Executive leaders from Legal Aid Ontario join student volunteers and staff from the University of Windsor’s Community Legal Aid clinic for a group photo. Back row, from left: Lilian Bahgat, Haolin Tong, Taranjit Toor, Duncan Dagley, Ethan Tion, Aileen Page, Lisa Bernstein, Rod Strain, Janet Budgell, Harpreet Burmy and Janet Coop. Front row: Cordelia Beluli, Nikky Hakimi, Maggie Yuan, and Selsbeel Alshimari. (SUBMITTED BY HARPREET BURMY/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
Excitement filled the air as students and staff at the University of Windsor’s Community Legal Aid (CLA) clinic put the finishing touches on their new on-campus space.
Everyone eagerly prepared for an Oct. 28 visit from Legal Aid Ontario’s (LAO) executive leadership, who came to see the new clinic in action and meet the students, faculty and staff advancing access to justice in Windsor.
Funded by LAO and part of UWindsor’s Faculty of Law, CLA has been providing free legal services to eligible Windsor-Essex residents – including UWindsor undergraduate students – for over 50 years. On average, the clinic engages around 100 law student volunteers each academic term, giving them valuable hands-on experience while serving the community.
Under the supervision of Review Counsel, law students advise clients on criminal and provincial offences, as well as housing and civil matters, and take part in systemic advocacy work including projects with local courts.
During the visit, LAO executives toured CLA’s new on-campus space at the corner of Sunset Avenue and University Avenue West, met with students and staff and saw firsthand the impact of the clinic’s work.
The day was filled with energy as students delivered presentations on their experiences and advocacy projects, followed by meaningful discussions on a range of topics in legal aid and policy. The visit concluded with a luncheon featuring faculty, leadership, and students, offering a chance for informal conversation and connection.
UWindsor Faculty of Law Dean Reem Bahdi, who coordinated the visit, said it marked an important milestone for the faculty, highlighting the power of student-led legal education.
“It was a proud moment for the Faculty of Law,” she said. “It offered a unique opportunity to demonstrate the dedication of our students and staff, and to reinforce the vital role CLA plays in advancing access to justice in Windsor and across Ontario.”
LAO leaders also shared their own career journeys, demonstrating that there is no single path into legal aid work. Some join directly after law school, while others transition from private practice later in their careers.
Their stories inspired students and highlighted the value of public interest law.
The visit offered students a chance to ask questions about legal aid roles, current law reforms and career opportunities – an intimate dialogue not often available to students. They also discussed challenges in attracting new graduates to legal aid work, including student debt and competitive pay, and noted that LAO is taking a more active role in finding ways to reduce these barriers.
“It was a really positive experience to have the dean, Legal Aid and clinic members all together under one roof,” said Harpreet Burmy, CLA clinic director.
“This rare face-to-face interaction allowed students to ask questions, gain insight into legal aid careers and see how LAO is working to remove barriers for new graduates.”
“Just having them here to listen was incredibly encouraging for students considering this path.”
The visit underscored the clinic’s commitment to access to justice, celebrated student achievement and strengthened the partnership between UWindsor, CLA and LAO.
For many students, the experience confirmed a passion for public interest work and reinforced the value of hands-on learning.
“Seeing students grow and impact their community is the most rewarding part of our work,” Burmy said. “This visit reinforced why CLA exists and why this work truly matters.”