TORONTO, ON JUNE 23, 2023 –
Dear Friends of PBSC,
On behalf of the Advisory Board of Pro Bono Students Canada, I write with an update regarding the organization’s leadership.
In April 2019, we welcomed Brittany Twiss as National Director of PBSC. During her time at PBSC, Brittany was the driving force behind a multitude of initiatives that have had a perceptible impact on PBSC’s mission of providing free legal support to people and communities facing barriers to justice. While navigating the exceptional challenges brought on by the pandemic, Brittany led the development and launch of PBSC’s five-year Strategic Plan; two innovative programs, the Indigenous Human Rights Program and Family Justice Centre; and new learning opportunities for PBSC’s community focused on anti-racism, decolonization, gender expression and identity, trauma-informed lawyering, and self-care in legal practice. Brittany also led a revamp of PBSC’s bilingual brand and website and she was instrumental in promoting PBSC’s sustainability by expanding the organization’s existing partnerships and establishing new partners and funders. These accomplishments, in addition to countless other initiatives that Brittany undertook as National Director, speak for themselves in illustrating her vision and tremendous contributions to PBSC.
As many of you will know, in September 2021, Brittany accepted a secondment as the Acting Assistant Dean, J.D. Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law; a position she held until the commencement of her parental leave in September 2022. I am delighted to share that Brittany has been appointed as the Faculty’s Assistant Dean, JD Program and she will be returning to that position in September 2023. In this capacity, Brittany will remain involved in the oversight of PBSC as a member of the organization’s Advisory Board.
In conjunction with the announcement about Brittany’s transition, I am also delighted to share with you that Dana Rotenberg has accepted the role of National Director of PBSC, effective immediately. For those of you who have had the opportunity to work with Dana, I know you will share my excitement in welcoming her to PBSC in this new capacity. Dana joined PBSC in 2020 as the Program Manager of the Family Justice Centre. Following a search in Summer 2022, she was appointed Acting National Director. I am sure you will agree with me that Dana has excelled in this role. She has guided PBSC National in making meaningful progress towards achieving the objectives in the Strategic Plan, expanding training opportunities (including launching PBSC’s inaugural Summer Learning Institute), and securing funding to expand programming.
In addition to her experience as Acting National Director, Dana brings to PBSC a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector. In her capacity as Program Manager at PBSC, Dana worked alongside Brittany to lead the development, launch, and management of the Family Justice Centre, a first-of-its kind virtual legal clinic leveraging the skills and enthusiasm of law students and pro bono lawyers to provide critical services to Ontarians experiencing barriers to justice. Before joining PBSC, Dana worked at Osgoode Hall Law School’s Community and Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP) as Review Counsel, where she was responsible for developing CLASP's Family Law Division in response to the immense need for quality family law services for persons unable to afford private counsel.
Dana holds a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Guelph (2006) and a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School (2010). Following her call to the Bar of Ontario in 2011, Dana worked as an associate in private practice, assisting clients with their family law matters. Dana was previously an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, and a Mentor and Assessor for Toronto Metropolitan University’s Law Practice Program (LPP), where she supported law licensing candidates to develop their understanding of legal practice and professionalism.
I am excited to see what the future holds for PBSC under Dana’s leadership and, on behalf of the entire Advisory Board of PBSC, extend the warmest of welcomes to her.
Sincerely,
Jutta Brunnée
Dean, University Professor & James M. Tory Professor of Law
University of Toronto Faculty of Law
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