Community Activities

Nelligan O'Brien Payne maintains a long-standing commitment to community involvement. Our lawyers are active participants in the community and support a wide variety of volunteer and community activities. These include the Canadian Lawyers Association for International Human Rights (CLAIHR), County of Carleton Law Association, National Association of Women and the Law, The Advocates' Society, Ottawa Chamber Music Society, and many others.

The firm collectively participates in many organized volunteer activities, including the Terry Fox Run, Run for REACH, the United Way campaign, the Ronald McDonald House Ski Day, Help Santa Toy Parade and various other fundraising activities throughout the year.

Many of our lawyers have taught at the University of Ottawa Law School, including the University's Advocacy Program, and the Law Society's Bar Admission Course. In addition, they regularly deliver papers at professional conferences and continuing education programs for lawyers throughout Ontario and Canada. They conduct seminars and workshops on emerging areas of law and contribute to the firm's legal and business newsletters.

In 2007, Nelligan O'Brien Payne and the University of Ottawa launched the Nelligan O'Brien Payne Moot Court Competition. The competition is open to all first year law school students and its goal is to help students improve their advocacy skills at an early stage in law school. Participants in the Moot are eligible to be awarded the John P. Nelligan Cup and named Best Moot Team of the competition. This moot court was also held in 2008.

Summary of Nelligan O'Brien Payne Inaugural Moot Court Competition 2007. (Written by Jessica Fullerton)