballroom

Sexual harassment continues to plague workplaces, with around half of Canadian women reporting they’ve experienced it. Presenters from SHARP Workplaces Legal Advice Clinic will share their strategies for effective education, prevention, and responses to sexual harassment, including combining legal advice and advocacy to best serve clients and change the culture around harassment. Presenters will also speak about their experiences and best practices to deliver effective legal education and connect with workers in male-dominated jobsites and underserved communities.

Iru Oyakhirome
Public Legal Education and Information Coordinator SHARP Workplaces Legal Advice Clinic

×

Iru Oyakhirome

Iru Oyakhirome is the Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) Coordinator at the SHARP Workplaces Legal Advice Clinic at CLAS. Iru holds a PhD in Human Rights Law from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, where her research focused on social activism and police accountability. Iru previously worked as a law lecturer in Nigeria and is called to the Nigerian Bar. Since coming to Canada, Iru has been a support worker at Union Gospel Mission and Legal Research Officer for the BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner. Iru is passionate about education, human rights, and of course good food!

Elizabeth Korompai
Outreach Coordinator SHARP Workplaces Legal Advice Clinic

×

Elizabeth Korompai

Elizabeth Korompai is an outreach coordinator and legal assistant at Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) in British Columbia. At CLAS, she helps deliver the SHARP Workplaces Legal Advice Clinic, as well as the Speak Out: Ending Gender Based Violence  project. Elizabeth obtained her B.A. in Political Science with a certificate in International Studies at Simon Fraser University.

Governor General Ballroom

Legal information developed for online use takes many shapes and sizes. This panel brings in leaders who are thinking about how to develop and deliver online legal information, from three different angles: how to survive the AI revolution; the use of guided interviews in helping people navigate a legal process; and how to integrate ethical design thinking when developing community-responsive legal tech tools.

Click here to register for the livestream: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1hDtqP5kQ0ep5uxbWduPdA

Nora Bergh
Director Justice Education Society

×

Nora Bergh

Nora graduated from UBC law in 2013 and was called to the BC Bar in 2014. Nora has focused her legal career to improving access to justice.  As the director of BC programs at the Justice Education Society she oversees a range of programs that help British Columbians understand their rights.

Sarah Mauet
Director, Professor of Practice, Researcher, Designer Innovation for Justice (i4J)

×

Sarah Mauet

Sarah Mauet (she/her) is an award-winning technologist, researcher, designer, and educator whose work centers on social impact technology and justice-system innovation. Sarah has more than 15 years of experience developing human-centered, trauma-informed solutions for governments, courts, hospitals, universities, startups, and legal service providers. Since joining Innovation for Justice in 2020, she has led justice-system technology initiatives that focus on improving access to justice and strengthening legal empowerment.

John Mayer
Executive Director Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI)

×

John Mayer

John Mayer is the Executive Director of the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI), a non-profit consortium of US law schools incorporated in 1982 to develop tools and content for legal education.  CALI is the developer of the open-source project A2J Author used by over 8 million people to fill out court forms.  John has a BS in Computer Science from Northwestern University and an MS in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology, and has been at CALI since 1994.

Jessica Reekie
Executive Director Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

×

Jessica Reekie

Coming soon.

C442

In recent years, the Department of Justice Canada has conducted research and collected data on issues relating to Canadians’ experiences in resolving their legal problems and other access to justice issues. Several of these reports include findings and analysis relating to the role of public legal education. A senior researcher from the DOJ’s research division will introduce conference participants to this body of work.  

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Susan McDonald
Principal Researcher, Research and Statistics Division Justice Canada

×

Susan McDonald

Susan McDonald is a lawyer and holds a PhD in Adult Education from the University of Toronto/Ontario Institute in Studies for Education where she researched the impact of trauma on immigrant women leaving intimate partner violence and how they learned about the law. She has been in the federal public service and with the Department of Justice Canada since 2001 and has been a Principal Researcher with the Research and Statistics Division since 2008. In this role, she manages a team of researchers and is responsible for research on access to justice, victims of crime, hate crimes, gender and other files. Susan lives in Ottawa with her partner, cats and an energetic, large Goldendoodle. In 2024, two of her three adult sons returned home after university and travel so the house is full and the grocery bills have skyrocketed.

C442

Organizations that provide public legal education to community members collect a wide range of data, both qualitative and quantitative. Panellists from three public legal education providers will talk about how they use data to improve their work, what other data they’d like to collect if they could, and what might be gained from sharing data with other organizations doing similar or related work.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Jeff Surtees
Executive Director, President Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta; Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC)

×

Jeff Surtees

Jeff Surtees is the Executive Director of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta and the current President of PLEAC. He has been a lawyer in Alberta since 1991, practicing civil litigation for fifteen years. Outside of private practice, Jeff has worked on the managementteams of three organizations and served on the boards of several others. He has business and law degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and a master’s degree in law from the University of Calgary.

Patricia Byrne
Executive Director People's Law School

×

Patricia Byrne

Patricia is a lawyer with 25+ years of experience in senior roles in public and professional legal education in Toronto and Vancouver. Prior to these roles, Patricia was a practicing business lawyer. As executive director of People’s Law School, Patricia's priority is to use her legal and business management skills to guide the society toward fulfilling its mission and long-term strategic goals.

Jessica Reekie
Executive Director Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

×

Jessica Reekie

Coming soon.

Ellen Mullally
Executive Director Community Legal Information (CLI)

×

Ellen Mullally

Ellen Mullally is the Executive Director of Community Legal Information. She has worked in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. She has extensive experience working in the non-profit sector, both as a staff member and Board member. Ellen has also worked as a teacher on PEI and abroad, with the Immigrant and Refugee Association and the Canadian Career Development Foundation. Ellen completed a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and a Conflict Resolution Certificate from the University of Prince Edward Island. She has completed a wide variety of leadership and management training.

C407

The Legal Information for Incarcerated Manitobans (LIIM) initiative specifically looks at the unmet legal information needs of community members in prison. We will discuss the development of the project, how we built relationships to achieve our goals, and the evolving nature of the work. Learn about the challenges and lessons learned, and take away tips and ideas to establish your own legal information library services to incarcerated people within your jurisdictions. 

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Kirsten Wurmann
Program Coordinator, Librarian Manitoba Law Library

×

Kirsten Wurmann

Kirsten Wurmann is a librarian passionate about social justice and creating access to information for all. To that end, she worked for the Winnipeg Public Library, she has volunteered inside carceral institutions for the past 18 years, and she is the founding member of the Manitoba Library Association (MLA) - Prison Libraries Committee. Kirsten currently works for the MLA as Program Coordinator, and with the Manitoba Law Library on the Legal Information for Incarcerated Manitobans Initiative.

Karen Sawatzky
Legal Information Specialist Manitoba Law Library

×

Karen Sawatzky

Karen is a semi-retired legal information specialist, having worked at law firms and a courthouse law library. She is currently working on a project to provide legal information to incarcerated Manitobans. This project draws together all the skills she has developed as a law librarian and especially feeds into her interest in access to justice for all.

C442

As AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini become the way millions of people find answers online, Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) organizations are facing a new challenge. In this session, the Justice Education Society (JES) will share how we’re: adapting to the new AI-driven search environments, exploring ways to make our content discoverable, attributable, and trusted, and redefining what “impact” means beyond clicks and pageviews.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Nora Bergh
Director Justice Education Society

×

Nora Bergh

Nora graduated from UBC law in 2013 and was called to the BC Bar in 2014. Nora has focused her legal career to improving access to justice.  As the director of BC programs at the Justice Education Society she oversees a range of programs that help British Columbians understand their rights.

Jessica Sturrock
Digital Production Manager Justice Education Society

×

Jessica Sturrock

Jessica Sturrock is the Digital Production Manager at the Justice Education Society, bringing 10+ years of experience in developing PLEI resources, websites and educational videos. She creatively uses technology to help make legal information more accessible to the public.

C408

This session will be a collaborative live demonstration showcasing an experimental workflow for rapidly drafting plain-language content using three tools: NotebookLM, Gemini & Beeftext. The goal is to illustrate how PLE organizations might responsibly use off-the-shelf AI tools to support their work.  

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Zach Saunders
Content Manager, Legal Information Counsellor Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS)

×

Zach Saunders

Content manager and legal information counsellor for the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia.

C407

Drawing on emerging data from the NSRLP’s intake surveys as well as consultations with SRLs, justice system insiders, and AI experts, NSRLP will examine how SRLs are deploying AI, the potential benefits and emerging challenges, and how public legal education might evolve to equip SRLs with the skills to use AI responsibly.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Jennifer Leitch
Executive Director National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP)

×

Jennifer Leitch

Jennifer Leitch, JD, LLM, PhD is a researcher and teacher, primarily in access to justice, dispute processes and legal ethics. She continues to research and publish in the fields of access to justice and dispute resolution processes. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the National Self-Represented Litigant Project and the Associate Director of the Ethics, Society & Law program at Trinity College, University of Toronto.

C442

AI offers real potential to enhance PLEI work, but adopting it isn't simple. This panel moves beyond the hype to address the challenges organizations actually face: limited resources, data privacy concerns, staff capacity, and tools that don't deliver on their promises. Can success stories from larger organizations translate to smaller ones? What are the prospects for building a community of practice around AI in PLEI? 

Building on insights from across the conference, this panel will take stock of how organizations are using AI today, explore what factors should inform decisions about whether to pursue an AI project, and look at what approaches show promise for responsible implementation.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Amy Salyzyn
Associate Professor University of Ottawa Faculty of Law

×

Amy Salyzyn

Dr. Amy Salyzyn is a Professor at the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section at the University of Ottawa. Amy is an expert in the area of legal ethics, lawyer regulation, the use of technology in the delivery of legal services and access to justice. At the University of Ottawa, she teaches Torts as well as upper year seminars in legal ethics and the use AI in the legal profession. Amy is called to the bar in Ontario and is currently the Board Chair of the Canadian Association for Legal Ethics. Before coming to the University of Ottawa, Amy served as a judicial law clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario and practiced at a Toronto litigation boutique. Her litigation practice included a wide variety of civil and commercial litigation matters including breach of contract, tort, professional negligence, securities litigation and employment law as well as administrative law matters. Amy received her J.S.D. and LL.M. from Yale Law School and her J.D. from the University of Toronto Law School, where she was awarded the Dean’s Key upon graduation.

Zach Saunders
Content Manager, Legal Information Counsellor Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS)

×

Zach Saunders

Content manager and legal information counsellor for the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia.

Drew Jackson
Digital & Content Lead People's Law School

×

Drew Jackson

A lawyer and librarian, Drew has worked for two decades in public legal education. As Digital & Content Lead with People's Law School in Vancouver, he spearheads content development and digital initiatives, including its websites, webinars, and GenAI-powered Beagle+ chatbot. Drew is keenly interested in using GenAI in a bold but thoughtful way to help people understand and navigate legal problems in their daily lives.

Erik Bornmann
Director, Guided Pathways Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

×

Erik Bornmann

Erik is a lawyer who leads the development and delivery of interactive legal tools that help the pubic navigate complex legal processes, including completing court and tribunal forms. CLEO’s Guided Pathways support people in areas such as family law, small claims, housing, social security appeals, and immigration. Before joining CLEO, Erik practiced litigation at a community legal clinic and led a digital innovation initiative aimed at expanding service capacity across Ontario’s legal clinic system.

Martha Rans
Founder, Legal Director, Law For Non-Profits Law For Non-Profits

×

Martha Rans

Martha Rans has been a lawyer for 30 years. Her Vancouver-based law practice specializes in the legal needs of non-profits, charities and digital creatives. She spent 10 years as labour employment and human rights lawyer/mediator with the BC and Ontario governments. She has appeared before administrative tribunals, provincial and BC Supreme Court. She advises on charity law, incorporation, governance, privacy, employment, labour, health & safety and human rights. Her advice is practical and strategic, tailored to the needs of her clients.Martha is an advocate for public legal education and information. The founder of lawfornonprofits.ca, a free digital platform dedicated to providing the non-profit sector with timely and reliable legal information, she is also a copyright educator and teaches the next generation of artists and designers at post-secondary schools across Canada. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 2021 and formerly sat on the National Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector.

C408

This session examines how the Family Advocacy Support Centre’s people-centred justice model pairs peer advocates and forensic social workers to support families navigating Alberta’s child intervention system. Participants will explore how peer-informed PLE workshops, plain-language resources, and low-barrier virtual justice navigation supports are empowering parents and the professionals who work alongside them. Emphasizing lived expertise, trauma-informed practice, and culturally responsive approaches, the session highlights how relational and interdisciplinary models improve justice outcomes and help keep families safely together.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Rebecca Foshole-Luke
Founder, Executive Director Family Advocacy Support Centre (FASC)

×

Rebecca Foshole-Luke

Rebecca Foshole-Luke is a registered forensic social worker and the Founder and Executive Director of the Family Advocacy Support Centre (FASC), a women-led organization advancing access to justice through peer-informed legal advocacy, accessible resources, and healing-centred supports. She works at the intersections of social work and law, focusing on non-punitive approaches that strengthen family wellbeing and respond to the root causes that contribute to family separation. Rebecca is committed to walking alongside parents with lived system experience, co-creating pathways toward a future where every family is healthy, supported, and thriving.

C442

Frontline community workers play a vital role in helping people access justice. Connecting Ottawa is a unique, collaborative and impactful access to justice project that supports frontline workers in assisting their clients with language and communication barriers to address their wide-ranging legal needs.  Drawing on practical experience, this presentation will describe the Connecting Ottawa model and share key lessons and examples of how capacity-building and plain-language legal information can give frontline workers the tools and confidence to support their clients with their legal needs, provide accurate legal information and referrals, reduce systemic barriers and improve client outcomes.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Raija Pulkkinen
Project Manager Connecting Ottawa

×

Raija Pulkkinen

Raija Pulkkinen is the Project Manager at Connecting Ottawa.  Raija has a long-standing interest in legal education and access to justice issues, having previously worked in an organization that provides continuing professional development to legal professionals, as well as in the not-for-profit sector helping vulnerable people understand their legal rights and navigate the legal system. She has also worked as a lawyer in private practice focusing on human rights, labour, and administrative law, served as Commission Counsel on a public inquiry, and previously worked with vulnerable children and youth in the social services sector.

Tania Princz-Lebel
Staff Lawyer Connecting Ottawa

×

Tania Princz-Lebel

Tania Princz-Lebel is a Staff Lawyer at Connecting Ottawa, focusing on Public Legal Education and Information, where she develops and facilitates training, resources, and support for frontline workers helping clients navigate legal issues. Prior to joining Connecting Ottawa, she practiced immigration and refugee law, handling a broad range of applications and legal matters. She is also an active member of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) and currently co-chairs CARL’s Education Committee.

C442

While researchers have varying levels of expertise, many are still unaware of the specialized tools available on CanLII's free platform. This short presentation bridges the gap by demonstrating essential search techniques and navigation tips to help every user find relevant legal authorities more efficiently. It also highlights CanLII’s new AI-driven features, designed to streamline analysis of complex cases and legislation.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Francis Barragan
President, CEO CanLII

×

Francis Barragan

Francis Barragan holds an LLB (2002), a master's in business law (2009), and a J.D. in North American Common Law (2011), all from the Université de Montréal. He was called to the Barreau du Québec in 2003. Before joining CanLII in 2022, a long-held ambition, Francis served as Chief of Legal Affairs and Strategy at Éducaloi (a PLEAC member!), a leading public legal information provider in Québec for over 10 years. This experience solidified his conviction in technology's vital role in improving access to justice.

C442

The global pandemic and the subsequent inflation crisis put significant strain on public budgets, citizens’ pocketbooks, and the climate of business investment. These challenges, coupled with tariffs, global trade shocks, and the re-alignment of international commitments, have caused governments and funders at all levels to reprioritize investments in areas such as trade infrastructure, national defence, and natural resources development. At the same time, budgets for international development, social programs, and the public service have been constrained to free up spending room and reduce operating deficits. This session will explore these issues and draw connections between justice issues, public information, and competing internal priorities across federal, provincial, foundation, and private funders, helping organizations navigate advocacy during a time of austerity.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)

Rob LeForte
President First Lake Solutions

×

Rob LeForte

Rob LeForte is the President of First Lake Solutions, a dynamic and growing boutique government relations firm headquartered in Ottawa with team members in Halifax and Montreal. Rob was named one of the top 100 Lobbyists in Ottawa in 2025 by the Hill Times. His practice is diverse, including national and regional industry associations, professional groups, charities, small municipalities, and corporate coalitions. Rob has been advocating professionally since 2008; since starting his firm in 2022 Rob and his team have helped clients secure over $3B in federal government funding.

Location: UOttawa Learning Crossroads (Floor 4)