Jeannette Savoie

The UNB Legal Clinic is led by Supervising Lawyer Jeannette Savoie, who brings nearly 20 years of practice experience to the position, including ten years with the Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories. Ms. Savoie believes strongly in promoting access to justice through actions rather than words. During her time in the north, she established and operated the Outreach Legal Aid Clinic, which provides free legal representation to low-income people in matters relating to housing, disability and pension-related matters, employment issues, mental health and guardianship reviews, child protection matters, and debtor, creditor or civil claims.

In addition to this work, Ms. Savoie partnered with Indigenous communities and the NWT Legal Aid Commission to conduct fly-in poverty law clinics and other mobile legal clinics for isolated communities. Her advocacy work has made a significant impact on these communities, expanding legal services and access to justice throughout the Northwest Territories.

A native of New Brunswick, Ms. Savoie earned a law degree from the Université de Moncton and an LLM in family law from Osgoode Hall Law School. She has appeared before all levels of court in the New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories. In 2016, Ms. Savoie was named a National Legal Aid Leader by the Canadian Bar Association, recognized for her dedication to access to justice and her efforts to expand the range of legal services available to low-income, marginalized or geographically isolated populations.