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OUR CLA TEAM
Marion Overholt, B.A.(Hons.)LL.B., Barrister-at-law
Executive Director
Marion has practiced law in Windsor and Essex County for 38 years. She was a staff lawyer at Legal Assistance of Windsor for many years and has represented clients in public law benefits practice while training law students in the practice of poverty law. She is considered an expert in public benefits law and is often called upon to speak and write about this area of law. Over of the years she has been a board member of numerous community agencies and social justice initiatives including the Downtown Mission, Unemployed Help Centre, Windsor Coalition against Poverty, the Wellcome Centre, the Windsor Social Justice Coalition and Project Ploughshares. She is a past chair of the Provincial Community Legal Clinics Steering Committee on Social Assistance. She has served on a number of United Church committees at both the national and local levels, including a ten year term on United Church Judicial Committee. For ten years Marion was the Social Justice Representative on the Windsor and District Labour Council Executive Board. This is the first time that a labour council anywhere in Canada has had a non-union representative sit on its’ executive. She recently chaired the Ford/CAW local 200 Worker’s Adjustment Committee.
REVIEW COUNSEL
Lilian Bahgat, BSc. JD, Barrister-at-law
Lilian is Review Counsel and has been with CLA since 2015. Prior to joining CLA Lilian worked in private practice primarily on Civil, Employment, Estate and Elder Abuse Litigation. Lilian’s practice always revolved around advocating for the vulnerable members of the community. She holds a certificate in Elder Law from Osgoode Law School. Lilian also conducted research on the topics of battered wife syndrome, patient rights and elder abuse. Lilian is also a regular course instructor at the Elder College and taught as a sessional instructor at St. Clair College for their law clerk program. She currently serves on the Association for Canadian Clinical Legal Education as a board member.
Helen Karpouzos, M.A., LL.B., J.D., Barrister-at-law
Helen Karpouzos is Review Counsel for CLA’s criminal practice area. Helen is a Windsor Law graduate who became passionate about access to justice while working at CLA for all three years during law school. After graduating, Helen practiced as an assistant crown attorney and later as a federal prosecutor, until she started her own criminal defence practice. With a Master of Arts degree in psychology, Helen is particularly interested in social justice issues faced by individuals living with mental health illnesses and/or addictions. Helen currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Essex Law Association, ConnexOntario and the John Howard Society of Windsor-Essex County.
Harpreet Burmy, B.Sc., L.L.B and J.D., Barrister-at-law
Harpreet Burmy is Review Counsel at CLA since 2014. She developed and ran the Family Law Practice Program at CLA from 2014 to 2020. Harpreet is a Windsor Law grad who during law school volunteered at CLA as a caseworker, litigator and group leader. After earning her joint Canadian and US law degrees, Harpreet went on to work in private practice primarily on Family Law, Civil and Estate Litigation. Harpreet has always been passionate about working with Windsor’s vulnerable and marginalized individuals and families in conflict. Harpreet continues to be interested in alternative dispute resolution methods, especially for family law related matters. She also serves on the CLA Advisory Board.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Jonquil Belanger, Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director, Law Clerk and Commissioner of Oaths
Jonquil is the administrative assistant, law clerk, bookkeeper and Commissioner of Oaths at CLA. Jonquil became a Certified Law Clerk in 2000 and currently holds an Associate Membership with the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario since 2005. She began her career in law at Clarks Barrister & Solicitors in 2000 as a Corporate Law Clerk specializing in not-for-profit corporations and eventually moving into personal injury, Accident Benefits and civil litigation law with lawyer, Stephen E. Yoker. Jonquil enjoys her role on the team at CLA and looks forward to continuing to serve the community of Windsor-Essex County through her work at CLA.
Maryna Gorge, Law Clerk and Receptionist
Maryna is a recent Paralegal Graduate from St. Clair College, and she is currently in the process of obtaining her P1 License. She enjoys her role at CLA as it offers her the opportunity to serve the community of Windsor-Essex County and low-income individuals and families to ensure they receive fair, equal assistance.
STUDENTS
Fatima Bata
Fatima Bata is a rising 2L student in the Dual JD program and will be eligible for licensing both in Canada and the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology from the University of Calgary. Fatima has a particular interest in advocating for the safety and autonomy of marginalised individuals, which she looks forward to doing at CLA. As a future lawyer, she is interested in eliminating barriers faced by minority groups in their access to justice. Fatima has been an active Girl Guide for over sixteen years and led her own unit for three years prior to beginning law school. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, skiing, and practising one of the five languages she speaks.
Justin Pham
Justin Pham is a Summer Student at CLA and has been volunteering since the start of his law school journey. Prior to law school, he worked for several years at a managed services company which also deployed patient entertainment software in hospitals across Canada. Justin’s legal interests lie within the realm of employment, as he believes that steady and secure employment will enable individuals to support themselves and their loved ones. In his spare time, Justin loves to go birding and hiking; the most unique thing he has ever seen was a snowy owl!
Paige Redmond
Paige Redmond is a rising 2L Dual JD student with the University of Windsor Faculty of Law and University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Paige has a Bachelor of Arts Honors in Global Development Studies from Queen’s University and a Certificate of Business from the Smith School of Business. Paige is passionate about topics related to food insecurity and the provision of food services. She values engaging with the Windsor-Essex community and is particularly interested in Criminal Law and Civil Litigation.
Riley Hanson
Riley Hanson is an incoming 3L in the Dual JD Program. Originally from Toronto, he earned his B.A. in Communication from Boston College. Riley recently worked at Detroit Mercy’s Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Clinic and is excited to continue to advocate for community members in need with CLA. Before law school, he was a canvasser for the Toronto Environmental Alliance and a canoe trip guide at Camp Pathfinder. Out of the office, you will find Riley enjoying time outdoors, playing sports, or at a concert.
Nivedita Saini
Nivedita is a rising 3L in the Dual JD program at the University of Windsor and the University of Detroit Mercy. Prior to joining CLA, Nivedita has worked for several legal clinics throughout law school such as the Driver’s License Expungement Cinic and the Unemployment Benefits Clinic, where she has had the chance to work with vulnerable and marginalized individuals who are in need of accessible legal support. She is looking forward to her role as a Summer Student with CLA as it will allow her to use her experiences to help clients while building her legal skillset and providing support to her community.
Mark McKelvie
Mark is a rising 2L law student in the Canadian JD program at Windsor Law and is excited to be working at CLA this summer. Originally from Sarnia, Ontario, he was a homeless shelter manager before starting law school. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University as well as a post-graduate certificate in concurrent disorders from the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH). Constitutional law, contract law, and oral advocacy are all areas of interests he’s looking to continue to pursue. In his free time, he enjoys writing music and playing his acoustic guitar.
Annie Rana
Annie Rana, is a rising third-year law student at the University of Windsor, is deeply committed to promoting justice and empowering marginalized communities. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Justice Studies and a Diploma in Police Foundations from the University of Guelph-Humber, along with a Master's degree in Political Science and Public Policy from Wilfrid Laurier University. Through her educational experiences, active participation in service trips, and dedicated volunteer work, Annie developed a commitment to social justice. Currently enrolled in the Dual JD program, her ultimate goal is to work as a litigator, utilizing her time and expertise to serve pro bono cases. In her personal life, Annie finds joy in cooking, training for marathons, and spending time outdoors.
Amelia Perfetto
Amelia is a Summer Law Student at CLA and an incoming third-year student at Windsor Law. As an active member of the Windsor-Essex community, Amelia is looking forward to helping marginalized citizens navigate the legal system this summer. She is most excited to gain practical experience in the areas of employment law and criminal law. In her free time, Amelia enjoys reading, listening to music, and travelling.
Frederico Facchini
Frederico is an uprising second year law student at the University of Windsor with a passion for bringing access to justice to as many people as possible within the Windsor-Essex community. In his first year, he has learned of his interest in Contract law and hopes his experience at CLA will provide him with a stronger attraction within the field of Employment and Labor. Growing up in Brampton his entire life, he has seen firsthand the impact of wrongdoings by landlords and is excited to assist tenants in any injustices done against them. In his free time, he loves gardening, attempting to bake and coaching youth baseball for the Riverside Minor Baseball Association, Go Red Sox!
Naime Sayde
Naime is a 3L Dual JD candidate at the University of Windsor and the University of Detroit Mercy. She holds an HBA with distinction from the University of Toronto where she majored in criminology and sociolegal studies, and minored in philosophy and Indigenous studies. Last summer, she enjoyed volunteering as a legal extern at an expungement clinic in Detroit. She has a passion for criminal law and in her free time she enjoys watching films, being outdoors, and baking.