You were helping these people at a time when they felt very frightened, very scared and totally helpless. The need was so great that clients lined up outside her booth in the family court building waiting for service. Cohen, a recent U of T law graduate, was one of three students who travelled to Thailand last summer to do pro bono human rights work in the program s most distant placement. After touring Bangkok s 10 juvenile detention centres, he drafted a policy and set of guidelines to improve the system. I gained an appreciation for the teamwork involved in making systemic change, he says.
Lawyers only bring one perspective to the table.
It s one of many lessons he s now applying to his current job as clerk to Justice Michel Bastarache of the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Henry s pro bono placement with the African Canadian Legal Clinic last year has helped her make an impact here at home. Her placement with the clinic enabled her to draft and present a position paper to the Ontario labour minister about the impact of proposed changes to the Employment Standards Act on the immigrant community. New Canadians and minorities are very vulnerable to changes in labour laws, she explains. I ve really gained from it in terms of my outlook on life and my perspective on the community.