Windsor Law Externship Program
Windsor Law’s Externship Program places students in law firms, non-profits, non-government organizations, courts, and community collectives under the supervision of a licensed lawyer. Students participate in a preparatory seminar and are provided both on-site and academic supervision throughout the term. The Externship Program incorporates work-integrated and skills-based learning alongside critical reflection, self-directed personal and career planning, focus on ethical and professional practice, and engagement with access to justice in theory and practice.
Windsor Law’s Externship Program consists of two distinct but complementary portions: a seminar course titled “Learning in Place” and the placement itself entitled “Externship Placement”. The seminar will consist of pre-placement training, ongoing support and a final placement showcase. The Externship Program includes a competitive application process, an array of placement sites, and a seminar that integrates the academic and work-based components of the program. Placements will vary from term to term. Students must enrol in both the seminar and work portions simultaneously.
EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT SYNOPSIS:
Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO)
Number of Placements: 1
Description: ACTO is a community legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario with a province-wide mandate to assist low-income Ontarians with their housing issues through legal advice and representation, law reform, community organizing, and education and training. ACTO also runs the Tenant Duty Counsel Program across Ontario which provides legal information and assistance to self- represented tenants appearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board. ACTO works closely with the other legal clinics across Ontario, particularly in providing tenant duty counsel services.
Duties: Working with ACTO's staff of lawyers and professionals in community development, research and communications, the student will take on research and advocacy projects to advance ACTO's work in the Courts, before legislative bodies and in the community.
ACTO is a litigation boutique that primarily focuses on appellate work and interventions before various Courts. This work is in contrast to the type of work of general community legal clinics who appear frequently before tribunals or trier of fact level courts.
Hours: Students will primarily work during Office Hours 9am- 5pm. Flexible hours are sometimes available, between 8:00 am and 7:00 pm. Fully remote placement.
Website: Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario - ACTO
Bobby Russon Windsor Criminal Law
Number of Placements: 1
Description: Bobby Russon's criminal law office is seeking a student with a strong interest in criminal law for an in-person placement. Preference will be given to students who have completed courses in Evidence, Criminal Law Advocacy (CLA), Criminal Procedure, Criminal Trial Advocacy, and Sentencing. This placement offers hands-on experience and a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of criminal law practice.
Duties: The ideal candidate will assist with legal research, drafting documents, and have the opportunity to shadow court proceedings. There might be some Court apperances out of town that the student can attend if they wish to.
Hours: The externship student will primarily complete work during office hours (8:30 am – 4:30 pm). This position is in person.
Website: http://windsorcriminallaw.com/
Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR)
Number of Placements: 4
Description: CCHR advances the right to housing by serving renters to help them stay housed, providing education and training about housing rights, and advancing rights-based housing policy through research, policy development, advocacy and litigation. Every year, CCHR provides much needed supports to hundreds of renters facing eviction and human rights issues in their housing. CCHR also provides education on housing law, human rights and eviction prevention to a variety of audiences, including vulnerable renters, housing providers and service providers. CCHR is also compiling research and data to ignite public action and encourage decision makers at municipal, provincial and national levels to implement the right to housing for all. This work includes engaging in strategic litigation as a means to advance rights-based housing policy where traditional avenues of policy advocacy may not be effective. CCHR partners at municipal, regional, provincial and national levels, as we work to build and nurture coalitions to advance the right to housing movement in Canada and internationally.
Duties: Student externs will each be assigned to one of two teams:
• Policy, Communications, and Engagement: Students will work closely with CCHR’s public policy professionals to monitor and analyze policy developments across Canada and support community engagement and education efforts. This work may include preparing briefing notes and reviewing and analyzing legislation and relevant government policies.
• Services and Education: Students will work directly with clients, providing them legal information on a variety of issues related to their tenancies, do legal research, conduct intake interviews, and provide guided referrals.
Hours: CCHR is a national organization. Students will generally be able to work during business hours in any Canadian time zone. Meetings will usually be scheduled during our core hours of 11:30am to 4:00pm EST. This position can occur entirely remotely, with hybrid negotiated with the student.
Website: Homepage - Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (housingrightscanada.com)
City of Windsor
Number of Placements: 1
Description: The externship student will be placed in the Legal & Real Estate Services Department of The Corporation of the City of Windsor. The externship student will be exposed to a range of legal matters, depending upon the issues that arise and the student’s interests.
Duties: The externship student will engage in a variety of possible tasks including: conducting research on a variety of legal issues, assisting with contract review and/or attending examinations for discovery and mediations.
Hours: The externship student will primarily complete work during office hours (8:30 am – 4:30 pm). This position is in person.
Website: Homepage | City of Windsor Extranet Portal (citywindsor.ca)
D.S Jones Law Professional Corporation
Number of Placements: 3
Description: Professor Jones is looking to take on extern students in Winter Term to work in his law office. Students will conduct legal research on a variety of criminal law matters. Additionally, students will conduct adjournment hearings and attend trial and pre-trial matters to observe counsel.
Students who have taken evidence and criminal law and have strong research and writing skills will be preferred.
Hours: Typical office house (8:30am – 4:30 pm). The position is virtual.
Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (HCLC)
Number of Placements: 1
Description: Hamilton Community Legal Clinic is a community-based not-for-profit agency whose diverse team of caring professionals and volunteers provides legal services to low-income individuals and communities to promote access to justice and to improve quality of life. We do this through summary advice and referral, representation, community development, law reform, and public legal education.
Students must be able to appreciate and sensitively respond to the experiences of diverse clients with low income, many of whom experience issues with mental health and addiction. Attention to detail is key. An understanding of applying an Anti-oppression and Anti-racism lens while practicing is key.
The primary role is to interview clients who are appealing the denial of their ODSP applications and requiring housing advice. The student will have an opportunity to work closely with a staff lawyer on a number of housing cases, as well assist in providing Tenant Duty Counsel. An opportunity to provide public legal education will depend on community requests.
Hours: Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours (8:30am – 4:30pm). The exact hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30am - 4:30 pm and Wednesday 8:30am – 12pm availability. Student is expected to work 8 hours in office and 4 hours virtual.
Website: Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (hamiltonjustice.ca)
Industrial Accident Victims' Group of Ontario (IAVGO) Community Legal Clinic
Number of Placements: 1
Description: IAVGO is a not-for-profit community legal clinic providing free legal services to injured workers in Ontario since 1975. IAVGO is funded by Legal Aid Ontario. IAVGO also operates “Advocates for Injured Workers” which is a student legal aid clinic. IAVGO provides individual legal representation and summary legal advice as well as public legal education, community development and law reform. More information about IAVGO can be found here: http://iavgo.org/about/. Information about IAVGO's many campaigns and law reform work can be found at iavgo.org/whats-new.
Duties: IAVGO is willing to adapt students' assignments to their interests. Students are asked to describe their areas of interest in their cover letter.
Hours: Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours (8:30am – 4:30pm). This position is remote.
Website: iavgo.org
Johnson Miller Family Lawyers
Number of Placements: 1
Description: The family lawyers at Johnson Miller Family Lawyers are passionate about the law and about serving the best interests of the people in their community. Their practice encompasses separation, divorce, child custody and all other family law issues. Students should be familiar with the Family Law and the LSO Rules. This is not an accessible work site as this is a very lovely old building with lots of stairs.
Duties: Students will be exposed to lots of research, observation and note taking. Students should have good communication skills, research skills, sense of humor, be culturally sensitive, dog friendly and have a lot of patience.
Hours: Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours (8:30am – 4:30pm.) This is an in-person placement. There is free parking on site, but also very close to bus routes.
Website: Windsor Family Law Lawyer | Divorce Lawyer | Property Division Lawyer (jasonpaulhowie.com)
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) Windsor
Number of Placements: 1
Description: Legal Aid Ontario provides legal services to people with low income in Ontario. LAO provides a range of legal services in areas of law that disproportionately impact people with low income including criminal, immigration and refugee, family, poverty and mental health law. There are LAO offices across the province. The student will work in the Windsor Criminal Duty Counsel Office.
Prerequisite/Co-requisite: The student should be taking or have taken Criminal Law.
Duties: Students will be exposed to shadowing of lawyers, triage of client matters, referrals, docketing, organizing files, client interviewing (with increasing responsibility over time). Students may also be asked to speak to routinely administrative matters in court.
Hours: Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours (8:30am – 4:30pm.) This is an in-person placement.
Website: Legal Aid Ontario
Ministry of Attorney General (MAG) Windsor Office
Number of Positions: 1
Description: The Crown Attorney system is responsible for prosecuting most of Ontario's criminal cases. Organized on a local basis, each office is supervised by a Crown Attorney and staffed by Assistant Crown Attorneys. In becoming a proficient prosecutor, an Assistant Crown Attorney must master all aspects of trial practice including such matters as case preparation, witness examination and cross-examination, the use of forensic evidence, legal argument, and the art of addressing the jury.
Apart from trial work, Assistant Crown Attorneys may provide a range of related services. They give legal advice to police during investigations; they assist police in obtaining search warrants; they review police briefs and conduct 'charge screening' (by which they endeavour to eliminate charges where there is no reasonable prospect of conviction); and they try to facilitate reasonable resolutions of cases prior to trial whenever possible. Encourage local students or those who intend to stay in Essex County post-graduation to apply.
Type of Police Clearance required: Vulnerable sector check.
Duties: The student will be expected to assist with research assignments and observe court matters.
Required competencies: Knowledge of the Criminal Code, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is preferred.
Hours: Students will work during office hours, 9am – 5:00pm. This is an in-person placement.
Website: Ministry of the Attorney General | ontario.ca
Muslim Legal Support Centre (MLSC)
Number of Placements: 1
Description: The Muslim Legal Support Centre (MLSC) is an innovative new organization that aims to ensure Muslims have equitable access to legal services and fair treatment within the legal system. The MLSC works to increase access to justice for Muslims in Ontario by providing legal information and education, referrals and summary legal advice, and by addressing systemic injustice.
Discrimination against Muslims in Ontario is on the rise and the intersecting impacts of poverty,
racialization, discrimination and Islamophobia make this diverse population distinctly vulnerable.
The MLSC was created to cater to the day-to-day needs of low to middle income Muslims and increase their access to justice. Since its inception, the MLSC has served hundreds of Muslims through its legal education sessions, pop-up clinics and legal services.
The MLSC is responsive, community-based and collaborative. We embrace Muslim communities as a group of diverse people with many common interests. We focus our work on the legal needs of Ontarians who self-identify as Muslim or are perceived as Muslim.
Duties: Students will be exposed to multiple areas of law that disproportionately impact Muslims with limited means including immigration, social benefits, and family. The student’s primary competencies and responsibilities include: understanding of access to justice needs of racialized communities, ability to locate local legal and social service and supports available for racialized communities, updating case status and client data. Under the supervision of lawyers, the law student may provide: client intake, contribute to the development and management of MLSC interventions and case work, clerical and research support for our staff lawyer, soliciting feedback from clients, providing referrals to relevant service providers, speaking with clients and managing phone line, attending check-in meetings with staff, exploring areas for improvement for intake process, other duties assigned from time to time.
Hours: The student is expected to work regular business hours. The MLSC has no permanent office space. Some student work is conducted remotely, and other work occurs in person.
Website: MLSC | Muslim Legal Support Centre (muslimlegalcentre.ca)
Reybroek Law
Number of Placements: 1
Description: Reybroek Law is looking for an extern with legal research skills, fact checking, and the ability to be succinct and provide approachable material that is accessible by non-experts. The student will be shadowing lawyers and articling students on live matters, participating in ethical and professional conduct will be paramount. The student will focus on the housing crisis. They prefer a student from the GTA region. The firm itself is located in Markham, Ontario.
Duties: Student would be charged with researching various solutions to the housing crisis, with a focus on the policies and practices related to affordable housing (eg, "tiny homes"), Student will also have the opportunity to observe and be involved with the practice side of the firm, including commercial litigation and employment matters.
There are no pre-requisites or recommended course.
Hours: Students will complete work during typical office hours (8:30am - 4:30pm). The position is primarily remote, with some requirement to come to the office occasionally (eg once a month, perhaps during the winter break). The student will be provided with a laptop if they have access to client files.
Website:Reybroek Law | Toronto Personal Injury Lawyers | We've got your back.
Santarossa Law/ Ben Strickland Law
Number of Placements: 1
Description: Santarossa Law and Ben Strickland Law, both criminal law offices located at the same address, are seeking a student with a strong interest in criminal law for an in-person placement. The selected student will work with both offices, gaining hands-on experience in criminal law practice. Preference will be given to those who have completed Criminal Law 101. This placement offers a unique opportunity to learn more about Criminal Law practice.
Duties: Student will be exposed to Court Shadowing, Legal Research and Writing, Client and Surety Interviews.
Hours: The externship student will primarily complete work during office hours (8:30 am – 4:30 pm). This position is in person.
Website: https://www.benstricklandlaw.com/
Town of Essex
Number of Placements: 2
Description: Students will work under the Director of Legal and Legislative Services and receive a comprehensive introduction to legal issues impacting municipalities.
Hours: This is an in-person placement. Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Website: Town of Essex
Town of Tecumseh
Number of placements: 1
Description: The preferred candidate will be assisting the Town’s Solicitor with the research and preparation of by-laws, reports, policies, set fines and standard operating procedures for the implementation of a Municipal Administrative Monetary Penalty System for the Town.
Hours: This is an in-person placement. Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Website: Town of Tecumseh
Unison Health and Community Services
Number of Placements: 1
Description: While we are a general service legal clinic like others throughout the province, we are one of the very few that is integrated within a larger organization. Unison is a community health centre, with numerous other services, of which legal is only one. As such, we work closely with a number of other staff in an interdisciplinary context.
Duties: It is anticipated that there would be elements of client interviewing and notetaking, some legal research, and assistance in community development and public legal education.
Hours: Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours (9:00am – 5:00pm.) There is some flexibility in the hours above and there may be some requirement to working outside of the hours above as needed. Hybrid placement, student expected to be in office sometimes.
Website: Unison Health & Community Services (unisonhcs.org)
2682130 Ontario Limited d.b.a. (Peak Processing Solutions)
Number of Placements: 1
Description: Peak is a licensed processor & contract manufacturer in Windsor, ON, that manufactures and distributes cannabis products including but not limited to beverages, vapes, oils and extracts.
Students will be engaged in both corporate and regulatory work, including: contracts review and administrative support; legal and regulatory memo drafting; due diligence research; file maintenance; and related tasks as assigned by Legal or Regulatory.
Required competencies: Excellent written expression and reading comprehension; Curiosity and drive to learn quickly; and Ability to work independently and balance priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred competencies: Past work experience with a law firm or a start-up preferred; Editorial experience (i.e. law journals) preferred, but not required; Experience with regulated industries preferred, but not required; and Bilingualism (ENG/FR) an asset.
Required Courses: Business Associations; Advanced Legal Research; and Regulated Industries.
Preferred Courses: Civil Procedure; JRAA; Lawyer as Conflict Resolver; Health Law in Practice; Canada/U.S. Issues; Commercial Law – Sales; Trademarks & Unfair Competition; Patent Law; Confidential Information; and Regulatory Offences.
Hours: Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours. This placement is hybrid.
Website: Let’s talk about the future - Peak Processing
Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH)
Number of Placements: 1
Description: WRH is one of the largest community hospitals in the Province of Ontario. It is the regional provider of advanced care in areas that include complex trauma, renal dialysis, cardiac care, stroke and neurosurgery, intensive care, acute mental health, family birthing centre, neonatal intensive care, paediatric services, regional cancer services, and a broad range of medical and surgical services required to support these specialised areas for more than 400,000 people in Windsor and Essex County. Student will be exposed to a wide range of legal areas, and others related to the provision of services in a hospital setting. Students work under the supervision of in-house lawyers at WRH.
Hours: Students will primarily complete work during typical office hours (8:30am – 4:30pm). May be required to attend meetings outside these hours (e.g. 7 am or 5 pm). The placement is a hybrid model – virtual and in person.
Website: Windsor Regional Hospital - Home (wrh.on.ca)
Windsor-Essex Bilingual Legal Clinic
Number of Placements: 1
Description: Windsor-Essex Bilingual Legal Clinic provides bilingual legal services to members of the Windsor-Essex Community. Services are provided in the following areas of law: social benefits, housing, employment, CPP, human rights, and Small Claims. The clinic also engages in law reform and public legal education. Services are provided at no cost to people with low incomes.
Duties: Students will engage in a range of duties including research, interviewing clients, writing submissions, observing and/or conducting hearings under close supervision, as appropriate. French speaking students are preferred but not required. English speaking students may also apply. Please indicate if you speak languages other than English and French.
Hours: Work hours M-F 9 AM – 4:30 PM. This is an in-person placement.
Website: Home - Clinique juridique bilingue Windsor-Essex Bilingual Legal Clinic (blc-cjb.com)
Windsor Law Externship Program Application (Winter 2025)
Applications are now open for placements in Windsor Law's Externship Program Winter Term. The Externship Program places students for credit in clinics, firms, NGOs and other law-related placements. Students get hands-on experience in a supportive environment (4 credits), alongside an integration seminar (2 credits). The course and placement take place simultaneously. Placement hours are negotiated directly with the supervising lawyer. Each placement is a unique experience; as such, please read placement profiles carefully.
To view all the Placement participating in Winter 2025 Term please check out the Profile summaries on Symplicity and/or under the Placement Tab.
Applications will be reviewed by the Externship Director in consultation with the Placement Supervisor. Successful applicants will be asked to complete an interview before they are selected for a position. Contact Professor Gemma Smyth with questions about this experience: gemma.smyth@uwindsor.ca.
Apply via Qualtrics: Windsor Law Externship Program Application (going live on Monday, October 7, 2024)
Please combine the following documents into a single PDF file when submitting:
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1 page cover letter addressed to Professor Gemma Smyth describing why you would like to be selected for an Externship position. Provide highlights of your experiences and learning that would contribute to an Externship placement. If you are selected for a particular placement, you will be asked to edit your cover letter for next stage of the process. Please ensure you meet all requirements of the placements you choose;
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Your resume;
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Your transcript (an unofficial transcript will suffice); and
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A legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages. The 10 pages can be an excerpt from a longer piece. DO NOT use your Legal Research and Writing Memo. DO NOT use work that has been co-authored. Writing samples from previous undergraduate or graduate programs, blogs, short piece of writing from the Access to Justice course and/or reflections completed for Indigenous Legal Orders are acceptable. Please note the context in which you wrote the selected writing sample.
Deadline for application is October 18th, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.
Students must simultaneously enrol in both the seminar (5932-01) and placement (5933-01) portions of the program for a total of 6 credits (2 for the seminar, 4 for the placement).
In order to be prepared for success, please take a moment to review the documents on this page.
Anti-Requisite Practice Exception Form
Insurance Form
- Student Declaration of Understanding (complete and return to the Clinical & Experiential Learning Coordinator at Windsor Law)
Mental Health & Wellness at Windsor Law
A special thank you for your generous support
Thank you for hosting a student extern from Windsor Law. In order to be prepared for success, please take a moment to review the documents on this page.
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Externship Agreement (MOU)
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Externship Supervisor Manual (includes program background, policies, and best practices)
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Workplace Injury Insurance
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Pre-placement Due Diligence Checklist (complete and return to the Clinical & Experiential Learning Coordinator at Windsor Law)
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Safety Orientation Checklist (complete and return to the Clinical & Experiential Learning Coordinator at Windsor Law)
- Withdrawal Policy
Professor Gemma Smyth is the Externship Director.
You can contact the Clinical and Experiential Learning Coordinator at externship@uwindsor.ca.
Please fee free to reach out with any questions!
