Anne-Isabelle Cloutier, BCL/JD’20 – Chief Justice Richard Wagner
Born and raised in Montréal, I started law school right after CEGEP. At the Faculty of Law, I worked as a research assistant for two professors, interned at the McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy and served on the editorial board of the McGill Journal of Law and Health. I also completed a student clerkship at the Human Rights Tribunal of Quebec. Throughout my studies, I developed a deep interest for the impact of the law and of the justice system on “vulnerabilized” people. As a result, I became actively involved in defending the rights of disabled, older and homeless people in my writings as well as with the Elder Law Clinic and the Mobile Legal Clinic. Since February 2021, I clerk for Justice Frédéric Bachand at the Quebec Court of Appeal. I got called to the Quebec Bar in August 2021. During my free time, I love spending quality time with loved ones, engaging in outdoor activities, reading, and learning more about issues at the intersection of human rights, bioethics, and public policy.
Pourquoi avez-vous postulé ?
J’ai postulé pour diverses raisons : les défis intellectuels que je serai appelée à relever et qui me permettront de raffiner mes compétences juridiques; les rencontres enrichissantes et stimulantes que j’aurai l’occasion de faire; et surtout la chance inestimable de servir une institution démocratique, bijuridique et bilingue qui joue un rôle déterminant sur l’évolution du droit, le respect de la primauté du droit et le développement d’une justice plus accessible et humaine.
How did you find out you had been chosen?
It was early in the morning. I was teleworking from my apartment. I knew that the Supreme Court was going to make its calls during the day and I was struggling to concentrate on my work when a blocked number called me. Since I often receive prank calls from blocked numbers and was not expecting a call from the Court so early in the morning, I answered expecting nothing at all. When I heard Chief Justice Wagner’s voice, my heart stopped beating for a second. I then quickly regained my composure and enthusiastically accepted his offer to join his chamber. I celebrated the news with my boyfriend right away! I then called my family, friends, colleagues, mentors and former professors to share the amazing news and thank them for their support.
Qu’est-ce qui vous enthousiasme le plus à propos de cette expérience à venir ?
J’ai hâte de collaborer avec le juge en chef Wagner, de tisser des liens d’amitié avec mes collègues auxiliaires et de découvrir les rouages internes du tribunal d’appel de dernière instance du Canada. Je suis aussi très excitée d’avoir l’occasion de contribuer activement au processus décisionnel de la Cour dans des dossiers d’importance nationale soulevant des questions juridiques complexes et faisant intervenir des considérations morales, sociopolitiques et philosophiques.
Yasmeen Dajani, BCL/JD’20 – Justice Brown
Before law school, I completed the Liberal Arts program at Marianopolis College. I had the chance to work on a variety of subjects during my legal studies, at a few community organizations and as a research assistant for several professors. I also completed a student clerkship for the Honourable Gabriel Boutros at Montréal’s Municipal Court. I graduated from the Faculty in 2020, with a minor in English Literature, and have been a member of the Quebec Bar since August 2021. I am currently clerking for the Honourable Marie-France Bich at the Quebec Court of Appeal. I am also pursuing a BFA part-time at Concordia University, in drawing and painting.
Why did you apply?
I love my job at the Court of Appeal, and clerking at the Supreme Court seemed like an ideal next step; it’s a unique chance to deepen my knowledge of and perspective on law’s responses to some of the country’s most complex legal and social issues.
How did you find out you had been chosen?
I had stepped out for a few minutes, trying to distract myself from the waiting, when I received the call from Justice Brown. Joyfully shocked, I headed home to celebrate with my family.
What do you look forward to the most about this experience?
I’m excited to get the chance to participate in conversations surrounding the challenging questions that the Supreme Court deals with.
David D’Astous, BCL/JD’22 – Juge Côté
Je suis natif de la Ville de Québec, où j’ai grandi au sein d’une belle et grande famille de quatre enfants. Très tôt, je me suis découvert une passion pour la lecture et l’écriture. J’ai complété le certificat sur les oeuvres marquantes de la culture occidentale à l’Université Laval. Puis, durant mes études en droit, je me suis attaché à travailler sur divers projets de recherche, notamment en droit civil québécois et en droit constitutionnel. Je me sens redevable envers tous ceux et celles qui, au fil de leur généreuse contribution, ont façonné le juriste que je suis aujourd’hui.
Pourquoi avez-vous postulé ?
Il y a tant de raisons! L’opportunité d’échanger avec des juges, de nouer des liens avec les autres auxiliaires juridiques, d’étudier des dossiers complexes et stimulants… La vérité est que je n’aurais jamais pu y parvenir sans l’aide et les encouragements de ceux et celles qui ont cru en moi et m’ont poussé à emprunter cette voie. La réussite de ma candidature est toute entière la leur.
Comment avez-vous appris que votre candidature avait été retenue?
C’était une matinée ponctuée d’un certain vacarme. J’étais dans mon appartement, entouré des personnes qui m’ont aimé et aidé au cours de cette dernière année. Avec la sonnerie de mon téléphone, tout le monde s’est tu. On aurait pu entendre une mouche voler! La juge Côté m’attendait, à l’autre bout du fil. Nous avons discuté quelques minutes. Puis le vacarme a repris de plus belle.
Qu’est-ce qui vous enthousiasme le plus à propos de cette expérience à venir?
Les discussions stimulantes qui m’attendent. Il y a une grande valeur éducative à un environnement propice à l’écoute et à la remise en question, à l’accord et au désaccord. J’ai beaucoup à apprendre de la juge Côté, des juristes de la Cour suprême et des autres auxiliaires juridiques.
Zackary Goldford, BCL/JD’22 – Justice Kasirer
I grew up in Thornhill, Ontario. After earning an undergraduate degree at York University and working in Toronto, I started law school. At McGill, I developed a passion for private law in the civil and common law traditions. I served as a research assistant and a group assistant for Professor Fabien Gélinas and as a clerk for Chief Justice Manon Savard at the Court of Appeal of Québec. This summer, I will start an articling term at a law firm in Toronto.
Pourquoi avez-vous postulé ?
J’ai aimé chaque minute de mon stage à la Cour d’appel. Chaque dossier était une occasion renouvelée de me plonger dans un nouveau domaine du droit. J’y ai beaucoup appris. J’ai tellement aimé mon expérience, que j’en ai voulu plus !
How did you find out you had been chosen?
It was a Friday around lunchtime. I had put some food into the oven earlier that day. My partner and I were going to eat together. Just as we were about to sit down to eat, my phone started to vibrate. The call was relatively short, but by the time it was over, I could smell that something was burning. I realized that I had forgotten to take our food out of the oven. Luckily, I managed to turn off the oven before the fire alarm could sound! To make a long story short, my partner and I ate something else.
Qu’est-ce qui vous enthousiasme le plus à propos de cette expérience à venir?
J’ai hâte de travailler avec et apprendre de mon juge, des autres auxiliaires juridiques ainsi que des autres membres de la Cour.
Jessica Michelin, BCL/JD’21 – Justice Jamal
Born and raised in Montreal, I attended McGill for my bachelor’s degree, where I majored in Psychology and played on the varsity rugby team. At the Faculty, I worked as research assistant for Professor Poirier and Professor Jutras. I was also involved with the McGill Journal of Law and Health, volunteered at the Legal Information Clinic, and completed a student clerkship. I also interned with an international human rights NGO through the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism’s internship program. I’m currently clerking at the Quebec Court of Appeal for Justice Lucie Fournier.
Why did you apply?
I first became interested in clerking early in law school because the intellectual exercise of judicial reasoning excites me. Now that I am clerking at the Quebec Court of Appeal, I love my job and wanted to continue doing this type of work after my clerkship ended. It’s a privilege to be able to spend time as a clerk thinking how to resolve legal questions for both the parties and the justice system more broadly.
How did you find out you had been chosen?
I was working at home when I got the call from Justice Jamal and he kindly offered me a position in his chambers. I think I was in a state of shock for the rest of the day – I kept checking the recent caller list on my phone to make sure that I hadn’t imagined our conversation!
What do you look forward to the most about this experience?
I am very excited to learn from and collaborate with Justice Jamal, as well the other clerks who share my interest in learning and thinking about tough legal questions. I am also looking forward to working on cases which push the boundaries of the existing state of the law.
