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First – Person

This section features comments from grantees about their experience with LFO - funded programs.

Naomi Kikoler Articles at Amnesty

When Toronto native Naomi Kikoler started looking for articling positions in her second year of a four–year law program at McGill University, one of the first things she did was Google public interest articling positions on the internet. The young student was committed to doing public interest work and was eager to start preparing for an articling position in this area well in advance. "When I did a search on the website, a press release from The Law Foundation of Ontario came up which talked about the Public Interest Articling Fellowships, including one at Amnesty International Canada that it was offering" she explained. In the spring of 2005, the LFO created the Public Interest Articling Fellowships in response to a significant need for assistance within the public interest community and a significant desire among law students to gain experience in public interest law. Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC), which has strong connections with public interest organizations and law students throughout the province, administers the program on behalf of the LFO. Students article on a full–time basis for a ten–month period.

After reading the call–out for applicants, Naomi immediately contacted PBSC Director, Noah Aiken–Klar to see if Fellowships would be offered in future years. She was determined to monitor the site to see when the LFO would again advertise the Fellowships. "For the next two years I kept watching and waiting," she added.

In August 2007, Naomi’s perseverance and hard work paid off and she was accepted to article for Amnesty International in Ottawa. "It’s difficult to find a paying articling position with a public interest organization that focuses on social justice issues so to have this opportunity through the Law Foundation is a phenomenal experience."

For several months, Naomi’s work has focused on national security issues. More specifically, she has been preparing Amnesty submissions for a national enquiry: The Internal Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian Officials in Relation to: Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou Elmaati and Muayyed Nureddin which is being overseen by Justice Frank Iacobucci. In addition to this project, Naomi has been conducting research on Afghan detainees, Security Certificates, Aboriginal issues, and providing briefings for House of Commons’ committees.

She is enjoying the experience immensely and hopes to continue to work for public interest organizations in the future. Naomi describes an ideal working scenario as one which would combine law with advocacy and outreach – an environment she has been able to experience and enjoy at Amnesty.

"It’s great to learn and be part of how Canada handles human rights issues. It’s a rare opportunity and I’m incredibly fortunate."