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Class Action Clinic

There is vast unmet need for legal support and information in the class action sphere. There are currently several thousand outstanding class action lawsuits in the country. The general public has only a vague understanding of how class actions work, or what to do if they think they are part of an action. Class members have no access to independent, non-partisan information about their rights in the litigation, how to object to a proposed settlement or fee, or how to claim their rightful share of a settlement.
Windsor Law helps fill that void with Canada’s first class action clinic. Launched by Justice Jasminka Kalajdzic during her time as a Professor at Windsor Law, the clinic has both a web-based and physical presence, as well as a telephone service. Students work at the clinic under the supervision of Andrew Eckart, full-time review counsel. Students also meet weekly with Prof. Gemma Smyth. The clinic provides a range of services, from summary advice, public education and outreach, assistance with filing claims in settlement distribution processes, and legal representation in court hearings. The public-facing website for the clinic can be found here.

Students enrolled in the Class Action Clinic are expected to attend weekly seminar meetings, undertake legal and policy research on class action issues, draft legal documents, and provide summary advice and assistance to class members. Enrolment in the Class Action course is a pre- or co-requisite with this Clinic placement. Students working at the Clinic during the academic year are given priority in the summer hiring process. Typically, four Windsor Law students are hired each summer. The Clinic also employs an articling student. 

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – Class Action Clinic, Winter 2025 

The Class Action Clinic at Windsor Law is the first clinic in the world to focus on the needs of class members. Our ultimate objective at the Clinic is to provide substantive access to justice to class members and in doing so, better fulfill the access to justice promise of the class action regime. The Clinic provides legal information and legal assistance in a variety of contexts, from information about existing class actions to assistance filing settlement claims and objections to proposed settlements. The Clinic also has a mandate to provide public legal education and engage in court interventions on matters of general importance to class members. More information about the Clinic’s work is available on our website: www.classactionclinic.com.  

Students will be expected to:  

  • Maintain weekly office hours of 3-4 hours for intake;  

  • Communicate with class members to determine their needs;  

  • Conduct legal research;  

  • Draft legal documents;  

  • Investigate class actions;  

  • Prepare public legal education materials;  

  • Attend a weekly seminar with the Clinic Director;  

  • Read assigned material and engage in discussion at the weekly seminar;  

  • Write one blog of 800-1200 words;  

  • Assist in the development and publicity of the Clinic; and  

  • Other work as needed.  

Students will work under the direct supervision of the Staff Lawyer, Andrew Eckart, and receive corresponding academic guidance and instruction.

Pre-requisite: Students must have taken the Class Action course (LAWG5908-1).  

For more information on how to apply please visit Symplicity. 

Application Deadline: November 1, 2024 at 12:00pm. 

If we can provide accommodation to support the application process, please contact Clinical and Experiential Learning Coordinator, Kristijana Gavrovski at kgavrov@uwindsor.ca or clinic@uwindsor.ca.  

Feel free to connect with Prof. Smyth if you have any questions. 

Course: Class Action Seminar

Duration: 1 term

Credits: 4 per term

Evaluation: Pass/fail

Pre-requisite: Class Actions course

Number of students: 4

Contact Academic Clinic Director, Professor Gemma Smyth, for more information.

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