Book a speaker (Classroom Visits)
Classroom Visits give secondary teachers the opportunity to invite a criminal lawyer, a civil lawyer, or other justice sector professional to talk to their class and respond to the questions of their students. This program enhances classroom learning by connecting students with the justice system and the professionals who work within it. Connecting with justice sector professionals in the classroom helps take law off the pages of the textbook and into real life.
Popular Requests
Though in some cases we may be able to accommodate different requests, most of our legal volunteers have experience in the following areas:
Careers in justice
Meet a lawyer, paralegal, probation officer or someone else who works in the legal system and learn about their career journey, why and how they ended up in their field, and interesting cases they may have worked on.
Criminal Law
- “From arrest to initial hearings” workshop: Meet a criminal lawyer (Crown or Defence) who can walk your students through the early stages of the criminal justice process.
- In-class mock trial: Invite a criminal lawyer to judge your classroom’s criminal mock trial.
- Youth and criminal law workshop: Invite a criminal lawyer to talk to your students about how criminal law applies to youth, including differences between the youth and adult systems, as well as resources for youth engaging with the justice system.
How law affects everyday life (emphasis on civil law):
- Debt and consumer rights workshop: A discussion about legal issues surrounding debt, bankruptcy, payday loans, purchases and repairs, and collection agencies.
- Employment law workshop: Meet a justice sector professional to help your students navigate issues the legal issues around pay, hours of work, workers’ rights, hiring/firing practices, time off, human rights, and discrimination in the workplace.
- Family law workshop: Invite a family lawyer to talk about the law around separation and divorce, types of support, the best interests of the child, and how family court works.
- Housing law workshop: Host a discussion around discrimination and human rights, the laws governing evictions, moving, rent, repairs, privacy and harassment, and help your students understand tenant applications to the Landlord and Tenant Board.
- Human rights workshop: Have a professional help your class understand different areas of human rights law in Ontario, including discrimination in the workplace, discrimination when receiving services, housing, human rights in public spaces, and navigating Ontario human rights complaint processes.
- Income assistance workshop: Talk to your class about income assistance, including developments in the law regarding Child Tax Benefits, Old Age Security, Pension Plans, and disability benefits.
To book a speaker, simply complete the form below.
While some speakers may be able to travel to your class in person, others may only be available to visit virtually. If you are looking for a virtual visit, please be sure to include relevant information about the communications platform(s) – e.g. Zoom or Google Meet – so that we can advise prospective volunteers.
Please send your request at least five weeks in advance and make sure it includes the exact time of your class and the topic(s) you want to be addressed, as well as your preference for online or in person speakers.
If you have any question or concern, please contact Thomas Gallezot.