Law professor Gemma Smyth will succeed Jasminka Kalajdzic as academic clinic director of the Class Action Clinic following the latter’s appointment to the Superior Court of Justice. Prof. Smyth has been a member of the Class Actions Clinic advisory committee since its founding five years ago.

Smyth was previously director of the University of Windsor Mediation Clinic, academic clinic director of Legal Assistance of Windsor and Community Legal Aid, and a board member with the Windsor Law Centre for Cities. She is currently director of Windsor Law’s externship program and will retain that role alongside her new position with the Class Action Clinic.

“No one can truly take the place of Justice Kalajdzic,” Smyth said. “She is the pre-eminent class actions scholar in Canada and founder of the Class Action Clinic. The clinic has represented many clients and taken on significant law reform initiatives, alongside providing meaningful experiential learning for law students. Clinic lawyer Andrew Eckart and I will continue Justice Kalajdzic’s legacy and re-commit to the important work of the clinic.”

The first of its kind in North America, the Class Action Clinic is a non-profit representing class members through Canada at no charge and at all stages of a class action. More information about the clinic is available on its website.