Brantford, ON – What does it take to become a lawyer or a judge? Some local high school students are about to get firsthand experience.
These are local, studious youth who are taking part in a regional competition called “OBA Law Day” hosted by the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), a volunteer member association of 16,000 Ontario lawyers.
In April, the OBA opened Ontario’s only province-wide mock trial tournament for students in communities across Ontario. Local schools ran their own mini-tournaments to create a school team.
On Thursday, May 14, 2015, six schools from Ontario’s Central South region, including Kitchener, Hamilton, Grimsby, Simcoe and Brantford, will compete in a series of Mock Trials.
The event will take place across two locations -- the Superior Court of Justice (70 Wellington Street, Brantford) and the Ontario Court of Justice (44 Queen Street, Brantford) from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Participating schools include:
- Eastwood Collegiate Institute (Kitchener)
- St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School (Hamilton)
- Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School (Grimsby)
- Holy Trinity Catholic High School (Simcoe)
- Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School (Brantford)
- St. John’s College (Brantford)
“I’ve been working closely with the students at Blessed Trinity,” says St. Catharines-based lawyer David D’Intino, who has been volunteering to help prepare students for the competition. “It has been an absolute delight to see how engaged the students are in learning about justice and preparing for their competition.”
Scott Worsfold, Deputy City Solicitor for the City of Guelph, will serve as the judge for the day’s mock trials. “This is a great opportunity for me and other lawyers to look at our justice system with fresh eyes,” he says. “I am very pleased and honoured to be a part of this event. OBA Law Day is a rewarding experience for lawyers and students alike.”
The opportunity for lawyers to volunteer as coaches and judges for these competitions is a cornerstone of OBA Law. It is a chance for the profession to connect directly with the youth in their communities and help make the day a unique and meaningful learning experience for the students.
OBA Law Day is aimed at educating and informing the public, especially Ontario’s youth, about the role and importance of the law. It provides a unique glimpse into the profession and offers a valuable education to the vital role that lawyers and the judiciary serve in guaranteeing an open, independent and unbiased judicial system.
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The Ontario Bar Association partners with the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN) and the Association of French Speaking Jurists of Ontario (AJEFO) to make OBA Law Day success.
For photos or more information, contact:
Amy Clark
Ontario Bar Association
aclark@oba.org
(416) 869-1047 x 364