MEET THE FJC TEAM
Raquel Medeiros
Queen's University Faculty of Law
Raquel Medeiros is an incoming 2nd year student at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. She has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Economics from the University of Waterloo.
Before law school, Raquel was a former competitive swimmer, lifeguard, and swim coach for the Mississauga Aquatic Club. Here, she developed strong interpersonal skills and a deep sense of responsibility for the safety and well-being of others, qualities which are vital in family law. Working with people of all ages and backgrounds increased Raquel’s sense of empathy that she hopes to bring forward helping clients going through challenging family situations. In law school, as a volunteer with PBSC Radio, Raquel facilitated research on children within the family law system, furthering her interest in bringing access to justice in the family law field.
Outside of law, Raquel enjoys going for a swim, crocheting, and doing escape rooms.
Olivia MacDonald
University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Olivia MacDonald is a second-year student at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Prior to attending law school, she completed her Bachelor of Arts and Science in Psychology and Political Science at the University of Toronto.
In her first year of law school, Olivia worked with the Family Division at Downtown Legal Services and was the first-year representative for the Women & Law Society. In these positions, Olivia's interest in family law and passion for facilitating access to justice were further solidified, ultimately leading her to the Family Justice Centre.
Outside of law, Olivia enjoys watching hockey (go Leafs!), reading criminal novels, and spending time with her dog, Maple.
Sarah Bonner-Proulx
Lincoln Alexander School of Law
Sarah is a student at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University. Sarah was born and raised in Northern Manitoba.
Prior to law school, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Life Sciences at the University of Manitoba while working full-time as the Vice-President of Advocacy for the university's students' union.
Sarah is committed to facilitating access to justice and providing quality services to historically underserved populations. When she’s not at work or school, Sarah enjoys spending time outdoors, experimenting with new recipes and exploring new places with her friends and dog, Sasha.
Meena Sankarkumar
Lincoln Alexander School of Law
Meena Sankarkumar is entering her third year at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. She attained an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University. Prior to starting law school, she worked in the Ontario Public Service.
In her second year of school, she volunteered with Elizabeth Fry – Toronto where she was responsible for developing and presenting public legal education materials to community members. This experience helped solidify her interest in working on social justice initiatives. She is very excited to join PBSC’s Family Justice Centre as a Student Caseworker to help families access and navigate the family law system.
Outside of law, Meena enjoys reading, biking, and spending time with her family, friends, and her dog, Vael.
Bridget McCarthy
University of Ottawa Faculty of Law
Bridget is a second-year student at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law. Prior to law school, she completed an Honours B.A., majoring in English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University.
Bridget is dedicated to actively participating in her communities and thrives in settings where she can connect with others. After her first year of law school, she worked at a multi-service firm where she developed her interpersonal and analytical skills, working closely with clients and legal professionals on various family law matters. This experience solidified her passion for the legal profession and for helping clients navigate the legal system.
Outside of law, Bridget loves going to concerts with her friends and running along the Rideau Canal.
Suraiya Damji
Western University Faculty of Law
Suraiya has just completed 1L at Western University. She previously attended the University of Guelph where she studied Criminal Justice and Public Policy with a minor in Psychology.
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Her main interests include Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and family law, which she has pursued by achieving a certificate in family mediation and completing an internship with the Dispute Resolution Centre at Western Law. She aims to continue developing her ADR skills and understanding of family law in hopes of assisting individuals better navigate the family justice system.
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In her free time, Suraiya enjoys karaoke sessions with her friends, watching romance shows and movies, and trying out new baking recipes.
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Fiona Mucko
University of Windsor Faculty of Law
Fiona is an incoming second-year student at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law. Prior to attending law school, she completed an Honours Bachelor of Science degree, double majoring in Psychology and Political Science at the University of Toronto.
In her first year of law school, Fiona volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada on a research project and was the first-year representative for the Windsor Family Law Society. She is passionate about facilitating access to justice within the family law sphere and eager to help individuals navigate their legal challenges.
Outside of law, Fiona enjoys rock climbing, yoga and spending quality time with friends and family.
Hannah Kalil
Queen's University Faculty of Law
Hannah is a third-year student at Queen’s University Faculty of Law. She completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Law from the University of Ottawa.
Throughout law school, Hannah has gained valuable practical experience working in both a law firm and at the Queen’s Family Law Clinic. Her work at the Clinic sparked a passion for assisting vulnerable populations in gaining access to justice, a commitment she is eager to continue this year at the Family Justice Centre. Hannah is a personable and compassionate individual who enjoys working directly with clients to guide them through the complexities of the family court process.
When she is not at work or school, Hannah enjoys travelling, attending spin classes and spending time with her new puppy, Gilly.
Jessica Farshait
Queen's University Faculty of Law
Jessica is currently in her third year at Queen’s Law School. She previously attended McMaster University where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology with a minor in Sociology, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Driven by her passion for family law, Jessica sought out practical experience in the field. She is a volunteer on the AFCC-O Newsletter Editorial Board, worked at boutique family law firms, and co-authored a paper on parental alienation. She aims to continue developing her skills and understanding of family law in hopes of assisting individuals better navigate the family justice system.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dog, Amber. She also has a love for musicals, ballets, and travel.
Sydney Otoki
Osgoode Hall School of Law
Sydney is a second-year law student at Osgoode Hall. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at McGill University where she double majored in Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, Feminist and Social Justice Studies (GSFS).
Sydney spent this past summer as the Fair Change Community Legal Services Summer Student, where she is now the Junior Director of Operations for this academic year. Sydney is delighted to join the FJC’s team. She is passionate about working with people and helping them resolve intimate, vulnerable issues in a way that makes them feel empowered. Sydney strives to help people navigate the legal system with dignity.
In her spare time, Sydney enjoys reading Agatha Christie novels and spending time with her loved ones.
Nina Varghese
University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Nina is a third-year student at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Prior to law school she attended the University of Alberta, completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance.
Since undergrad, Nina has been committed to helping underprivileged communities, having volunteered at Tax Clinics for three consecutive years during her finance degree. In law school, Nina previously worked with the FJC during the 2023-2024 year, and found a passion for assisting clients navigate the family law system. During her summer internship, Nina also assisted with many pro-bono files, carrying her passion for helping others forward. Overall, Nina recognizes the valuable and important work done by the FJC and is proud to return to the organization.
In her spare time, Nina enjoys hiking, painting, and spending time with friends and family.
Grace Beach
University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law
Grace is a second-year student at the University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Law. Prior to attending law school, she completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies, with a double minor in Sociology and Gender & Social Justice at the University of Waterloo.
She previously volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada as a researcher in collaboration with Nokee Kwe to provide a plain language presentation on employment rights. This past Summer, she worked with Community Legal Services at Western University, which provides free legal services to low-income individuals in the London community. Grace is excited to continue providing support to vulnerable populations with PBSC’s Family Justice Centre in helping families navigate the family law system.
Outside of law, Grace enjoys knitting, attending concerts, and watching movies with friends.