CLA-ACE’s Student Chapter Program: The End of Another Year
The time has come to mark the passing of another year in the Student Chapter Program. We’ve had another stellar year at CLA – our Chapters did us proud. They enthusiastically took up the challenge of our annual theme – Corporate Social Responsibility and the Extractive Industry – engaging with it and encouraging their fellow students to do the same. Our Chapters also made significant efforts towards fundraising for their schools’ interns, coming together in a way that CLA loves to see.
The time has come to mark the passing of another year in the Student Chapter Program. We’ve had another stellar year at CLA – our Chapters did us proud. They enthusiastically took up the challenge of our annual theme – Corporate Social Responsibility and the Extractive Industry – engaging with it and encouraging their fellow students to do the same. Our Chapters also made significant efforts towards fundraising for their schools’ interns, coming together in a way that CLA loves to see.
Fundraising
The CLA Student Chapters demonstrated creativity in their fundraising efforts. There were pizza sales, bake sales, and coffee sales – all successful efforts unsurprisingly, as what law student doesn’t love pizza, cookies, and coffee? We also saw pub nights, samosa sales, and potlucks, with active student engagement.
Université de Montréal CLA Student Chapter 2013-2014
Montreal’s Chapter organized a Thailand-themed evening with great success. Montreal Chapter President, Diane Trif, had this to say about the event:
On February 28 2014, the Canadian Lawyers Abroad Montreal Student Chapter held a Thailand-themed fundraiser. More than 150 students were present at B1 Bar in downtown Montreal for the occasion. The executive members of the Student Chapter put a lot of time and effort in order to prepare this night. They advertised the event via social media, in-faculty communications, posters, etc. The ticket sales alone took quite some preparation, as they had to be designed, printed and sold. The Student Chapter also worked closely with the bar manager in order to design thematic drinks, put up decorations, display pictures of students who previously went to Thailand, etc. As a matter of fact, buckets were bought to fit Thailand’s famous Full Moon Party’s standards. All this effort paid off given the event was sold out in only two days!
We want to thank everyone who showed up and made this night a huge success. This event not only gave CLA visibility, but also raised the funds necessary to ensure our Chapters activities and the student grants for those going on CLA internships this summer.”
Diane Trif, Montreal's Student Chapter President
Overall, this year’s interns are lucky to have such enthusiastic and energetic Chapters behind them and we look forward to hearing the stories the interns bring back and the energy they in turn contribute to their Chapters next year.
Events
Of course, the Chapter Program would be nothing without its theme. This year’s broad theme of CSR and the Extractive Industry enabled the Chapters to engage and focus on this issue in a wide variety of areas both nationally and internationally. After our student leadership training in October, our Chapter representatives clearly took the knowledge and energy they showed over the weekend back to their Chapters, carrying them forward through the year.
CLA University of Saskatchewan Student Chapter Winter Event title "Resource Extraction and Corporate Social Responsibility: Aboriginal Communities, Land Use and the Future of Saskatchewan"
Chapters organized film screenings and discussion nights, showing such documentaries as “Gold Fever” and “The Dark Side of Chocolate” to generate knowledge and discussion around the theme. They held panel discussions and symposiums on a wide variety of topics, such as the ground breaking HudBay Minerals case, environmental aspects of CSR, CSR and Aboriginal land claims, and international law aspects of CSR and responses by the United Nations. Speakers at these events included industry, civil society, and government representatives; law school professors; and legal professionals. Many chapters collaborated with other groups on campus to help extend their reach to great effect. CLA also doesn’t limit our Chapters to just the theme – some chapters went above and beyond, hosting past interns to speak about their experiences and hosting panels on human trafficking. In March, CLA’s University of Saskatchewan chapter hosted an event titles “Resource Extraction and Corporate Social Responsibility: Aboriginal Communities, Land Use and the Future of Saskatchewan.” Chapter President, Linh Le, had this to say about the event:
"We had four speakers representing different perspectives: Larry Kowalchuk - Regina human rights lawyer; Gerald Grandey - former Cameco President & CEO; Chielf Reginald Bellerose - member of Muskowekwan First Nation; Silvia McAdam - Idle No More co-founder. Professor Odumosu from the U of S College of Law was asked to be the moderator for the event. Panelists were asked to comment, based on their respective area of expertise, on current challenges and future of CSR within Canada as it pertains to mining and Aboriginal communities. Canada was used as a microcosm for these issues globally. Each panelist was given 10 minutes for presentation, followed by a period of general question session guided by Professor Odumosu. The event included a small Reception at the law college. The event was co-sponsored by ALSA, Green Legal, Corporate Law, and U of S Office of Sustainability, each of whom provided CLA with funding for promotional material, food, honorarium (small gift) for the panelists. The event was a great success, with approximately 85 attendees, including law students, students from other colleges, community organizers, and public figures."
Linh Le, University of Saskatchewan Student Chapter President
Silvia McAdam of Idle No More speaking at the University of Saskatchewan Student Chapter Event
The University of Ottawa student chapter also had a very active year. Student chapter president Madelaine Mackenzie had this to say about her chapter's busy year:
"This year we held a film screening to raise awareness about fracking in parts of the United States, and its effects on local communities. We combined the film screening with a panel of former CLA interns, who discussed their various experiences abroad. We also held a food sale to raise money to support our internship program. We had a great turnout and the event allowed us to raise awareness of both our robust internship program and corporate social responsibility amongst students at Ottawa University."
Madelaine Mackenzie, University of Ottawa Student Chapter President
All in all CLA is very impressed with the efforts of our Student Chapters in the 2013-2014 school year. We saw great leadership and teamwork but also a commitment to CLA’s vision of “using law to improve lives.”
We wish all the best to our Student Chapter members over the Summer. For those who are moving on, we are excited to see what comes next and we can only expect great things. For those who will be returning to CLA in the Fall, we’re excited to hear the new ideas and perspectives that you bring to the table. We hope you have a great break and come back in the Fall re-energized for another great year of CLA!