Canada's first-of-its-kind law clinic is growing quickly.
Less than five months after opening its doors, the University of Windsor's class action law clinic has increased staff to meet a larger-than-expected demand. One of the additions is new staff lawyer Andrew Eckart, a sessional instructor in tort law at the U of W Law School.
"Andrew brings a wealth of class action experience and knowledge, as well as several years of teaching experience," said Windsor Law professor and clinic director Jasminka Kalajdzic. "He will be an invaluable resource for both students, whose work he will oversee, and clients of the clinic, who he will serve."
Eckart, a practicing lawyer and mediator, will oversee the law students who staff the clinic, including two additional second-year students who are being brought on as part of the expansion. While students will concentrate on preparing reference material and assisting clients with filling in class action forms, Eckart will counsel clients and handle the facility's day-to-day operations.
The class-action clinic opened in October 2019 and is the only one in Canada providing sole assistance for clients who need help negotiating the maze of the class-action lawsuit process.
At the time the clinic opened, Windsor Law indicated that approximately 1,500 class-action lawsuits had been launched in Ontario alone over the past quarter-century. Hundreds of new class actions are filed every year across Canada, and millions of dollars in compensation are available to class members in class action settlements. However, class members don't always have access to the information they need concerning the suits, their role in them, or where to go for help.
The clinic serves clients across Canada with face-to-face counselling, as well as through telephone, video conferencing and online help.
For complete information about Windsor Law's class action clinic, visit its official website.