There are sure signs that spring has sprung: temperatures rise, flowers bloom, and, at Legal Aid Alberta, summer students join the team and begin their placements.
This team of five students brings fresh energy and enthusiasm to LAA. Eager to learn and grow, they are ready to work alongside our experienced lawyers, and to make a real difference in the communities we serve.
Tanisha Kumar is originally from Ottawa, completed her undergraduate degree at Western University in London, Ont., and is currently pursuing her law degree at the University of Calgary. She spent last summer working with Student Legal Assistance and brings a valuable background to her legal presence. This summer, Kumar is excited to begin her legal career in Calgary with LAA.
Ethan Simmons, an Indigenous summer student, graduated from MacEwan University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, specializing in criminology. He joins the LAA youth criminal team with experience from the University of Alberta Student Legal Services Criminal Project, as well as academic research focused on inequality. Simmons enjoys running, cycling and golfing, but he’s decided this summer will be about more than just sports.
Sarquin Laboucane is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, with connections to Fort McMurray First Nation and the Laboucane Settlement. Born and raised in Edmonton, she is currently a third-year law student at the University of Victoria. Her academic and professional background in social work, as well as experience in government and youth services guided her interest in community-focused legal work.
Evelyn Izsak is originally from Edmonton and has just completed her second year of law school at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C. Before law school, Izsak worked at Boyle Street Community Services with the Ubuntu Program, where she witnessed the complex challenges faced by families in the child welfare system. Her deep passion for access to justice and advocacy for vulnerable populations led her to LAA.
Alexia Yeung has just wrapped up her second year at Dalhousie University in Halifax. She completed her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Alberta, and she calls Edmonton home. As a people-oriented person, Yeung is excited to contribute to LAA’s mission and support clients professionally and with empathy.
This summer will be a meaningful chapter for our students as they engage with the realities faced by many disadvantaged Albertans and gain hands-on experience with complex legal and social challenges. Our senior lawyers are proud to support the next generation of legal professionals committed to advancing access to justice.