Red Door Family Shelter Fundraiser

Please come out and support this great cause!

For more information about the shelter please visit: http://www.reddoorshelter.ca/

Seneca College Takes Home the 2015 Paralegal Cup!

On November 21-22, teams from Seneca, Centenial, Humber, Mohawk, Algonquin Careers Academy, and Canadian Business College all competed in the Paralegal Cup mooting competition at Humber College.  After a final round consisting entirely of teams from Seneca College the team of Gavin Phillps and Kate Brklacich won the cup! The team of Cathy Tang and Jenous Lorestani  placed second.

Congratulations to all of Seneca's participants for a job well done! You've made the college proud!

Pictured above from left to right: Jenous Lorestani , Gavin Phillips, Kate Brklacich, and Cathy Tang

Picture credit goes to Paralegal Cup Twitter 

Off the Record

The LSSA invites you to "Off the Record", our first event of the year, taking place on November 26, 2015 from 5-8pm in the Senecentre.

"Off The Record" allows for students from the School of Legal Studies and Public Administration  to network not only with students in their own program, but with students in other programs and faculty members.  This event offers the perfect opportunity to get to know fellow students and to talk informally with professors outside of the classroom about working in the legal field.  Also, don't miss the chance to win some great prizes in a fun game of trivia!

Light snacks, coffee, tea, and other non-alcoholic beverages will be served.

Tickets are currently on sale for $3, and they will be sold for $5 at the door also.  If you are interested in purchasing a ticket please email lssassociation@gmail.com to arrange a time to buy your ticket.

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you at "Off the Record!"

Legal Awareness Day

Come out and hear about law at Seneca and legal resources available to you!

We will be at a table in front of the Library

@ B2 Seneca Newnham Campus on July 28th, 2015 between the hours of 10 am to 3 pm

Mooting/Advocacy Seminar - Special Guests! Thursday July 16 @ 4:30 p.m.

Clifton Yiu and Christopher Gould will be speaking to students at Seneca about mooting on Thursday July 16th from 4:30-6:30 Room E1406. Clifton and Chris are recent graduates of the paralegal program at Seneca College. They are also past members of the Seneca College Paralegal Moot Team and winners of the 2014 Paralegal Cup. Clifton and Chris also represented Seneca College for the first time at the 2015 Osgoode Cup beating over 90 teams from various universities and colleges across Canada to place 2nd in the competition. They were the only paralegal team to advance to the finals in the competition’s 10 year history!

LSSA invites all SLPA students to this very special seminar with Chris and Clifton. Please note that for those students in first or second semester of the paralegal program who might be interested in trying out for the Seneca College Paralegal Moot Team in the fall and participating in the 2015 Paralegal Cup and 2016 Osgoode Cup Competitions are strongly encouraged to attend.

Attend to learn more about mooting and about Chris and Clifton’s mooting experience, as well as tips for developing excellent advocacy and mooting skills!

For more information about the Paralegal Cup visit:http://www.paralegalcup.ca/

For more information about the Osgoode Cup visit:http://www.osgoodecup.com/2015-cup-winners-juliette-mueller-scott-harman-mcgill/

Moot Meeting

Hi everyone, 

Just a reminder that July 6th is the deadline to confirm your participation in moot. Please make sure to email lssassociation@gmail.com if you are interested! 

The next meeting will be July 7th, 2015 at 4:30pm in room B1083. Professors Ashlyn Omara and Sandra Kingston will be attending to Brainstorm Legal Principles of the Case and introduce students to moot competition!

Please join us and read over the two cases once please! 

Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) 2015 SCC 5 

Rodriguez v. British Columbia 1993 CarswellBC 1267, 1993 Carswell 228 [1993] 3 SCR 519

Summer 2015 SLPA Paralegal Mooting Competition

What is mooting?

Mooting is a form of appellate advocacy where individuals draw on their advocacy and legal research skills to present legal arguments. Where errors of law are examined; facts and evidence are of no interest. This competition will consist of only oral submissions.

Why should I participate?

Mooting is traditionally a law school exercise. But as paralegals it is important to learn how to think critically, conduct legal analysis and structure legal arguments comprehensively. This is an opportunity to improve your advocacy and legal research skills and meet other students in the Paralegal program at Seneca.

How does it work?

This semester, the Moot Competition Case will be the Supreme Court of Canada decision of Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) 2015 SCC 5 in which the Supreme Court of Canada held that section 241(b) and section 14 of the Criminal Code prohibiting physician assisted suicide violates an individual's right to life, liberty and security of the person as guaranteed by section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Supreme Court decision is being appealed to the Supreme Court of Seneca College and students will prepare and present oral arguments on behalf of both the Appellant and the Respondent.

Qualification and Registration

1. To qualify for the competition you must apply as a team. You may find a teammate at the general information session!

2. Please email lssassociation@gmail.com with your intention to participate and include your teammates name, title the email “Summer 2015 SLPA Paralegal Mooting Competition Applicant”. The deadline for joining is July 8th, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.

3. The moot competition is open to all students registered in the Paralegal program in the School of Legal and Public Administration at Seneca College for the summer 2015 term.

Keep Calm and Study On

As paralegal students begin to receive notifications from the Law Society of Upper Canada about webinars and supplementary materials to begin exam preparation for upcoming Paralegal Licensing Examinations, excitement begins to mount. The paralegal licensing exams ensure that paralegal candidates demonstrate the required entry-level competencies. Be careful when using Social Media to do your research on details of the exam!

http://paralegalscope.com/did-you-hear-the-truth-about-the-paralegal-licensing-exam/

Always Cross your T's: Clerical Errors Causing Distress to Immigrants

Immigration Canada is facing some scrutiny due to high rates of error in immigration processing. Many newcomers to Canada and would-be immigrants have been impacted unfairly and have had to put their lives on hold.

Two thirds of the files processed over one month in 2013 in Vegreville- had human errors in request letters sent to applicants, according to department review. Staff consistently failed to use correct form letters, address missing documents or provide accurate timelines to applicants.

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2015/05/30/immigration-canada-snafus-causing-a-lot-of-misery.html

The Vulnerability of Gray Areas in Law: Is the Carter decision assisting or impeding the disabled?

How can the law exist to be judicial, proportionate, and liberally construed without facing criticisms and often falling into gray areas?

The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in Carter v Canada, respecting the prohibition of assisted suicide, was challenged as contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court dismissed the Criminal Code provisions, and this has raised questionable implications on persons with disabilities.

In light of this summer’s anticipated moot competition, it may be fruitful to attend the discussion arranged by the ARCH Disability Law Centre and the Law Society. Along with an initiating panel, the discussion will explore real concerns about the decision, and offer guidance to ensure that community members will have a voice in any potential legislative processes. The law has always protected the vulnerable, it is about time we discussed what that truly entails.

Date:
June 4, 2015
Panel Discussion - 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.*
Reception - 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
*This program is also available via simultaneous webcast

Location:
The Law Society of Upper Canada (in the Donald Lamont Learning Centre)
Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto

Program Details:

Session 1
Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) - Analysis of the Supreme Court of Canada decision – what does it mean for people with disabilities?

Session 2
Moving Forward: Community Perspectives and Safeguards.

NOTE: This program will take place in English only.

RSVP
This public event is free, but space is limited. We have a few spots remaining for in-person attendance, and a webcast option for those wishing to participate in that way. For additional information and to register, please visit: www.lawsocietygazette.ca/event/access-awareness-event-the-carter-decision/

If you have difficulty accessing this link, do not have internet access, or have a specific question about this event, please contact us at:

Telephone: 416-947-3300 ext. 3413 or 1-800-668-7380, ext. 3413
TTY: 416-644-4886
E-mail: equityevents@lsuc.on.ca

To provide the optimal level of accessibility for participants, please let us know in advance of any accommodation requirements.

Cakeday for LSSA

There will be cake to celebrate LSSA's accomplishments over the years as a club, so please come celebrate with us over a slice!

Location: TBA @ Seneca Newnham Campus
Date: Monday April 13th
Time: 12:30 p.m.

O Captain! My Captain!

Congratulations to LSSA President Sasi Kathir in being awarded a Leadership Award 

on March 16th, 2015!

Have a Heart for Happy Hearts

LSSA hosted an event in November, "Have a Heart for Happy Hearts"

Thank you Seneca Newnham Campus! Your donations and the school supplies you raised in November in support of Happy Hearts were seen today and much appreciated!

Above pictured: LSSA executive team with Nancy Mosey

A little more about this worthwhile cause:
Happy Hearts International is a fantastic organization located in Uganda that provides early childhood education to underprivileged children. Unfortunately, Happy Hearts International has limited resources and access to proper school supplies for its students. The goal of our fundraising event was to collect school supplies and monetary donations from students, faculty of Seneca College, and members of the community.

LSSA represents in Durham Paralegal Mock Trial Cup

Congratulations to LSSA president Sasi Kathir and LSSA executive members Ayman Jaffer, Daniel Humber and Katelyn Campbell for their participation in the Durham Paralegal Mock Trial Cup on March 6th, 2015!

 Pictured above: Katelyn Campbell (rightmost), Daniel Humber, Ayman Jaffer, Sasi Kathir and teammates Sumaya Mahmoud and Steve Simon

Democracy in Action

Make sure to go out and cast your vote in the Seneca Student Federation Elections @ Newnham Campus today, poll are open until 5 p.m.! Good luck to all the candidates!

Career Services @ Seneca

Career Services runs workshops and services to help your search for employment, that may interest you! Each workshop includes a Q & A period.

Some of the workshops Career Services run include: resume 101, cover letter writing, networking, LinkedIn, Interviewing skills, internet job searches and finding jobs using social media.

 

They also have a drop-in resume critique clinic!

Take 15 minutes to see if your resume passes the 30-second test. 

No appointment needed. 

Thank You Newnham Campus

Thank you for coming out to support LSSA's "For the Love of Law" event. It was a great success! 

Are you interested in Degree Credit Transferring?

Seneca is dedicated to providing pathways to a degree.

 If you are interested in continuing your education at Seneca or another institution the Degree and Credit Transfer Office provides many services to help you in this endeavor.

Some Up-Coming Events are:

Workshops at Newnham Campus on how to use the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) on February 10th, 13th, and 17th.
Click here for details.


Province-Wide Transfer Agreement
The College has agreements with many institutions, a new agreement lets Ontario college business students transfer full years' credits to any other college.

The Degree Transfer Guide for 2015 lets you search by program or university.

Are you ready for Valentines Day? We're here to help!

Check out what we have for sale outside the library on Friday, February 13th! 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

We will be at the table with chocolate, flowers and candies!

Get something sweet for someone special ~

Volunteers Needed :

LSSA will be assisting with the PLE/CTA/PLEA Career Preparation Day, taking place on Thursday, February 19, 2015 between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in the Great Hall in Building A.

Please come out and help us make this a great event! It is a great opportunity to meet other students in your program, visiting guest speakers, professors and LSSA exec.

Volunteers will be asked to arrive at the Great Hall at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event and assist with the following tasks:

          · setup of event space
          · posting signs
          · registration of attendees
          · greeting students/speakers as they arrive
          · directing students and speakers
          · photographing the event

 To volunteer, please email LSSA at lssassociation@gmail.com with your name, program, semester, and phone number. In the subject line, please state "Volunteer for Career Prep Day." In your email, please state if you're available all day or your available hours. We will do our best to accommodate those who are only available for part of the day. We will contact volunteer chosen to assist by email.

NOTE: Volunteers will NOT be accepted if they are missing classes to participate in this event.

Career Prep Day

Just a reminder our annual Career Preparation Day is next Thursday. Students in the Paralegal and Court and Tribunal Administration programs are asked to attend the event, where you will learn about the types of careers that await them after graduation. We have lined up a great list of speakers from the legal world including a judge, justice of the peace, senior court administrators and alumni.

Dress to impress! For those that do not have professional business attire, please drop by Linda Pasternak's office and she will try to assist you.  

 

Attendance will be taken at the event. Please arrive by 8:15, coffee will be provided. 

The event is scheduled from 8:15 to 12:30 p.m. at the Great Hall on February 19th. Morning classes will be cancelled.

Happy Valentines from LSSA

Click to enlarge image.

WE WANT YOU!

LSSA is looking for new executive members for 2015,

Click to enlarge the image. 

Please note the deadline to submit your timetable and resume.

We look forward to meeting with you!

Looking for help? Check out the Student Help Tree!

Click on the image to enlarge.

Winter Career Fair

Just a reminder that the Career Fair is on February 5, 2015 

Dress to impress!

Good luck to students writing the paralegal licensing exam on February 11, 2015!