Université d’Ottawa | University of Ottawa LFall 2015, Numbere 2 galAcNews fromt the Universityion of Ottawa’s Common Law Section INSIDE THIS ISSUE Faculty News Highlights of our Profs’ Achievements 8 Special Events A few of the noteworthy events from the past year. 10 2015 Honour Society Inductees: Excellence at Work uOttawa Common Law welcomed five new inductees to the Honour Society. 11 FEATURE Publications Prof. Craig Forcese’s PAGE New Book Showcases Sponsorship Program Brings Legal Community Security Law Expertise 2 Together to Help Refugees 12 The University of Ottawa’s Refugee Hub is bringing together students, experts, community organizations and lawyers from across the country to offer their expertise in addressing the unprecedented refugee crisis, through the new Refugee Sponsorship Support Program (SSP). TOP STORIES “Moot Culture”: A Year of Unprece- Carrying on the Legacy Common Law Alumnus dented Moot Competition Success of Nicole LaViolette Becomes Chancellor for uOttawa After uOttawa’s victory at the 2015 Willem May 22, 2015, was a sad day for uOttawa Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada president C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Common Law faculty and students alike, as and chief executive officer, is uOttawa’s Moot, the competition’s director, Stefan Kröll, respected and beloved teacher and scholar 14th chancellor. remarked that “Ottawa is one of the most Nicole LaViolette passed away. Our faculty successful teams in the history of the moot, and our community will never be the same which shows the importance of a ‘moot without her. culture’ and a group of alumni which sup- port the current teams.” Page 4 Page 6 Page 7 Jennifer Bond FEATURE speaks at Ottawa City Hall. Sponsorship Program Brings Legal Community Together to Help Refugees he University of Ottawa’s Refugee Hub is bringing • A training program, which trains lawyers and law students on together students, experts, community organizations and the sponsorship process, and lawyers from across the country to offer their expertise • A public information program, which provides Canadians with in addressing the unprecedented refugee crisis, through easy-to-understand information. the new Refugee Sponsorship Support Program (SSP). This program is a timely response to a critical need; the UN Refugee “BringingT Canadians together to make a real difference is empowering,” Agency estimates there are nearly 20 million refugees globally. says Prof. Jennifer Bond, the Faculty Director of the Refugee Hub. Canada has targets for government-assisted refugees and privately “Hundreds of lawyers have offered to volunteer their time—the response sponsored refugees, but if private sponsors don’t apply, that target has been extraordinary.” may not be met. The SSP has three components: The sponsorship process is complex, and can be overwhelming for • A matching program, which provides sponsor groups with those who don’t have specialized knowledge of the system. Fourth- support from pro-bono lawyers and law students; year law student Assma Basalamah discovered this when she tried to 2 LegalAction News from the University of Ottawa’s Common Law Section help members of her extended family, who The University has pledged $50,000 to support have been displaced from their home in Syria the SSP (and an additional $150,000 to support and are now living in Jordan. other uOttawa initiatives to help refugees), and is now seeking matching contributions. “Even as a law student, I found the process The Community Foundation of Ottawa (CFO), hard to navigate,” said Basmalah. “The forms an organization that works with its donors are complex, and it’s a challenge when people to meet critical and emerging needs in the 59.5 have left their homes and don’t have access to community, stepped up immediately after MILLION the proper documents. This program is helping the October 1 Public Forum at City Hall and to address the lack of accessibility in the system.” facilitated a generous donation of $30,000 from anonymous donors to the SSP. number of people Basalamah is one of 15 students selected to displaced world wide take part in the training program as part of Bibi Patel, Vice-President of CFO, states that a result of persecution, the SSP. Students get a research credit for the the organization committed to supporting the program, where they are learning hands-on SSP due to its potential to result in positive, conflict, violence, how to work with sponsors, as well as helping systemic and sustainable change for our city. or human rights to write a manual for lawyers across Canada, Having this opportunity to rally our donors in violations and recruit pro-bono lawyers and translators support of this cause through a ground-breaking to expand the program’s reach. and brilliant initiative like the SSP really goes to the heart of what CFO is all about.” 19.5 MILLION “Sponsoring refugees is an amazing experience that saves lives, gives number of refugees worldwide the gift of hope to people who are lost in despair and changes us forever as individuals and as a nation.” – LIZ McWEENY, MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA, EXPERT WITH 86 OVER 35 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PER CENT portion of the world’s refugees “The program is a win-win situation. Students Canadians have been mobilized by the heart- currently hosted by often don’t have the time to volunteer because breaking situation facing Syrian refugees, but developing nations of our course loads, but this lets us get credit Prof. Bond, emphasizes that there are millions for working with our peers on something that of refugees from other regions that also need really makes a difference,” she said. assistance, and that the SSP supports sponsor- ship of refugees from anywhere in the world. While the program was initially focused on She hopes to see the SSP continue to grow, to training a small number of students, the build much-needed capacity in the Canadian 51 response has been tremendous and it quickly sponsorship system, and to ultimately help PER CENT grew to include lawyers as well. On October 1, more Canadians get more refugees to safety when Ottawa mayor Jim Watson hosted a as quickly as possible. § public forum on Syrian refugee sponsorship, the portion of the program had already recruited over 50 local the world’s refugees lawyers to be on site meeting with prospective who are children sponsors—the legal clinic they set up for the If you are interested in becoming a sponsor event saw nearly 450 people. or offering pro-bono legal advice, please visit under the age of 18 the SPP website at refugeessp.ca. To make a Interest in the SSP has poured in from across donation to support the SSP, please visit: Canada, and training sessions are now being alumni.uOttawa.ca/helping-refugees. Source: rolled out in Toronto, Saskatoon, Calgary, UNHCR Global Trends 2014 Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Halifax, and Fredericton. Hundreds of lawyers and law students from across the country have already signed up to donate their time in to assist with refugee sponsorship. commonlaw.uOttawa.ca 3 FEATURE Moot Culture: A Year of Unprecedented Moot Competition Success for uOttawa 2015 was another incredible year for the Common Law Section’s with the program. Many of the students who perform well in the mooting program. Following up on 2014’s stellar performances, this Nelligan go on to join the teams that compete at the national and year’s crop of mooters came through with even more victories, and a international levels. truly strong showing in every competition uOttawa entered. The moot culture at uOttawa means our students want to be a part of This included placing first at the Willem C. Vis International Commer- these competitions, and once selected to take part, invariably dedicate cial Arbitration Moot, which brings competitors from more that 250 schools themselves to the success of their teams. Mooting at uOttawa is not around the world. After uOttawa’s victory, the competition’s director, simply another active learning option or a way to earn credits. Here, Stefan Kröll, remarked that “Ottawa is one of the most successful teams our students approach it the way athletes approach the Olympics: with in the history of the moot, which shows the importance of a ‘moot honour, desire and passion. culture’ and a group of alumni which support the current teams.” uOttawa is known around the world as a powerhouse. Simply put, the uOttawa has worked hard to build a culture of mooting success. The dedication of our mooters and coaches has created a legacy such that Nelligan First-Year Moot is the first opportunity for students to engage the name uOttawa commands respect from every school in the world. 4 LegalAction News from the University of Ottawa’s Common Law Section FROM LEFT: Kristen Holman, Éliane Tremblay, Leona Kung, John Siwiec (coach), Anthony Daimsis (coach), James Plotkin, Laura Metcalfe, Devon Robertson In 2015, the Common Law Section racked “The Vis Moot was up the following list without a doubt the of impressive moot highlight of my legal competition results: studies.” 2015 Willem C. Vis Commercial – JAMES PLOTKIN Arbitration Moot: FIRST PLACE 2015 Walsh Family Law Negotiation Competition: FIRST PLACE In fact, uOttawa gets invitations from and SECOND PLACE universities around the globe to participate 2015 Clara Barton International in their pre-moots—everyone wants to Humanitarian Law Competition: take a shot at the champions before the FIRST PLACE major competitions. 2015 Canadian Client Consultation If that last point reads like hyperbole, take it Competition: FOURTH PLACE from the mouths of the Vis moot competitors 14th Annual International Law themselves, whose enthusiasm is truly School Mediation Tournament: representative of the current attitude THIRD and FOURTH PLACE towards mooting across the whole of the Oxford International Common Law Section: “I’ve never been Intellectual Property Moot: more excited to start my legal career or THIRD BEST SPEAKER more grateful for the opportunities that my Julius Alexander Isaac Diversity law school has provided,” said team member Moot 2015: SECOND PLACE, Devon Robertson.