Law Syrup

One of the most popular sessions from OJEN’s Summer Law Institute is now available to all listeners. In this episode, Court of Appeal Justice Lorne Sossin highlights his Top 5 Supreme Court of Canada decisions of the past year, explaining why they matter and what they reveal about the evolving landscape of Canadian law.Justice Sossin walks through impactful rulings on Charter rights in correctional settings (John Howard Society), treaty interpretation and Crown obligations (Restoule), public contracts and administrative law (Sanis Health), police powers and digital evidence (Campbell), and federal administrative authority (Power). He also briefly discusses other notable decisions that shaped public, constitutional, and Indigenous law in 2024–2025. This episode offers teachers, students, and legal enthusiasts an accessible overview of key legal developments and the stories behind them.Accompanying classroom resources for every episode of Law Syrup's first season can be found on www.ojen.ca.We’re open to questions, comments, and ideas! Send them to us at lawsyrup@ojen.ca.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for its support.

Earlier this year, in partnership with Ontario Tech University, OJEN ran its first annual essay contest asking high school students: What role does law reform play in creating positive social change? In this episode of Law Syrup, we hear from the winners, Zainab, Jal, and Marwa, as they share what inspired their essays, what they discovered about law’s impact on society, and how they see their own educational and professional futures unfolding.Accompanying classroom resources for every episode of Law Syrup's first season can be found on www.ojen.ca.We’re open to questions, comments, and ideas! Send them to us at lawsyrup@ojen.ca.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for its support.

What does it take to make law come alive for high school students? In this episode of Law Syrup, Marija Apostolovski, Luís Filipe and Matthew Wilks, three dedicated high-school educators, share what drew them to the profession, how they build engaging classrooms, and the challenges and surprises that come with teaching legal topics to young people. They also reflect on the utility of OJEN resources, the importance of legal professionals getting involved, and why students should consider taking law as an elective.Accompanying classroom resources for every episode of Law Syrup's first season can be found on www.ojen.ca.We’re open to questions, comments, and ideas! Send them to us at lawsyrup@ojen.ca.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for their support.

Welcome back to Law Syrup!We’re thrilled to kick off a brand-new season filled with engaging conversations, compelling personal stories, and deep dives into a wide range of legal issues. This season, we're bringing you thought-provoking topics and a dynamic lineup of guests who reflect the diversity of Canada’s legal landscape. In our season premiere, we explore the world of Gladue Courts: What are they? How did they come to be? And what role do they play in reshaping the justice system’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples? To unpack these questions, Herman is joined by an expert panel featuring Justice André Chamberlain, Jonathan Rudin (Aboriginal Legal Services), Crown Attorney Emma Haydon (Ministry of the Attorney General) and Lysandra Moreno (Legal Aid Ontario).Accompanying classroom resources for every episode of Law Syrup's first season can be found on www.ojen.ca.We’re open to questions, comments, and ideas! Send them to us at lawsyrup@ojen.ca.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for its support.This program contains 0 hour(s) and 10 minutes of Professionalism Content.This program contains 0 hour(s) and 30 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content.

Recorded at the Osgoode Hall in Toronto as part of OJEN’s annual Summer Law Institute, this episode features Professor Sonia Lawrence’s presentation on her picks for the most significant court cases from 2023 to 2024. Highlights include who is considered a “driver” under Ontario law, decisions revolving around Indigenous sovereignty, and Saskatchewan’s use of the notwithstanding clause in the Charter.(Recording date: Wednesday, August 28th, 2024.)We’re open to questions, comments, and ideas! Send them to us at lawsyrup@ojen.ca. For more information on OJEN, visit www.ojen.ca.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for their support.

Join Herman and special guest host Amelia Berot-Burns for an interview with Pam Hrick from the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). Please note that this episode features a candid discussion about the barriers and availability of restorative and transformative justice options for sexual violence in Canada.Special resources include the following:The Government of Canada’s list of family violence resources and services : https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/stop-family-violence/services.htmlLEAF’s official website : https://www.leaf.caLEAF’s Avenues to Justice Report : https://www.leaf.ca/project/avenues-to-justice/Community Justice Programs for adults in Ontario : https://www.ontario.ca/document/crown-prosecution-manual/d-4-community-justice-programs-for-adultsAlberta’s Wiyasôw Iskweêw - Restorative Justice Pilot Project : https://rjalbertacourts.caWe’re open to questions, comments, and ideas! Send them to us at lawsyrup@ojen.ca. For more information on OJEN, visit www.ojen.ca.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for its support.This program contains 0 hour(s) and 20 minutes of Professionalism Content.This program contains 0 hour(s) and 10 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content.

How does the media cover the courts? In this episode, Herman reconnects with his former professor, Janice Tibbetts, as she speaks about her career as a justice reporter, field trips to the Supreme Court of Canada with her students at Carleton University, and how journalists are adapting to a rapidly-evolving world.For more on Prof. Tibbetts' course on justice reporting, please visit the following link (the course is titled "Specialized Journalism: Justice and The Supreme Court of Canada")We’re open to questions, comments, and ideas! Send them to us at lawsyrup@ojen.ca. For more information on OJEN, visit www.ojen.ca.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for its support.This program contains 0 hour(s) and 40 minutes of Professionalism Content.

Happy Pride! In this episode, Herman hosts a panel discussion about identifying as a 2SLGBTQ+ individual within the legal profession, issues related to respectability, and how to be a better ally. Our panel includes special guests Bennett Jensen (Egale Canada), Adam Goldenberg (McCarthy Tétrault LLP) and Johanna Macdonald (The 519).The following are useful 2SLGBTQ+ resources:Rainbow Action Hub (Egale Canada)Army of Lovers (The 519)Trans ID Clinic (The 519 & McCarthy Tétrault LLP)We’re open to questions, comments, and ideas! Send them to us at lawsyrup@ojen.ca. For more information on OJEN, visit www.ojen.ca.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for its support.This program contains 0 hour(s) and 50 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content.

Welcome to the Law Syrup podcast, a collaboration between Herman Wong and the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN). This podcast series highlights unique topics in Canadian law through conversations with special guests.Thank you to The Law Foundation of Ontario for its support.