Christina Bender

1362 Willowdown Rd., Oakville, ON., L6L 1X3

(289) 259-2882, bender1@uwindsor.ca
James McAskill
2016
700 Kerr Street,
Oakville, ON, L6K 3W5

May 6,

Re: OConnor MacLeod Hanna LLP Articling Position 2017-2018

Dear Mr. McAskill,
I am excited to submit my application for the articling position with OConnor
MacLeod Hanna LLP. I am a Juris Doctor and Masters of Social Work (JD/MSW)
candidate at the University of Windsor. My interest in this position stems from
my interest in gaining experience in a full service firm while relocating back to
my hometown of Oakville, as such I was impressed with the wide range of
services offered by your firm.
I would be an excellent fit with your firm and I would greatly value the
opportunity to article with OConnor MacLeod Hanna LLP. My specific
experiences, personal proficiencies, as well as my developed skills in both
social work and law uniquely lend themselves to this position. I am particularly
interested in criminal law, wills, trusts, estates and civil litigation. These areas
are often complemented with additional social work skills. As a JD/MSW, I have
additional qualifications in advocacy and counselling which are well-suited to
serving clients needs at this difficult point in their lives. Your firm offers the
opportunity to gain experience in areas such as criminal law, which many of
the other full service firms do not.
Through working with Pro Bono Students Canadas Self-Represented Litigant
Project this past year, and Community Legal Aid prior, I have gained hands on
experience directly assisting clients. Through these positions, I continued to
improve my intake, interview and advocacy skills, while building upon previous
legal research and writing abilities. I have also expanded my skills in legal
research and writing through various research assistant positions. One of my
strengths is time management; I can take on large workloads, working quickly
and effectively- as demonstrated by my ability to complete the dual degree,
while working as a research assistant, volunteering with legal clinics and
various community groups.
I would greatly value the opportunity to article with OConnor MacLeod Hanna
LLP as your firm offers the opportunity to be part of a large team and to learn
from many experienced lawyers with a broad range of experiences that many
other Oakville firms cannot offer. Thank you in advance for your consideration
and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,

Christina Bender
Encls: Rsum, Law Transcript, Unofficial Law Grade Report, Undergraduate Grade
Report, Letters of Reference, Reference List, Course Selection.

Christina Bender
1362 Willowdown Rd., Oakville, ON., L6L 1X3
(289) 259-2882, bender1@uwindsor.ca
EDUCATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Juris Doctor and Masters in Social Work Candidate, 2017
Sept.
2014 Present
University of Windsor, Windsor, ON
Rose Voyvodic Memorial Award Recipient (commitment to social justice
and the cause of the disadvantaged) 2015
E. Lindsay Rogin Memorial Award Recipient (outstanding feminist
contribution) 2015
Stitt Feld Handy Group Award in Access to Justice Recipient, 2014
Law Foundation of Ontario/Law Alumni Access to Legal Education
Recipient, 2014
Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Sept.
2010 Apr. 2014
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Deans Honours List
Ontario Association of Social Workers Prizes Recipient
Golden Key International Honor Society for achieving top 15 percentile
WORK EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant
Jan. Apr. 2015; Feb.
2016- Present
University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, Windsor, ON
Conducting research and writing literary reviews in the area of
International Criminal Law
Reviewing large numbers of cases and writing memos based on findings
Photographer, self-employed
Jan. 2012
Present
Photographing weddings, engagements, newborns, family, portraits and
other occasions
Head Cook/ Youth Mentor
June
Aug. 2013
Living Rock Ministries, Hamilton, ON

Provided meals and taught kitchen skills to street involved and homeless
youth
Swimming Instructor/ Lifeguard
Sept.
2006 Aug. 2012
Oakville Swim Academy, Oakville, ON
Swim instructor for all ages (infants-adults); lifeguard and deck supervisor
Awareness Campaign Coordinator
Nov.
2010 Aug. 2011
Project 417, Toronto, Ontario
Organized human trafficking awareness campaign, funded by Public
Safety Canada
Wrote grants, budgeted and liaison with Public Safety Canada
representatives in Ottawa
Created installation awareness structure, exhibited in Yonge & Dundas
Square
Networked with anti-trafficking organizations and political figures such as
M.P. Joy Smith
Public relation including CBC interviews, website, logo and business card
design

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Education Sub-Committee Member
Jan.
2016- Present
WeFight, Windsor, ON
Engaging in educating public on issue of human trafficking
Self-Representing Litigant Assistant
Sept.
2015 Present
Pro Bono Students Canada, Windsor, ON
Assisting self-representing litigants in navigating the family legal system
Legal Caseworker
Sept.
2014 Apr. 2015
Community Legal Aid, Windsor, ON
Conducted client intakes and ongoing case-work with each file
Research Assistant
Sept.
2013 May 2014
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Conducted Research in community development regarding trafficking in
persons
Wrote proposals for McMaster Ethics Review Board, grants and literary
reviews
Interviewed survivors and service providers, produced reports based on
research
Student Legal Advocate
Sept.
2012 Apr. 2013
Jareds Place Legal Advocacy and Resource Centre, Hamilton, ON
Provided court support, peer support counseling and conducted legal
drop-ins
Responsible for administration, reception, and group facilitation through
Womens Centre of Hamilton and Interval House, a violence against
women shelter
Student Campaign Coordinator
Jan.
Apr. 2013
Social Planning and Research Council, Hamilton, ON
Aided in endorsing a violence against women awareness campaign
Worked with youth to create and deliver presentations on youth
homelessness
Safe House Staff/ Community Outreach Worker
Mar. 2010 Dec. 2013
Project 417, Toronto, ON
Staffed safe house for women who have been trafficked; outreach to
women in the sex trade
Ran programs for inner city kids and led sandwich runs to people living on
the streets
Community Development Team
June July
2010; Aug. 2011
The Nest, Pogradec, Albania

Worked with Roma Gypsy children at high risk of trafficking and set up
safe houses
Ran programs for children with disabilities; set up food programs for
families
International Support Team
Mar. 2011;
Aug. 2013
Salvation Army, Tijuana & Ensenada, Mexico
Assisted in safe houses for abused women and children
Worked with children who were at high risk of sex trafficking and/or organ
harvesting
Volunteered at Salvation Army Shelter for men who had been deported
Outreach Team
July Aug.
2010
YWAM/ Teen Challenge, Kyiv, Ukraine
Worked with individuals who were homeless and/or sex trafficking
survivors
SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Avid acrobat and aerialist; skilled in apparatus including aerial silks, pole,
trapeze and lyra
Enjoys photography and visual arts including sketching and painting
Basic knowledge of French and Spanish

University of Windsor Unofficial Grade Report

April 26 2016
Dear Sir or Madam,
Re: Christina Bender
Please accept this letter in support of Ms. Christina Benders application for
an articling position with your firm. I have worked with Christina over the
past year and a half in her capacity as my Research Assistant. I have also
had the pleasure of teaching Christina in my first year mandatory Criminal
Law course and this past semester in my seminar course on International
Criminal Law. During this time, Christina has impressed me as somebody
who is intelligent, passionate, and diligent.
I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law.
Before pursuing a career in academic, I articled and practiced in the litigation
department for one year at the law firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in
Toronto and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2007. I first met Christina as a
student in my criminal law course when she came and introduced herself to
me as a student with a keen interest in the topic of human trafficking and I
learned that she had considerable experience working with survivors of
human trafficking. Accordingly, when I was looking for a Research Assistant
to help me with research in the field of transnational criminal law, including
human trafficking, Christina was an obvious choice. While first year Criminal
Law is a large-group lecture course, I have the opportunity to get to know
Christinas academic caliber even more this year when she took my seminar
course. Christinas contributions in this seminar were thoughtful and very
knowledgeable. Everybody in the class, including myself, learned a lot from
Christina who drew on her experience working with human trafficking
survivors to contribute to the discussion in an insightful and informative way.
In her capacity as my Research Assistant, Christinas tasks have been
diverse. She has gathered resources documenting the organized nature of
human trafficking. She has also conducted research of primary and
secondary sources on the subject of defences in international criminal law.
Christinas work is always competent. Researching in the area of
international law can be difficult because the sources are varied and are
often not contained in one location. However, Christina took the initiative to
acquire the necessary research skills and required little direction from me.
Her follow-through is always timely, and she is always professional.
Christinas greatest assets as a researcher are her diligence, her
organizational skills, her willingness to learn, and her professionalism.

Christina is also a lovely individual and is truly a pleasure to work with.

Accordingly, when the Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice, of which I am a
member of the Editorial Board, was looking for a part-time summer research
assistant, I recommended Christina for that position as I knew that she was
trustworthy, diligent, and thorough. Accordingly, this summer she will be
working part time as a research assistant for both myself and for the
Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice.
I would also like to note that Christina is a student in our joint JD/MSW
program which I regard highly as I think the combination of legal and social
work skills will make for an excellent, well-rounded lawyer. I can, with
confidence, recommend Christina to you as I have no doubt that she would
be an asset to your firm as an articling student. If I can be of any further
assistance, please do not hesitate contact me.
Sincerely,

Dr. Sara Wharton

Assistant Professor
Faculty of Law, University of Windsor
Telephone: (519) 253-3000 (x2948)
Email: swharton@uwindsor.ca

April 5, 2016
Re:

Letter of Reference for Ms. Christina Bender

To whom it may concern:

This letter may serve to convey my evaluative opinions and judgements of
Ms. Christina Bender. I am, by the way, a registered Social Worker, with a
background in management and program administration, a former Clinical
Director in the mental health system, with 10 years of experience in the
social and health fields, and an instructor in both the University of Windsor
Faculty of Law and School of Social Work. I had the pleasure of having Ms.
Bender as a student for advanced policy analysis and program evaluation
while she was a Masters and Juris Doctor candidate at the University of
Windsor. She competed for and won a multitude of scholarships for her
academic excellence and commitment to legal and social issues including
the Rose Voyvodic Memorial Award for commitment to social justice, the E.
Lindsay Rogin Memorial Award for demonstrating outstanding female equity
contribution, Stitt Feld Handy Group award in Access to Justice, and the Law
Foundation of Ontario Access to Legal Education award.
I found Ms. Bender to be a consummate practical policy and program
analyst. My course introduces a variety of Canadian policy and programming
issues in the legal, social, and health contexts. As demonstrated through her
work in my class, Ms. Benders written and oral communication skills, and
skills of effective social policy analysis and knowledge translation, were
excellent. The skills that Ms. Bender has been highly committed to advancing
are bound not only to facilitate her scholarly career, but also to make her a
productive and highly effective legal practitioner. Specifically, her
background research skills, problem formulation skills, including the ability to
place a focused legal or policy-relevant question within a cogent legalpolitical-social context are excellent. Her knowledge translation skills,
including the ability to present sophisticated legal and statistical findings in
straightforward, practical terms that are understandable and helpful to
legislative decision makers and the public are impeccable. Ms. Bender has
repeatedly demonstrated a knack for keen research insight.
In short, Ms. Bender is a highly intelligent and productive Law and Social
Work student. Therefore, I most highly recommend her to you without any
reservation at all. I am at your service should you require any further
information about this talented woman.
Sincerely,

Derek T Campbell

References
Dr. Sara Wharton
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Law, University of Windsor
Telephone: (519) 253-3000 (x2948)
Email: swharton@uwindsor.ca
Derek Campbell, MSW, RSW, MBA(s), PhD(c)
School of Social Work
401 Sunset Avenue
Windsor, Ontario Canada N9B 3P4
Telephone: 226 346 5757
Email: cambelg@uwindsor.ca
Christopher Waters, D.C.L.
Dean and Professor of Law
Windsor Law,
401 Sunset Avenue
Windsor, Ontario Canada N9B 3P4
Telephone: 519 253 3000 (2930)
Email: lawdean@uwindsor.ca

Christina Bender
1362 Willowdown Rd., Oakville, ON., L6L 1X3
(289) 259-2882, bender1@uwindsor.ca
Anticipated 3L Course Selection

Fall Semester
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Judicial Review of Administrative Action**

Immigration Law
Wills and Succession
Advanced Direct Social Work Practice**
Advanced Indirect Social Work Practice**
Theory and Practice of Social Work and the Law**

Winter Semester
7. Masters of Social Work Advanced Practice Internship**
8. Advanced Practice Internship Seminar**
9. Legal Supervised Research**
** Signifies a required course