(This story is the third in a five-part series celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Queen’s Law Clinics in downtown Kingston.)
As the number of people becoming senior citizens and living longer increases rapidly, so does the need for free legal services for those who would otherwise be unable to afford a lawyer. That’s a gap Queen’s Elder Law Clinic (QELC) students are filling – and they’re honing lots of practical skills along the way.
“The biggest challenge has been keeping up with the demand, both from the community and from the students wanting a turn at this experience,” says Blair Hicks, QELC Director, who joined the clinic in 2016. By doubling the number of student caseworkers to 16 in September 2018, “we’ve addressed the student demand to some extent. But there’s still lots more work to go around.”
In addition to providing seniors with such legal services as drafting wills, powers of attorney, court applications and helping with elder abuse issues, QELC students present public legal education seminars to community and professional groups on issues related to aging. The QELC opened 272 new files in 2019, over five times the 55 new files opened in 2015.
The QELC’s co-location to downtown Kingston with the four other Queen’s Law Clinics five years ago certainly helped both the students and the clients they serve. Prior to the move, eight students worked in the basement of Queen’s Law building in one and a half rooms with a couple of desks and phones.
One of those students was Robert Maratta, Law’15. “I recall the excitement we all felt to have our own space established,” he says. “After moving into one consolidated space, it finally felt like we were a law firm rather than separate groups of student organizations.”
Highlights from his time at the QELC involve experiencing several firsts – like drafting his first will – under the guidance and supervision of clinic lawyers. “It was then I first experienced the process of learning my clients’ goals and objectives and establishing them as a legal reality.”
Maratta, now a lawyer and trademark agent with Cunningham, Swan, Carty, Little & Bonham LLP in Kingston, notes how essential law school courses are for students to develop an understanding of legal principles and for learning problem-solving skills. “However,” he adds, “experience applying those skills is crucial to becoming an effective lawyer and establishing a successful practice. The Queen’s Law Clinics gave me my first experience building client relationships and working towards solving real world legal issues. I consider my time at the clinics as foundational to my ongoing practice as a solicitor.”
These days, Hicks says, “students manage between six and 10 client files at any one time, and our community partners – federal institutions, and the Cobourg and Belleville Community Legal Aid Clinics – each carry ongoing waitlists for our services.”
Current caseworker Tearney Johnston-Jones, Law’20, has travelled to those satellite offices several times. “No matter which of these clinics a client has sought our services from, being able to give someone the peace of mind in knowing that their affairs are in order and that our legal services will be there to support them in the future has been the most rewarding part of this position,” she says.
Nurturing positive relationships with clients is a soft skill she has developed. “My QELC experience has taught me to understand the responsibilities that lawyers have to their clients as two-fold: to assist clients with navigating the legal environment in ways that best suit their needs and to respect the personal nature of the issues clients are faced with when estate planning.”
Johnston-Jones, who will be articling with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Toronto, credits the QELC with broadening her perspective on essential interpersonal skills to be successful in legal practice. “The casework students are exposed to provides us the opportunity to gain practical experience with client interaction, as well as a chance to develop our own unique styles of practice well before articling.” Case management, client rapport and professionalism are other skills she says have given her a more comprehensive understanding of what it means to practice law.
What has been the best part of Johnston-Jones’ QELC experience so far? “The highlight,” she responds, “has been receiving feedback from clients on the positive impact we have had on their lives by providing them with legal services they may not have otherwise received.”
Read the story on the Queen's Family Law Clinic.
Check out the Queen’s Law website later this month for stories on the Business Law Clinic, Prison Law Clinic and Queen’s Legal Aid.
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 and industry sponsors.
By Lisa Graham