In early October, members of the PATH team had the pleasure of attending and participating in the Canadian Prison Law Association’s annual conference. This year the conference was titled, “Rights, Remedies & Decarceration” and was hosted on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Musqueam First Nation at the University of British Columbia.
On the second day, our Co-Director, Emma Halpern, and her friend and client, Renford Farrier, spoke on a panel concerning systemic racism within corrections. Renford emphasized the harms caused by empty promises and abandonment from lawyers, called on legal professionals to pay special attention to how systemic betrayal and oppression can cause chronic distrust. He explained that for individuals in custody, a legal professional can serve as a vital lifeline, and this responsibility must be taken seriously. Emma further emphasized the obligation of white and otherwise privileged lawyers to do the hard work and challenge systemic racism head-on.
The conference’s Organizing Committee, chaired by Debra Parkes and Kate Mitchell, alongside members Nora Demnati, Nyki Kish, Jennifer Metcalfe, and Reakash Walters, did an excellent job creating and coordinating informative panels. As we reflect on the conference, we’re eager to share our thoughts on how future conferences can be made even more impactful. These reflections are intended only to share our perspective.
“Stepping outside the professional class”
A recurring theme throughout the panels was a call to action for legal professionals to “step outside of the professional class” and engage beyond their traditional role as a service provider. This involves recognizing and engaging with clients as individuals with their own complexities, rather than merely service recipients. A few panelists offered examples and tools for how to ‘step out’.
Amna Akbar opened the discussion by urging lawyers seeking lasting change to immerse themselves in social movements that challenge existing legal frameworks. For example, a lawyer working with transient and houseless populations is likely to better serve their legal interests compared to a lawyer with no experience within that community. Other panelists, including Nicole Kief and Jeffrey Kennedy, emphasized the importance of listening and bearing witness to individuals' stories rather than merely providing services. Both advocated for a flexible approach to prison law that diverges from conventional training.
Many community-based panelists highlighted the value of intersectional and interdisciplinary learning in legal education as a way to step outside of the professional class. They suggested lawyers should seek out a range of perspectives on a particular issue from individuals with lived experience, as well as, other institutional systems to compare and contrast experiences, policies and practices.
PATH has embraced this theme of “stepping outside of the professional class.” If we think about what a conference would look like if we truly stepped outside the legal profession, we start to see exciting possibilities.
Conferences are usually very structured and often oriented to professionals. Many attendees at this year’s conference were legal professionals, community workers, or advocates connected to the legal field. Each person there had an important role to play.
But to find truly meaningful solutions, we need to invite people from outside this professional bubble. This means including voices from other academic fields, like social work, history, or philosophy. It also means giving space to individuals with diverse life experiences to share their knowledge and ideas. By expanding our audience, we can raise awareness about the ongoing harms within corrections and inspire creative, life-changing solutions.
It’s worth noting that the conference did include panelists with lived experience. One of the most powerful discussions featured three individuals serving life sentences who bravely shared their personal stories. We are truly grateful for their courage and openness.
However, it’s important to recognize that these panelists had limited time to share their experiences. They weren’t afforded enough space to express themselves fully or comfortably. To truly honour their voices, we need to rethink how we structure such discussions. It is essential to provide more time for those with lived experiences to speak and offer support afterward, helping them process the emotional weight of sharing their stories in a public forum.
We are all learning from these experiences. This conference taught us valuable lessons on how to better include and uplift voices from outside the professional class. Moving forward, we must apply these lessons by creating more welcoming spaces and structures that allow for deeper engagement and understanding. Together, we can make meaningful changes that truly reflect the diverse perspectives and experiences of everyone involved.
Sincerely,
The PATH team