The importance of justice education: Karina’s summer at OJEN

I am a student from Bayview Glen and this coming September I am starting grade 12. I come from the co-op program offered by my school and have been doing a joint placement with OJEN and Justice Javed. This placement has opened my eyes to the field of law, and I’ve learned so much in the past 4 weeks. I was slightly familiar with OJEN’s work through mock trial, but this experience has allowed me to gain insight into all the other work that OJEN does.  

Before this placement, I did not know much about the legal system, but my projects at OJEN have helped me learn a lot more about it. One of my first tasks was to pitch ideas for an in brief, covering a topic that affects youth. I dove into using new software, like Canlii, looking through case studies and beginning to learn legal jargon. Getting to create my own project with this in brief was a great experience, as I got the independence of choosing and refining my topic, but also the support and help of OJEN staff. Over the course of the placement, I did a lot of research on topics such as the rule of law. This plethora of research helped me sharpen my research skills and deepen my understanding of legal concepts. Additionally, other tasks, like transcribing the Law Syrup podcasts, not only showed me the importance of listening attentively, but also assisted me in learning about the legal topics featured on the podcast. My time at OJEN has allowed me to learn a lot about law, but also improved practical skills that I can apply to future schooling. 

During this experience, I enjoyed creating the in brief, as it allowed me to choose a topic and explore it. As previously mentioned, I was not very familiar with law, and the in brief assignment not only helped me research a topic I was interested in, but was a first step into the large world of legal education. When creating the in brief, I had to use non-legal language, and translate what people say in the legal world to what we say in everyday life. It showed me how we can make law accessible to the public, and I thought it was really cool how I was a part of that.  

Justice education is so important, as everyone deals with the law, even if they don’t know it. Learning about the justice system helps young people understand their rights, responsibilities, and how the law affects their lives. Youth may not encounter it as often as adults, but learning about the law as a youth can help you deal with the law in the future. As a youth myself, learning about the law has been so beneficial, and will allow me to make informed decisions and advocate for myself and others. Knowing about the law and rights can ensure that the youth of today are more prepared for the world of tomorrow.  

I am so grateful for this experience, and it was so interesting to ask questions and speak with OJEN staff, many of whom have been lawyers at some point, or have extensive experience in law. This month at OJEN has helped me gain insight into the world of legal education and understand the importance of law in our lives.