ARCH DISABILITY LAW CENTRE, Staff Lawyer (2009-2017)

• Represented clients on accommodation and human rights claims, capacity and guardianship issues and attendant care matters.
• Researched and prepared submissions on various issues of law reform relevant to persons with disabilities
• Planned conferences, conducted public legal education activities
• Assisted with training of articling students, student volunteers and supervision of students in the disability law intensive.

ARCH/OSGOODE HALL LAW SCHOOL DISABILTY LAW INTENSIVE (2013-2017)

Developed and implemented practical training program for law students in disability law; supervising and evaluating students.

SOLE PRACTITIONER (2006-2009)

Operated a largely poverty law/ legal aid based practice representing clients, many of them persons with disabilities, refugees or recent immigrants, on administrative law issues before Divisional Court, Social Benefits Tribunal, Consent and Capacity Board, and Small Claims Court and Provincial Court matters.

JUNIOR ASSOCIATE, ZIMMERMAN LAWYERS (assistant to W. Zimmerman 2004-05)

Assisted with civil litigation, administrative law cases and court of appeal work, as well as seeking leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada.

LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY – WOMEN’S STUDIES/JUSTICE STUDIES (2018)

Developed and taught, “Gender, Disability and the Law” (an on-line course)

PACIFIC COAST UNIVERSITY FOR WORKPLACE HEALTH SCIENCES (2017-18)

Taught “Disability and Society” , “Disability, Work and the Law”, “Disability and Diversity in the Workplace” and “Legislation, Employment Accommodation and the AODA”.

YORK UNIVERSITY – HISTORY: Law, Politics and the Constitution in Modern Canada (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15)

Presented as an introduction to legal history and legal analysis for history students.

UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR LAW SCHOOL: Law Disability and Social Change
(2015, 2013 & 2011)

Guest Lecturer on the topic of “Capacity, Autonomy and Supported Decision Making.”

LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA: Access Awareness Event

(2012) Organized public symposium on Attendant Services and Independent Living
(2013) Organized public symposium on intersectionality and mental health/capacity

YORK UNIVERSITY: Law and Disability (Winter 2011)

Participated as a graduate advisor, directing major research papers for Masters level course which included graduate students in Disability Studies as well as students from Osgoode Hall Law School.

HUMBER COLLEGE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: Paralegal and Court & Tribunal Agent Program (2005-06)

Taught courses on Professional Conduct and Authorized Practice as well as Administrative Law/Boards and Tribunals.

RYERSON UNIVERSITY (1999-2006)

Taught Human Rights and the Canadian State.

ASSISTANT EDITOR, COURTROOM PROCEDURES MANUAL, Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Justice Dan Ferguson (2005-2008), Co-editor for 2009 edition

Carried out research, writing, editing for the first edition of this major legal publication project.

JUDICIAL LAW CLERK, SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE, Divisional Court (2003-2004)

Assisted judges with applications for judicial review, statutory and civil appeals, researched memoranda of law focusing on administrative, constitutional and public law.

RESEARCHER, LAW COMMISSION OF CANADA (1999-2000)

Conducted research through Public History Inc. for project on abuse of children within public institutions.

CLINIC ACTIVITIES

NEIGHBOURHOOD LEGAL SERVICES (Toronto – Poverty law clinic)

I have played a major role on the Board since 1992, as secretary and on the Board Governance (executive) Committee where I have assisted and advised the Co-Directors on staffing, hiring, and discipline issues, responding to the clinic funder, developing policy, participated in union contract negotiations, conducted evaluations of the Co-Directors and monitored strategic planning process.

DOWNTOWN LEGAL SERVICES (University of Toronto, student clinic)

For two years I was part of the student executive committee which advised the Executive Director on policy, student hiring and the development of the clinical legal education program.

ONTARIO BAR ASSOCIATION (OBA) ACTIVITIES

OBA EQUALITY COMMITTEE (Chair 2013-2014)

Since 2008 I have participated on this committee dedicated to promoting equality and the interests of equality seeking groups within the legal profession.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW SECTION (Chair 2011-2013)

I joined the executive in 2007 and became Chair in 2011. Executive members organize continuing legal education (CLE)
programs, prepare submissions and commentary on provincial legislation, court procedures and the law society policy.

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S LEGAL AID ADVISORY REVIEW PANEL (2009)

I was appointed by the OBA as a poverty law/legal aid clinic representative on this committee established to advise the Attorney General’s office on how to distribute new money into the legal aid system.

CANADIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (CBA) ACTIVITIES

ACCESS 2 JUSTICE COMMITTEE (2014-2016)

As Chair of the Legal Aid Liaison Committee I have a seat on the A2J committee. I have focused my work on the Legal Aid Benchmarks project – aimed at setting a vision for an expanded national legal aid program by 2020.

SOGIC SURVEY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (Chair)

With assistance from Professor Kathleen Lahey (Queen’s Law School), I led the initiative to gain Canadian Bar Association support for a national survey and investigation into the status and needs of the CBA’s GLBTTQ members. SSHRCC funding was secured to create a national survey and to prepare a report to the CBA.