Articles about ‘access to justice’

As of August 1, 2022, bakerlaw has joined forces with Ross & McBride LLP.

Our team is excited to become part of the formidable group of human rights, employment, and constitutional lawyers at Ross & McBride. Our current and future clients will continue to receive the personalized, high-quality representation that has become synonymous with bakerlaw, and will benefit from the collaborative, cross-functional approach to complex issues that both we and Ross & McBride value. With the added resources of larger, full-service firm, this collaboration will allow us to take on new clients for the first time since October 2021. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact us at contact@rossmcbride.com

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Clear line drawn on appropriate judicial and adjudicator activity in support of equality seeking groups: engaging with politicians and trying to persuade them to reach specific policy outcomes

  • April 16, 2019
  • Anoop Kalsi
  • Comments Off on Clear line drawn on appropriate judicial and adjudicator activity in support of equality seeking groups: engaging with politicians and trying to persuade them to reach specific policy outcomes

On December 20, 2018, the Ontario Judicial Counsel handed down a decision clearing the Honourable Justice Donald McLeod of judicial misconduct.

A finding of judicial misconduct can only be made where any breach of the standards of judicial conduct by the judge was “so seriously contrary to impartiality, integrity and independence of the judiciary that it has undermined the public’s confidence in the judge’s ability to perform the duties of office or in the administration of justice generally.” » Read the rest

Students and Alumni Rally Against University of Toronto Law Tuition

  • December 11, 2018
  • Laura Lepine
  • Comments Off on Students and Alumni Rally Against University of Toronto Law Tuition

Current and former University of Toronto law students are frustrated about rising tuition costs, which are driving students into greater debt and reducing socioeconomic diversity in the profession.

David Baker, who has advocated on behalf of alumni against rising, prohibitive tuition costs, was recently featured in an article by Anita Balakrishnan in the Law Times, entitled “Alumni, students decry U of T’s law school fees”, which can be read here (link). » Read the rest

Court Challenges Program one step closer to Opening for Business

  • December 3, 2018
  • David Baker
  • Comments Off on Court Challenges Program one step closer to Opening for Business

On November 20, 2018, Canadian Heritage announced the exert panels who will establish policy and approve funding for Charter cases involving issues within federal jurisdiction. The announcement states “details of the … funding application process will be developed in a few weeks.” » Read the rest

LSO Calls for Comment on New Access to Justice Initiative

  • November 28, 2018
  • Laura Lepine
  • Comments Off on LSO Calls for Comment on New Access to Justice Initiative

The Law Society of Ontario (“LSO”) is soliciting comments on a draft regulatory framework that would allow lawyers and paralegals to provide legal services to the clients of registered civil society organization – at no cost to the clients of those organizations. » Read the rest

Update: Charities can sponsor Test Case litigation

  • August 21, 2018
  • Laura Lepine
  • Comments Off on Update: Charities can sponsor Test Case litigation

Bakerlaw recently posted about the Ontario Superior Court of Justice’s decision in Canada Without Poverty v AG Canada, 2018 ONSC 4147, in which the Court struck down a prohibition in the Income Tax Act preventing registered charities from devoting more than 10% of their resources to “political activities”. » Read the rest

Charities can sponsor Test Case litigation

  • July 31, 2018
  • Laura Lepine
  • Comments Off on Charities can sponsor Test Case litigation

On July 16th, 2018, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down a prohibition in the Income Tax Act preventing registered charities from devoting more than 10% of their resources to “political activities”. This welcome decision paves the way for registered charities to sponsor advocacy that may previously have been limited as “political”, including “test case” litigation. » Read the rest

Further Reflections on the Court Challenges Program

  • March 21, 2017
  • BakerLaw
  • Comments Off on Further Reflections on the Court Challenges Program

The Ontario Bar Association has recently published an article by Kiran Kang entitled: Funding Charter Litigation: Lawyers reflect on the revival of a cancelled program.

The article contains comments from lawyers, including bakerlaw’s David Baker, who were able to bring important equality cases thanks to the funding from the former Court Challenges Program . » Read the rest

Court Challenges Program – A Call to Action

  • March 2, 2017
  • BakerLaw
  • Comments Off on Court Challenges Program – A Call to Action

Further to David Baker’s comments on the reinstatement of the Court Challenges Program (see our previous blog post here (link)), read this letter (link) to the Minister in charge of the program.

The letter calls on the Minister to confirm the mandate of the program and ensure it is as strong and committed to equality as the former program was. » Read the rest

An Open Letter to the Law Society of Upper Canada

  • February 14, 2017
  • BakerLaw
  • Comments Off on An Open Letter to the Law Society of Upper Canada

David Baker has authored the below open letter to the Law Society of Upper Canada. Regarding the danger of false advertising and the problems associated with the lack of an objective assessment regarding the quality of service provided by a lawyer. » Read the rest

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