O’Neill Associates is proud to support students from the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (Lakehead University, Thunder Bay) through the school’s unique Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC) Program.  The IPC, a Bora Laskin variation of the “articling” program students complete at most other law schools, matches students with law firms to work side-by-side with experienced lawyers for one full semester during the third and final year.  The focus of this Program is to fuse the theory of law with the practice of law, where students not only learn law, but learn the necessary practice skills to use that law effectively.  These skills are taught progressively and coordinated so that they build one upon the other – course by course, year by year, so its graduates are “practice ready” to work in the North, and in sole and small town practices.

Joining OA this summer is both Erin Chochla and Declan Gunovski who will be completing their Placement with our law firm in the upcoming academic year.

Erin is committed to contributing to her hometown, and looks forward to building long-term ties to the Thunder Bay legal community, and to the City and Region.  While attending the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, Erin was selected as an academic role model to be a Dean’s Fellow for Contract Law, and as a Research Assistant in two areas of law.  She was awarded the Dean’s Honour Roll Prize for the highest average for 1L, and received several course prizes.  Through her time at Law School, Erin was co-president of Lakehead’s Women in Law club, and volunteered at Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic.  Prior to law school, Erin taught elementary school in several small communities in Northwestern Ontario at the same time completing her Masters in Education.

Prior to his time at Bora Laskin, Declan worked as an intern at the Dunkirk District Court in Fredonia, New York, under Judge Walter Drag.  This opportunity led him to pursue further legal experience with the Crown Attorney’s office in Toronto where he performed legal research, took written accounts of Court decisions, and assisted with the collection of evidence for upcoming proceedings.  Playing university-level hockey in both Canada and the U.S. and instructing hockey for more than a decade has helped Declan build a reputation for dedication and hard work, and has taught him to adapt rapidly to changing requirements in a positive manner.  He believes his coaching experience will assist him in achieving clients’ goals through such knowledge and skill.  Declan is eager to start his IPC placement with us.

With all of our associate lawyers being graduates of Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, O’Neill Associates is excited with the addition of Erin and Declan to our firm.  We warmly welcome both of them.