Current Students
Dania Ahmed (she/her)
Dania is a 2L student with an interest in social justice, human rights, and environmental law. In her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, she conducted research on Chemical Valley in Sarnia, Ontario, examining the circumstances affecting the Aamjiwnaang First Nation. She has explored the connections between environmental degradation, public health, colonization, race, and legal frameworks through various research projects. With an interest in how systemic inequalities influence legal outcomes, Dania hopes to leverage her legal education to drive meaningful change in the realm of environmental justice.
Gillian Chamberlain (she/her)
Gillian is a 2L student at Osgoode, where she is the current President of the Osgoode Environmental Law Society and Co-President of Osgoode Hall Animal Justice. Gillian graduated in 2020 from the University of British Columbia’s Applied Animal Biology program, where her studies focused on conservation and animal welfare. This past summer Gillian worked at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Legal Services Branch, where her work centered on Aboriginal Law. Since 2019, Gillian has been a volunteer member of the resource and research committee for the Near North Enviro-Education Centre, an environmental non-profit organization. In this role, Gillian has supported habitat stewardship and conservation projects and assisted in the production of multiple environmental symposiums. Outside of school, Gillian loves to camp and go on hikes with her dog.
Julia Hale (she/her)
Julia is a 2L student at Osgoode. In 2021 she graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science, having majored in Biology and minored in French Studies. She subsequently graduated from the University of Toronto in 2022 with a Master of Environmental Science, with a focus on Conservation and Biodiversity. After graduation, Julia began working for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on Indigenous-Led Area-Based Conservation. Julia volunteers for several organizations, including Conservation Halton, Science for Everyone and serving as Vice President of a local cottagers’ association. Julia is also involved in the Osgoode Environmental Law Society and will be serving as Vice President this year. In her free time, Julia enjoys paddleboarding, baking, hiking with her golden retriever puppy and reading.
Kristen Theriault (she/her)
Kristen is beginning her 3L year at Osgoode. In 2023, she was a summer student at the Canadian Environmental Law Association and summered at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in 2024. Prior to legal studies, Kristen maintained a career as a classical harpist, performing with orchestras, theatre companies and rock bands. In her spare time Kristen enjoys urban gardening and cooking.
Saarah Jimale (SJ) Rasheed (she/her)
SJ Rasheed is a 3L at Osgoode, with a background in environmental journalism with specific focus on reporting access to water issues in rural and Indigenous communities. This experience led her to pursue a law degree and a placement with the Environmental Justice and Sustainability Clinic. She is interested in creating legal pathways which foster more harmonious relationship between communities and the environment. In her free time, she is hiking or reading science fiction novels.
Blaise Matlock (he/him)
Blaise has a background in Environmental Science and is currently in the second year of his JD at Osgoode Hall Law School. He hopes to use his legal career to leave the world (a little) better than he found it. He is primarily interested in environmental and Aboriginal law.
John-James Stranz (he/him)
John-James (JJ) is a 2L student in the J.D./M.E.S. joint program. With a B.A. and M.A. in Sociology, JJ continues to study environmental policy and justice, and socio-legal impacts on community wellbeing. JJ is working with Infrastructure Beyond Extractivism, a research collaboration led by Dayna Nadine Scott and Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark. JJ is an Osgoode Environmental Law Society Communications Director, has completed an 8-month co-op with the Ministry of Infrastructure, and has extensive experience with community programming and services.
Julia Singer (she/her)
Julia is entering her third year of the joint JD/Master of Environmental Studies program and is concurrently completing a Graduate Diploma in Business and Environment at the Schulich School of Business. Julia holds an Honours Bachelor of Integrated Science (Biology) with a French minor from McMaster University. She is interested in the regulatory and administrative aspects of environmental law as well as the interactions between municipalities and businesses to provide communities with sustainable and accessible climate solutions.
Leighton Zink (he/him)
Leighton Zink is a 3L student at Osgoode. He graduated from the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning and is interested in planning and municipal law, environmental regulation, and litigation. He looks forward to applying the policy-first approach to land use planning and environmental law that he was taught at the University of Waterloo, with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental justice. Outside of school, Leighton enjoys cooking, running and board games.
Areej Safdar (she/they)
Areej is currently a 2L student at Osgoode. She previously studied Law & Society and Psychology at York University, where her interest in environmental justice and sustainability began. Last year, she worked at the Fair Change Legal Clinic and the Indigenous Youth Outreach Program with Level Justice through Pro Bono Students Canada. This year, she looks forward to continuing to explore legal avenues for solving environmental justice issues within marginalized communities. Outside of school and work, Areej is an avid reader and writer.
Rohan K. Jain (he/him)
Rohan Jain is in his third year of the JD/MES program, and completed his undergrad at Huron University in Philosophy. Prior to law school, Rohan completed a summer internship at an environmental law firm. Notable projects include contributing to draft legislation in support of the single use plastics ban, green transition research, V2X policy and advocacy, and has most recently been working on research related to next-generation geothermal. Rohan has also been advocating in relation to an integrated management approach to plastic products and Nova Scotia's SDGs 2021. Rohan's intended area of legal practice is in clean energy law. Outside of the classroom, you can find Rohan exploring new study spots, checking out a new book, TV or movie, a comedy show, mooting, writing for the Obiter Dicta, or in the political arena helping spearhead campaigns.
Anna-Marie Moschitto (she/her)
Anna is a 2L student, having previously studied sociology and criminology at the University of Toronto. Anna's interest in environmental justice stems from her experiences volunteering with children experiencing parental incarceration, as the effects of poor infrastructure and environmental degradation are visible within vulnerable urban communities. She is excited to gain practical legal experience through EJS this year. Outside of school, Anna's an avid runner, writer, and Leafs fan.
Alexander Qanbery (he/him)
Alex is in their fourth year of the JD/MBA program, where he is specializing in sustainability. Before law school he attended the University of Toronto where he studied criminology and sociology. Alex is excited to be a part of the EJS Clinic and to gain hands on experience.
Ayath Azhar (she/her)
Ayath is in her 2L year, having previously studied Health Sciences at Western University. Ayath’s interest in the EJS Clinic stems from her undergraduate research into the interaction between intersectionality and structural inequality in creating complex patterns of environmental injustice. She is excited to make meaningful contributions and gain practical hands-on experience through her involvement in the Clinic.
