As a paralegal, I am both “new” and “old”.
I entered the Justice community in 1991 when I first arrived in Canada. My first job was as a translator at an immigration law firm, and by 1992 I grew into a paralegal role. I practiced as an immigration and criminal law paralegal for almost 12 years before moving to other careers. I then returned to the paralegal profession after graduating with Distinction from the Cestar College of Business, Health and Technology in 2019.
Having shared experiences with paralegal veterans, I also know the pains of paralegal newcomers. I am acutely aware of the shortfalls of paralegal education and the urgent need for reform in order to elevate the standards and prestige of the paralegal profession.
As your bencher, I will stand for recognizing and removing inequities and barriers to providing legal services faced by paralegals through all levels of regulation starting from access to competence and professional development; fiscal inequities in fees, billing structures, and budget allocations; inequities related to tribunal justice and discipline process; and I will stand for enhancing access to justice by expanding the paralegal scope and removing the unjustified limitations in our practice areas.
It is my belief that only by removing those inequities and barriers that a strong and competent paralegal profession can best contribute to improving access to justice. Only then could paralegals have a real chance of success and truly become the ambassadors of access to justice that the regulation envisioned 15 years ago.
On April 19 – 28, 2023 I am asking for your vote.
I am asking you to give me the mandate to bring your voice to the Convocation.
With your help, I aspire to raise the standards of efficient and responsible governance of our profession and to hold the Law Society of Ontario to the highest standard of its duty to facilitate access to justice for the people of this Province through strengthening the paralegal profession.