Book a speaker (Classroom Visits)
You will find the registration form to book a speaker for your class at the end of this page.
To ensure that we can match you with a suitable volunteer, please submit your request at least five weeks in advance of your preferred visit date. Your request should include the exact date and time of your class, the topic you wish to be addressed and your preference for an in-person or virtual speaker.
Please note that due to the ease of circulating requests through our province-wide network and the fact that videoconferences are less time-consuming for lawyers, it is more likely that we will be able to provide a volunteer for an online visit. To indicate your preference, please select the appropriate option in the “Subject matter of the classroom visit” box on the registration form. If you do not specify which type of visit you require, we will assume that you are requesting an in-person visit.
If you have any question or concern, please contact Thomas Gallezot.
Here are some examples of classroom visits that teachers have requested :
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.