Legal Line flyers have been displayed and available for pick up at The Supreme Court of Canada since the year 2000 when we received this letter requesting an additional 1,000 Legal Line guides.
In 2017, the prestigious LEXPERT award for ‘Celebrating Women in Law’ was presented to Dr. Antree C. Demakos, Founder and Chief Information Officer for Legal Line, and the Keynote Speaker was The Honourable Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella (bottom right corner).
2021 Message from Chief Justice Richard Wagner, The Supreme Court of Canada
“The decisions we make here affect the lives of all Canadians, and that of your family and community. It’s important to us that you understand the work that we do, and why it matters.”
“The Supreme Court’s essential task — to make independent and impartial decisions about issues that matter to Canadians — hasn’t changed since the Court was created in 1875. But much else has. The Court, its judges, and staff are dedicated to finding ways to better serve you. We’re leveraging technology and new media to better communicate with you, wherever you live, in both of Canada’s official languages.”
Below is the letter written by the then Acting Supreme Court of Canada Director Nadia Loreti requesting 1,000 copies Legal Line guides to be made available to the public, and she refers to Legal Line when she says… “Your service is a great initiative for the community”.
This letter has since been framed and hangs proudly for more than 20 years in the office of our Founder Dr. Antree C. Demakos
Legal Line’s volunteer Law Student Irena Djukic from Western University wins the Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) 2021 Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Richard Wagner Award. This award recognizes PBSC’s outstanding student volunteers in each of the 23 law schools.
10,000 law students enrolled in universities across Canada all have access to Legal Line as a learning resource. Those who are interested in Access to Justice have an opportunity to enhance their public legal education skills through Legal Line’s research and plain language training program.
In 2016, Legal Line was invited to The Supreme Court of Canada talk on Access to Justice at The Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC).
The Law Society website has hot linked to Legal Line with confidence since the year 1999.
The Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC) hosted the 2017 Flip Your Wig for Justice Supreme Court of Canada awareness campaign and fundraising event.
Legal Line’s founder Dr. Antree C. Demakos takes great pride in our shared mandate to bolster Access to justice initiatives.
Legal Line’s Dr. Antree C. Demakos is invited up to the front of the auditorium with over 250 esteemed guests in attendance, and proudly wears the white barrister wig.
The Supreme Court of Canada’s Justice Thomas Cromwell (beside Antree) and Legal Line’s Antree Demakos share thoughts about how access to justice can be increased greatly through more cooperative initiatives between justice partners. Since this conversation, over 8,000 government and community partners have joined Legal Line in a grand show of support.
The fashion trends of the 17th century helped Judge-wigs work their way into courtrooms and the headpieces were fully adopted as proper legal attire by 1685 with just as many strict rules as robes. Judges used to wear long, curled, full-bottom wigs until the 1780s, then they switched to smaller bench wigs.
Wigs were worn in early Canadian courts but phased out beginning in the mid-19th century with last holdouts British Columbia (1905) and Newfoundland and Labrador (upon joining Canada in 1949).
However, even in 2021, British lawyers follow the tradition of wearing head wigs, which is regarded as a symbol of power and respect for the law. In fact, not wearing a wig is perceived as an insult to the courts. British lawyers and judges wear wigs to portray their formality in the courtroom and to pay homage to legal history.
A barrister’s wig is also called a peruke.
“I received the Legal Line brochure in the mail with LPIC practice pro material. To say that your brochure contained a plethora of useful material would be an understatement. I have been practicing litigation for 12 years, and I sit twice a month as a Supreme Court of Canada judge. Congratulations on providing a much needed service, and for doing it so well.”
Judge Jonathan Pitblado, LL.B.
Supreme Court of Canada
“Legal Line flyers are on display at the Registry of the Supreme Court of Canada and made available to members of the public. Your service is a great initiative for the community.”
Nadia Loreti
Acting Director, Registry Branch
The Supreme Court of Canada