Student support from Torys LLP comes at critical time
October 22, 2020
COVID-19 has presented unique challenges for many, including law students who lost summer job opportunities and the income they were relying on for tuition and living expenses.
With thanks to a generous gift from Torys LLP, a student support bursary has been established to assist students with demonstrated financial need.
Led by Torys LLP partners Gillian Dingle, LLB’04, Adrienne DiPaolo, LLB’08, Mitch Frazer, LLB’99 and Janan Paskaran, LLB’02, support from fellow Western Law alumni at the firm was quickly raised $100,000 in support of Western Law students.
The firm stepped up to match the lawyers’ collective contributions dollar for dollar, bringing the Torys gift to $200,000.
“Torys has a long-standing affiliation with the law school and we value that relationship,” said Mitch Frazer. “This is a critical period in the history of the law school—with students facing financial hardship during this global crisis. There’s no more important time to give back than now and we’re proud to do so.”
The $200,000 gift from Torys LLP has been matched by Western Law—bringing the total to $400,000 and establishing the Torys LLP Student Support Bursary.
“As alumni and as a firm, we are thrilled to partner with Western Law to invest in students and help ease some of the additional uncertainty and stress they are facing in the pandemic,” said Adrienne DiPaolo.
“This is an important and much-needed initiative,” said Western Law Dean Erika Chamberlain. “We’re very grateful for the tremendous support of our alumni and Torys at this critical time.”
Torys LLP, a globally recognized law firm with offices in Toronto, Calgary, New York, Montreal and Halifax, has been a strong supporter of Western Law and its students through awards, scholarships and funding for academic research, including the W. Geoff Beattie Chair in Corporate Law, and the Torys LLP Corporate & Securities Law Forum.
“Torys has been a true champion of Western Law,” said Dean Chamberlain. “We’re very grateful to them and for the leadership of Mitch Frazer and our alumni at the firm for supporting the next generation of legal professionals.”
