Stories

Yan Massé

Duty counsel – Northern Legal Aid Office

Lynn MacDiarmid: Providing trauma-informed help early on

Executive Director — Yukon Legal Services Society

Deanna Harris: Ensuring people feel less alone in the justice system

Legal Director — Legal Aid Saskatchewan (Yorkton area office)

Maria Choquette Stuart: Taking some of the stress off clients

Legal Advisor — La Commission des services juridiques, Quebec

Sara Peacock: Assisting others in navigating the legal process

Child Welfare and Family Duty Counsel — Legal Aid Alberta

Paul Stordy

Summary Advice Counsel (AKA Family Duty Counsel) – Halifax Regional Municipality. Supreme Court Family Division – Nova Scotia Legal Aid.

Martin Goguen: Making sure rights are respected

General Counsel — New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission Martin Goguen developed a love for law while watching films that included court trials. He also knew a few people who went to law school,

Keir O’Flaherty: Helping people with housing and health legal issues in the Arctic

Civil/Administrative Law Counsel — Legal Services Board of Nunavut Keir O’Flaherty became interested in the law while studying the humanities, especially philosophy and rhetoric. At

Natalie Hillary: Bringing clarity to often chaotic situations

Family Duty Counsel — British Columbia Natalie Hillary enjoyed oral reasoning and advocacy as a student, so law felt like a natural

Lyndon Stanzell: From the North, For the North

Staff Defence Lawyer – Northwest Territories Legal Aid Commission

Andre Rivard: Helping people get a fair day in court

Criminal Duty Counsel — Legal Aid Ontario (Brampton Court) Andre Rivard has served as duty counsel at the courthouse in

“The responsibility that comes along with being a criminal defence lawyer is the most fulfilling work in law. It is intense and can be gritty. If I can assist a client in asserting their rights and help achieve a fair day in court, I have done a meaningful thing. There is nothing more exhilarating than that. There is a lot at stake, but it is so rewarding.”

“A lot of people feel very alone in the justice system. We’re there to help them navigate the system and figure out release plans and next steps. We’re on their side.”

“I think it’s important to recognize that most people who come into contact with the justice system are vulnerable and often marginalized. They’re struggling with addiction, poverty, homelessness and are often victims themselves. I believe that all individuals deserve our help.”

"Your endless support for clients across Canada has been the difference between my clients surviving or not. Their ex-spouses lock the finances so they have no access to pay a law firm. I was one of them myself. I came to duty counsel for support."

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