Durham Community Legal Clinic
Justice through Advocacy
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stephen Bourque, President
Retired
Paul Dobbs, Vice President
John Howard Society
Kelly Weeks, Secretary
Canadian Mental Health Association
Raedah Abdullah
Community Development Council Durham
Mark Bouwmeester
Durham Mental Health Services
Audrey Andrews
Region of Durham
Virginia Harwood
Dept. of Justice Studies, Durham College
Allyce Mutungi
Lawyer
Jonathan Dixon
Region of Durham - Social Services
Stephen Bourque, President
Retired
Paul Dobbs, Vice President
John Howard Society
Kelly Weeks, Secretary
Canadian Mental Health Association
Raedah Abdullah
Community Development Council Durham
Mark Bouwmeester
Durham Mental Health Services
Audrey Andrews
Region of Durham
Virginia Harwood
Dept. of Justice Studies, Durham College
Allyce Mutungi
Lawyer
Jonathan Dixon
Region of Durham - Social Services
OUR STAFF
Deborah Hastings, Executive Director
Gia Williams, Staff Lawyer
Cathy Duignan, Community Legal Worker
Stefanie Famme, Community Legal Worker
Lisa Petit, Support Staff
Colleen Twyman, Support Staff
Deborah has been a lawyer since 1982. She became the Executive Director of the Durham Community Legal Clinic and the Director of Legal Aid in 2000. She initiated the concept of a co-located office between the Clinic and Legal Aid in 2001 to better serve the residents of the Durham region. Deborah was appointed as a part-time Small Claims Court Judge in 2007.
Gia graduated from York University with a specialized honours degree in Philosophy in 2004. In 2008, she obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law. While completing her legal studies, Gia developed her interest in social justice by volunteering with Community Legal Aid where she provided legal advice and representation in the area of Criminal Law. Gia was also actively involved in the student community through her participation in several non-profitable organizations as she served as an executive member of the Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights, and vice-president of the Black Law Student's Association of Canada. Gia completed her articles with the Ministry of the Attorney General and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2009. She joined the Durham Community Legal Clinic in January 2010 where she currently provides legal services in all of the clinic's practice areas.
The longest employed member of the Clinic, Cathy joined the Durham Community Legal Clinic in 1990 as support staff. Cathy brought a strong legal background with her from private practise and has worked her way up to Community Legal Worker and a licensed paralegal over the years out of interest, commitment and necessity. Cathy provides legal advice and representation for Social Assistance Appeals, Canada Pension Plan Disability Appeals, and Criminal Injuries Compensation Board hearings. She also sits on a number of committees.
Stefanie obtained her Honours Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Carleton University. She joined the clinic in February 2005. Her work at the clinic includes providing legal advice and representation in the areas of Ontario Disability, Canada Pension Plan Disability, Ontario Works matters, Criminal Injuries Compensation, and WSIB. Stefanie recently became a licensed paralegal with the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Emily Robb started at the Clinic in October 2009 as a placement student from Durham College. Emily graduated from the Paralegal Program in April 2010 and started working at the Clinic full time as the Tenant Duty Legal Worker. Emily organizes materials for our Board and Committee's and is also the Clinic's Health and Safety Officer.
Lisa joined the clinic in 2003 and is a graduate from the Legal Administration Program at Durham College. She is an intake worker and provides administrative assistance to all of the legal workers. Lisa is also an appointed Commissioner of Oaths and is a committee member on several outreach activities that the clinic participates in every year.
Jeannine Spurrell, Office Manager
Colleen joined the Clinic in March 2009. She provides administrative duties to our legal workers. She answers phones and inputs relevant information regarding a situation and refers people to the appropriate legal services. Colleen graduated from the Office Administration-Legal Compressed course in August 2008.
Jeannine joined the clinic in early 2008. As the office manager Jeannine is responsible for the administrative duties such as payroll, benefits, accounting, and funding applications. Jeannine also manages and organizes materials for our Boards and Committees. Jeannine previously worked as the Tenant Duty Legal Worker.
Emily Robb, Tenant Duty Legal Worker