Faculty of Law Director of Access to Justice wins MBA award

The Faculty of Law congratulates Natasha Brown [BEd/2001; LLB/2005] on being presented with the Manitoba Bar Association’s 2023 Access to Justice award for her contributions. Brown was presented with the award at the MBA 2024 Mid-Winter Conference awards luncheon held on January 19.

Brown has worked in Access to Justice for at least the past four years after having first practiced Family Law and worked as the Legal Director of the Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg for much of her legal career. She was a sessional instructor at the Faculty of Law, teaching Family Law, before becoming the Director of Professional Practice and Externships. She was Access to Justice Coordinator for the Law Society of Manitoba from May 2021 to May 2023 before returning to the Faculty of Law as Director of Access to Justice and Community Engagement. In her role at Robson Hall, Brown is responsible for coordinating the Access to Justice Advisory Network, which serves as a resource for justice system stakeholders and helps to address access to justice issues in Manitoba. She coordinates the annual Access to Justice week for Manitoba and brings an access to justice lens to the Faculty’s many clinical programs.

Brown teaches a section of the Legal Profession and Professional Responsibility course which is mandatory for all upper-year law students. In 2020, she received the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, given to sessional instructors demonstrating exceptional teaching and mentorship of  law students.

The Manitoba Bar Association’s Access to Justice Award recognizes an MBA member for outstanding pro bono legal services or outstanding contributions on the issue of access to justice. It is one of eight MBA Recognition Awards, honouring colleagues who demonstrate excellence and commitment to the law, the legal profession and the community at large.

Story submitted by Faculty of Law.