A student-led initiative to honour Queen’s Law’s first Black graduate is helping Black students pursue legal education on their journey to meaningful and successful careers in the profession.
Established in 2020 by the Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA) Queen’s Chapter and the Queen’s Pre-Law Society, the Cecil Allan Fraser Bursary provides financial support to Black JD students at Queen’s Law. Named to honour the late Cecil Allan Fraser, Law’61 (Arts’58), the school’s first Black graduate, the bursary has already benefited five students, with awards averaging more than $3,000.
Jodeen Williams, Law’24, a past recipient, credits the bursary with enabling key professional experiences. “This funding allowed me to represent Queen’s Law at the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot, where I presented arguments before lawyers and justices at the Ontario Court of Appeal,” she says. “This experience opened my eyes to the world of litigation, and I continue to hope to build on it.”
Named after the late Chief Justice Julius Alexander Isaac, the first Black judge on the Federal Court of Canada, the moot focuses on areas of law where issues of equity and diversity arise. For her outstanding contributions to Queen’s Law’s moot program through her participation in the Isaac Moot, Williams received the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin Mooting Award.
Williams, who held executive roles in BLSA Queen’s, including as chapter president, also attended the 2023 BLSA National Conference in Halifax with support from the bursary. “Gathering with current and future Black lawyers, judges, legal professionals, and academics was a tremendously inspiring experience,” she says. For her contributions to diversity-related initiatives at Queen’s Law through her work with BLSA Queen’s, Williams received the Faculty of Law Dean’s Council Diversity Award.
“I chose Queen’s because of its strong history of producing excellent lawyers and advocates,” she says. “The opportunities with the Isaac Moot and BLSA Queen’s helped me develop my advocacy skills and build a professional network.”
Now articling at Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers in Toronto, she is applying the skills she developed at Queen’s Law, gaining experience in collaborative and litigation files while ensuring clients feel supported and well-informed.
The bursary was the brainchild of Nigel Masenda, Law’20, who, as BLSA-Queen’s president, envisioned a way to improve Black student representation at Queen’s Law. Partnering with Daniel Wolfe (Artsci’21), co-president of the Queen’s Pre-Law Society, they developed a donor proposal package, leveraged their networks, and reached out to organizations and institutions that they believed would support the initiative. Their efforts mobilized donors, including the BlackNorth Initiative, and secured financial backing from Queen’s Law.
Fraser, the bursary’s namesake, excelled in law school, built an illustrious career as a senior solicitor in the federal civil service, and in 1992 received the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada for his contributions to his community and the country. His influence extended to his family, including the Honourable Hugh Fraser (Artsci’74).
“I never doubted that becoming a lawyer was an option because my father had already done it,” says Hugh Fraser. “Law school is a life-changing experience — not only for graduates but for the many lives they impact.”
Five years after the bursary’s creation, continued support is essential to increasing Black representation in law. As Masenda said in 2020, “Financial disadvantage remains a significant barrier to education, and we need ongoing efforts to create real change.”
Contributions to the Cecil Allan Fraser Bursary can be made online.
More about the Black Law Students’ Association Queen’s Chapter
In 2024, BLSA-Queen’s won the national organization’s Small Chapter of the Year Award for going over and above to serve its members and communities. Read the story, “Queen’s wins Black Law Students’ Association of Canada Award!”