We Level Barriers to Justice

Access to Justice Starts Here

We are a national justice education and human rights charity. We work closely with community to advance human rights and remove barriers to equity and justice. We achieve this through programs focused on youth, law students, and the legal sector to inspire leadership, empathy, and inclusion.

Our Programs

  • Student engaged in Indigenous youth outreach program at Level.

    Youth Programs

    We provide culturally relevant justice education to 650+ Indigenous and Black youth across Canada. We also engage youth in environmental justice education. Our youth programs build trusting relationships between young people and legal mentors to provide inspiration for a bright future.

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  • Law Student Programs

    We support 2,000+ law students champion social justice causes and make positive contributions to their communities. We also help law students build impactful careers in law, by connecting them with trailblazing lawyer mentors.

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  • Legal Sector Programs

    We help lawyers build empathy and engage in critical self-reflection about personal biases. We also host events for legal professionals to challenge the status quo and offer inspirational solutions to create a justice system that is responsive, balanced and fair.

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Check. It. Out.

LEVEL’S NEW 2023-2028 STRATEGIC PLAN

“We unite the power of community, education, and law for a more equitable and just society.”

— Shelan Markus, Executive Director

Our Impact

Since 2005, we’ve engaged in critical social justice and human rights work to help youth, law students, and lawyers build an empathetic, equitable and responsive justice system.

80%

of program participants reported positive growth.

15,000

youth, law students and lawyers supported since our inception.

33+

programs available across the country annually.

What’s Happening at Level

Featured
Calgary Community Raises Over $20,000 for Indigenous Youth Justice Education Program
Calgary Community Raises Over $20,000 for Indigenous Youth Justice Education Program
Mentor Lawyer Profiles - Tersha de Koning
Mentor Lawyer Profiles - Tersha de Koning

The Blazing Trails Mentorship Program is a program for law students all across Canada looking to connect with lawyers who are passionate about and active in social justice oriented careers. Today, we proudly profile Tersha De Koning.

What it’s like to work at Level: Hear from our Social Justice Program Manager
What it’s like to work at Level: Hear from our Social Justice Program Manager

Our Social Justice Program Manager shares her experience of working at Level.

We’re hiring: Environmental Justice Program Manager
We’re hiring: Environmental Justice Program Manager

Level is seeking a dynamic individual who is creative, enthusiastic, results-driven, and capable of leading our new Environmental Justice Program efforts. If you are passionate about the environment, advancing access to justice and social justice through community outreach, education, mentorship, youth engagement, and legal-sector training, this is the role for you!

Level Launches the Journal of Law Student Scholarship
Level Launches the Journal of Law Student Scholarship

Level Justice is excited to announce the launch of the Journal of Law Student Scholarship, a publication showcasing the work of law students who have been working at Level for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Mentor Lawyer Profiles - Brittany Twiss
Mentor Lawyer Profiles - Brittany Twiss

The Blazing Trails Mentorship Program is a program for law students all across Canada looking to connect with lawyers who are passionate about and active in social justice oriented careers. Today, we proudly profile Brittany Twiss, Assistant Dean at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law.

The Black Youth Justice Program Expands in Toronto
The Black Youth Justice Program Expands in Toronto

On May 13th, 2024, the students of York Memorial Collegiate Institute’s grade 12 law class attended a Black Youth Justice Program session. This is the sixth program delivery of BYJP in the country this year.

Mentor Lawyer Profiles - Ajith Thiyagalingam
Mentor Lawyer Profiles - Ajith Thiyagalingam

The Blazing Trails Mentorship Program is a program for law students all across Canada looking to connect with lawyers who are passionate about and active in social justice oriented careers. Today, we proudly profile Ajith Thiyagalingam, a lawyer specializing in refugee, immigration law, and international human rights law.

FRSS 2024: Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice
FRSS 2024: Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice

On March 7, 2024, Level hosted its annual Facing Resistance Speaker Series (FRSS) event on the. topic of Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice This year marked Level’s very first FRSS event in Vancouver, BC.

Level Justice: 2023 - A Year in Review
Level Justice: 2023 - A Year in Review
Blazing Trails Mentorship Program 2023-2024
Blazing Trails Mentorship Program 2023-2024

Read about our 2023-2024 school year updates for the Blazing Trails Mentorship Program.

Meet Level's New Environmental Justice Program Manager, Deniz Yilmaz!
Meet Level's New Environmental Justice Program Manager, Deniz Yilmaz!

We are excited to announce the appointment of Deniz Yilmaz, Level’s new Environmental Justice Program Manager!

Volunteer with our Environmental Justice Program!
Volunteer with our Environmental Justice Program!

Volunteer for the Environmental Program and work with youth in your area and nationally!

We’re Hiring! Environmental Justice Program (“EJP”) Facilitators!
We’re Hiring! Environmental Justice Program (“EJP”) Facilitators!

Promote environmental justice and take action by working with youth!

We’re Hiring! Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (“IYOP”) Facilitators!
We’re Hiring! Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (“IYOP”) Facilitators!

Get involved with Indigenous youth in your area and beyond to create a better tomorrow!

Volunteer with our Indigenous Youth Outreach Program!
Volunteer with our Indigenous Youth Outreach Program!

Volunteer for the Indigenous Youth Outreach Program at Level today!

CN Partnership Announcement
CN Partnership Announcement

Level is thrilled to announce our continued partnership with Canadian National Railway (CN). CN has committed $300,000 over the next five years (2023-208) to further the culturally relevant justice education and mentorship provided to Indigenous youth through the Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (IYOP) at Level.

Thomson Reuters-Level Partnership Announcement
Thomson Reuters-Level Partnership Announcement

Level is excited to announce our funding partnership with Thomson Reuters. This partnership will support Level’s mission of providing social justice and access to justice focused education and training to law students across Canada.

What is it Like to Mentor a Law Student?
What is it Like to Mentor a Law Student?

The Blazing Trails Mentorship Program is a program for law students all across Canada looking to connect with lawyers who are passionate about and active in social justice oriented careers. Curious to find out what it’s like? Read about mentor lawyer Tersha De Koning’s experience.

Level’s Social Justice Fellowship Project: Education in Prisons
Level’s Social Justice Fellowship Project: Education in Prisons

Level’s Social Justice Fellow from Queen’s University - Faculty of Law, Kayla O’Brien, produces an infographic as part of her Fellowship Project. The infograohic discusses education and digital literacy as rehabilitation.

The Black Youth Justice Program Students Enjoy a Trip to McCarthy Tétrault’s Offices
The Black Youth Justice Program Students Enjoy a Trip to McCarthy Tétrault’s Offices

On April 21st, 2023, the students of Emery Collegiate’s Law class enjoyed a field trip to the offices of Level’s Premier Partner, McCarthy Tétrault, in Toronto.

Blakes-Level Partnership Announcement
Blakes-Level Partnership Announcement

We are excited to announce our partnership with Blakes!

Meet Level's New Indigenous Youth & Environment Program Manager, Desneige Frandsen!
Meet Level's New Indigenous Youth & Environment Program Manager, Desneige Frandsen!

We are excited to announce the appointment of Desneige Frandsen, Level’s new Indigenous Youth & Environment Program Manager!

Partnerships for Impact - McCarthy Tétrault & Level working together to level the barriers to justice
Partnerships for Impact - McCarthy Tétrault & Level working together to level the barriers to justice

We are proud to announce our Premier Partnership with McCarthy Tétrault in support of Black & Indigenous youth.

Meet Level's New Social Justice Program Manager, Fatima Ahmed!
Meet Level's New Social Justice Program Manager, Fatima Ahmed!

The wait is over! Level is thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Social Justice Program Manager, Fatima Ahmed, effective May 30, 2022.

Lunch & Learn with CN
Lunch & Learn with CN
Stories from the Level Team
Stories from the Level Team

Applications for our Social Justice Program Manager Role are open until March 18, 2022! Vancouver Indigenous Youth Outreach Program ("IYOP") Facilitator, Shawnee Monchalin shares her experience: IYOP is a missing piece that fills a major gap between the law and Indigenous youth in Canada.

Facing Resistance Speaker Series November 2021
Facing Resistance Speaker Series November 2021
Funder Spotlight: Level Interview with Olivier Chouc, VP Law at CN
Funder Spotlight: Level Interview with Olivier Chouc, VP Law at CN

We had the great opportunity to interview Olivier Chouc, Vice President, Law at Canadian National Railway ("CN"), on CN's longstanding support for the Indigenous Youth Outreach Program.

A New Level Campus Chapter Launches at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law!
A New Level Campus Chapter Launches at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law!

Level is pleased to announce the launch of a new Campus Chapter at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at X University (formerly called Ryerson University). With the help of two motivated JD Candidates, Harsimran Sidhu and Kevin Zhou, the law school will be joining other university chapters across Canada to support Level's mission and advocate for social justice causes.

Shop Level

“Indifference is injustice’s incubator; it’s not just what you stand for, it’s what you stand up for; and we can never forget how the world looks to those who are vulnerable.”

— The Honourable Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Abella (Commencement Speech to Brandeis University Graduates on May 22, 2017)

Our Supporters

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Follow our Journey

Read About - Level's Social Justice Fellowship Project: Education in Prisons. Link in bio. #A2J #OurLevelBest #SocialJustice
Level Justice is currently scheduling 2023-2024 program delivery. Are you interested in introducing your students to a fun, innovative and engaging program that promotes access to justice and Indigenous reconciliation? Contact us now to figure out ho
Thank you to Level’s Premier Partner, @mccarthytetrault, who hosted the students of Emery Collegiate’s Law class, as a part of the Black Youth Justice Program (BYJP) at Level. The BYJP is an innovative justice education program for Black
Deadline to apply to Level's Fellowship Program is tomorrow. Get your applications in! More information is at the link in our bio. #A2J #LevelJustice
Become a Fellow with Level! For more information, visit the link in our bio. #A2J #LevelJustice
Interested in a social justice-focused legal career? Learn about our Social Justice Fellowship Program at the link in bio! #leveljustice #socialjustice #A2J

Contact

We want to hear from you!

Email
info@leveljustice.org

Address
Centre for Social Innovation Annex
720 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2R4