Justin Turner, Law’18, a former Queen’s Legal Aid student caseworker, is now Review Counsel with the poverty law clinic, where he “enjoys the satisfaction that students get when they see that the work that they are doing can really have a positive and profound impact on their clients.”
Justin Turner, Law’18, a former Queen’s Legal Aid student caseworker, is now Review Counsel with the poverty law clinic, where he “enjoys the satisfaction that students get when they see that the work that they are doing can really have a positive and profound impact on their clients.”

“It is important that all members of the community feel included in society and are not left in the shadows.” That’s the motto of Justin Turner, Law’18, who returned to the Queen’s Law Clinics as Review Counsel last summer to supervise Queen’s Legal Aid (QLA) students serving people with low incomes. “One of the things that I enjoy most is giving a voice to people who otherwise might not be heard because of financial or other societal barriers.”

Turner was a QLA caseworker himself during his second year of law school, and then articled with the Queen’s Prison Law Clinic in 2018-19. “Returning to Queen’s Legal Aid as a review counsel was a natural fit,” he says. “I really enjoyed my time at Queen’s Law and becoming a member of the Kingston community.”

Now he’s supervising students on a variety of cases, including criminal charges, provincial offences, landlord and tenant matters, and income security files. He also teaches part of the Clinical Litigation Practice course that covers such practical legal skills as managing a case file and preparing for a hearing. His particular focus is on income security files, an area he also teaches in the course.

QLA’s work in income security involves assisting individuals who have been denied disability benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act. A successful appeal at the Social Benefits Tribunal can have a significant impact on a person’s financial stability. Student caseworkers must identify and gather supporting medical and other documentary evidence, may draft submissions in support of their case, and often appear before the Tribunal representing clients. “It’s a great opportunity for students to develop their written and oral advocacy skills,” he says. 

Turner also brings his in-person clinic experience to students who are now providing free legal services and advice remotely to low-income residents of Kingston, Napanee and surrounding areas, and to Queen’s University students. “In my view, the biggest challenge working during the COVID-19 pandemic is the length of time it takes to get some aspects of a file completed,” he says. “During normal times, students and clients were able meet at the clinic. 

“As a result of restrictions in place,” he continues, “students must conduct all meetings remotely, it takes longer to get documents from clients, and there has been an increased reliance on electronic communication. This can be challenging for all involved, and more so for clients as they may have limited access to various technological platforms. In order to address these issues, we have the students do their best to work with clients to determine what works best for them, and then plan ahead accordingly.”

At the end of the day, providing the best service to vulnerable clients – in normal times and in this time social distancing – is what matters. Turner, who has done that as a student and now as a lawyer and teacher, says, “I really enjoy the satisfaction that students get when they see that the work that they are doing can really have a positive and profound impact on their clients.” 

Watch for a story next week on Jane Mundy, Law’18, Justin Turner’s classmate and a new Review Counsel with both Queen’s Legal Aid and the Queen’s Family Law Clinic. 

By Lisa Graham

The Queen’s Law Clinics gratefully acknowledge the support of Legal Aid Ontario, the Law Foundation of Ontario, Pro Bono Students Canada, the Class of Law’81, the United Way of KFL&A, and alumni, friend, and industry sponsors.