UAlberta Law 3L student and Gerald L. Gall, OC Global Community Services Grant recipient Edward Apolonio
Edward Apolonio grew up in the Philippines, where he would spend days with his aunt, a lawyer who often provided services pro bono to people in her community who lacked access to basic legal services.
Now Apolonio is a second year law student at the University of Alberta, and one of two recipients of the Gerald L. Gall, OC Global Community Services Grant - an award given in memory of Professor Gerald Gall, OC, a longtime UAlberta Law instructor and constitutional law expert renowned for his deep commitment to the advancement of human rights.
Awarded to a student who wishes to become involved in projects or activities that serve the larger community, in Canada or abroad, Apolonio used the grant to operate the 2017 Boyle Street Legal Services project, an initiative that allowed him and the project team to provide free legal assistance to the inner-city Edmonton community. Because everything for the project was paid for out of pocket, through the grant they were able to operate onsite and cover expenses for court visits and the like.
According to Apolonio, there is much that needs to be done for marginalized inner-city residents who face high levels of homelessness, chronic unemployment, addiction, acute poverty, mental health issues, historic trauma and violence.
"From my experience working as a volunteer, as the manager and as the leg worker of the Boyle Street project this past summer, I can attest that a little help from the legal community goes a long way for the city's most disadvantaged people, and can make a tremendous difference to their lives," he said.
The summer operation was headquartered at the housing department of Boyle Street Community Services, giving Apolonio and his colleagues a chance to work closely with and immerse themselves in the community.
Although much on-site work is over, Apolonio continues with the project, taking on inner-city clients requiring legal assistance. The fact that there were more clients with legal and non-legal problems than they were able to take on points to how much more work needs to be done.
"I imagine sometimes what difference it would make if somehow the legal community at large would step up and step in," he said.
The hands-on experience he had over the summer was invaluable to Apolonio. With the supervision of team lawyers, he was in charge of the entire process - from filing court applications and appearing in court, to negotiating with other parties and communicating with clients - which gave him the chance practice what he's learned in the classroom.
But Apolonio said by working with the inner-city community, he's also learned skills not often taught in academia, like the ability to empathize with and advocate for clients.
"I truly believe that through the project I learned how to be a better law student, a better future lawyer, a better advocate and perhaps most importantly, a better person," he said.