Community Leadership in Justice Fellowships - Call for applications -
2010/2011 academic term

TORONTO, March 29 /CNW/ - The Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO) invites applications for its Community Leadership in Justice Fellowships for 2010/11. Fellows are funded to spend a period of time within an academic year in residence at an Ontario university or law school, or at an Ontario community college.

PURPOSE OF THE FELLOWSHIPS:

Through these Fellowships, the LFO brings together leaders from public interest organizations with Ontario universities, law schools and community colleges, with a common focus on improving access to justice and promoting professional excellence.

The purposes of the fellowships are to:

    
    I.    Provide an opportunity for professional development and renewal for
          a recognized community leader;
    II.   Strengthen the bond between academia and public interest
          organizations, promote better alignment of academic and community
          agendas, and result in partnerships that last beyond the term of
          the Fellowship;
    III.  Broaden and enrich faculty and students' academic experience
          through innovative approaches to teaching and learning;
    IV.   Build bridges across disciplines for the benefit of the broader
          community.
    

Examples of the Fellow's responsibilities include:

    
    -   Undertaking research
    -   Teaching or co-teaching courses
    -   Mentoring
    -   Activism and leadership, such as through discussion groups,
        collaborative projects, public lectures, network-building between
        researchers and the public interest community.
    

The LFO is looking for creative proposals for new work; the proposal should not be for replacement faculty to teach an existing course. Ideally, all three participants (Fellow, academia, and the public interest organization) will expose one another to distinct and challenging perspectives on law and the justice system.

VALUE:

    
    1.  Up to a maximum of $50,000 for up to 2 Awards, to cover the Fellow's
        salary
    2.  Up to $15,000 awarded to each academic host for equipment and
        program-related expenses.
    

The Fellowship funds may be used flexibly, so long as all parties confirm their agreement to the proposed budget. Note that program-related expenses can include travel expenses if the Fellow lives in a different community than the academic host.

ELIGIBILITY:

Fellowship candidates must be active in public organizations dedicated to law reform, legal advocacy or the justice system. Candidates need not have a degree in law.

Academic hosts must be either a law school or a department dedicated to legal or justice studies (including but not limited to criminology, sociology, social work, political science, and law and society programs).

WHERE TENABLE:

One award is tenable at any law school in Ontario; the second award is tenable at any university or community college in Ontario.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

The selection of the recipient of this fellowship will be based strictly on merit.

In assessing applications, the Committee will consider

    
    -   The proposal's clarity and fit with the objectives of this Fellowship
        program;
    -   The partners' ability to deliver on commitments;
    -   The fellowship candidate's leadership in the community and in
        justice-related areas;
    -   The extent to which the fellowship would have a transformative effect
        on legal education or legal research - in other words, the promise of
        the individual and the promise of the project/collaboration.
    

APPLICATION:

    
    1.  Applications must come jointly from the fellowship candidate and the
        host academic institution.

    2.  Applications must be submitted using the CLJF 2010 Application Form.
        (Downloadable from www.lawfoundation.on.ca/fellowships.php)

    3.  Prospective applicants may contact a past Fellow for advice on
        developing an application.
           Kim Pate, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
           (www.elizabethfry.ca)
           Michele Leering, Community Advocacy & Legal Centre
           (www.communitylegalcentre.ca)
           Richard Elliott, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
           (www.aidslaw.ca/EN/index.htm)
    

CONDITIONS

Successful candidates (Fellows, academic host, and public interest organization) will be expected to sign the LFO's standard Letter of Agreement (available on the LFO's website), and will also be asked to complete a short feedback form at the end of the Fellowship.

For further information: Applications are to be received in the offices of The Law Foundation of Ontario by May 5, 2010, by 5:00 pm. Applications must be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to [phone], attention Ayumi Bailly, Director, Policy and Programs