Hi, my name is Miruna…
In the nearly 2 months I have worked at Aboriginal Legal Services as a Court worker at 10 Armoury Street, I can safely say that my world has been turned upside down. Though I have worked in different sectors of the non-profit field, this has been my first introduction to the legal system. Daunting as it seemed at first, I was fortunate enough to have the expertise and guidance of both my coworkers and managers. From walk-in intakes to addressing the court, there seems to be no shortage to the amount of learning I get to do on the job. Despite the name, being a court worker does not start and end within the court itself – the real work being done is in the interactions I get to have with clients and the rapport I build with those who access ALS services. Recently, the court worker department was invited to attend a two-day training to more comprehensively cover different aspects of the job and to form a better understanding of the importance in applying Gladue Principles within different stages of the legal system. Within this training, we also participated in mock trials and bail hearings to help put ourselves in the mindsets of the different parties involved in the courts. Best of all, from these mock trials we were encouraged to step outside the box as we critically assessed how to best provide aid to Indigenous clients in needs to legal support. I look forward to learning more on the job and am glad to be a part of an organization that makes a concrete impact on the welfare of the Indigenous community.
Miruna Schonberger