NEA: Network - Educate - Advocate

The HCLA is a national non-profit organization founded in 1982. Its primary purpose is to maintain a reliable network of lawyers, judges and law students of Hellenic origin. In addition to creating professional opportunities, this network serves as a platform for members to educate one another on issues that are of common interest, as well as to educate the Hellenic Canadian community at large on relevant legal issues. When necessary, the HCLA is ready, willing, and able to advocate on behalf of its membership and the greater Hellenic Canadian community.

A core mandate of the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association is to support Canadian law students of Greek heritage enter into and flourish in the legal profession. In pursuit of this, the HCLA annually offers scholarships to law students to provide financial assistance for their studies and recognize their achievements, both in school and in the community at large.

The first scholarships were granted in 2004. To date, nearly 20 students have benefited from the scholarship program, with recipients hailing from law schools from across the country. In total, the HCLA has disbursed approximately $20,000 in funds through this program. Over the years, the HCLA has benefitted from generous donations from Sotos LLP and the Panagiotis Alexis family in support of this program.

Justice Andromache Karakatsanis’s recent appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada reminds students just how far their legal education can take them.  In recognition of the uniqueness of Justice Karakatsanis’s achievements and her contributions to the legal profession, the Directors of the HCLA thought it fitting to rename the scholarship program in her honour. We are thankful to Justice Karakatsanis for allowing us to use her name to further the HCLA’s educational goals. We are also pleased to announce that we will formally commemorate the appointment to the Supreme Court at a reception to be held on February 24, 2012 (www.hcla.ca/members/events/). Proceeds from the event will go toward funding future scholarships.

Past scholarship recipients:

2011 - Laura Achoneftos and Gloria Moore

2010 - Thomas Mastoras, Jonathan Dickins

2009 - Christina Bourikos and Peter Meitanis

2008 – Aliki Yiorgiadis and Marie Manikis

2007 – Odysseas Papadimitriou and Paul Karvanis

2006 – Stella Kyriacou and John Georgakopoulos

2005 – Francesca Smirnakis and Voula Kotoula

2004 -  Elena Balkos, Maria Mitousis and Nicholas Kotsopoulos