Fixing things comes naturally to Ignace Louis Jean. Before becoming a lawyer, Ignace worked as a mechanic on both cars and heavy equipment. Now a duty counsel providing bilingual criminal law services, he helps repair and improve the lives of clients in Sudbury and Manitoulin at Legal Aid Ontario (LAO).
Ignace has always enjoyed taking things apart and restoring them. Originally from Haiti, he earned an auto mechanics diploma at age 18. After working in the skilled trade for several years, he went on to teach car repairs. However, the law had always intrigued him, and while working as a mechanics instructor, he studied law part-time at l’Université d’État d’Haïti (the State University in Haiti).
The law and mechanics are different lines of work, but Ignace says they share some similarities. “They both demand a commitment to service — they require active listening, empathy and above all, the ability to help others navigate and solve their problems.”
Coming to Canada as a student, Ignace attended Sudbury’s College Boréal to study heavy equipment mechanics and subsequently worked in that field, but his passion for the law continued. He resumed legal studies at the University of Ottawa and articled at LAO Sudbury. After being called to the bar, he worked for two years in LAO’s Cochrane office, serving various northern communities before joining LAO Sudbury in 2020.
Ignace provides legal information and advice to help clients charged with a criminal offence. “When people contact me, their world feels upside down.” Many are anxious and scared, he says, believing jail is the only outcome. Ignace explains other possibilities to them such as a diversion, peace bond, or withdrawal of charges if the client gets treatment for an addiction or mental health issue. “Once they understand their options, I can just feel their anxiety level drop.”
Fast-paced environment
The fast pace and client volume are challenges for duty counsel, says Ignace. “I must assess a person’s situation quickly and come up with solutions. So many people need our help that I must be cognizant of the lineup of people waiting to see me.”
Other issues can also factor into the client’s situation, he adds. Homelessness, mental health conditions, or addictions to drugs or alcohol can play a role when clients are involved with the criminal justice system.
Community involvement
Giving back to society is important to Ignace. He volunteers at the John Howard Society and provides legal information to newcomers to Canada through a settlement program at Le Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury. He also volunteers as a youth mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and as an instructor at the French Language Institute for Professional Development, which provides specialized legal training in French.
More about duty counsel
Ontario’s duty counsel are legal aid lawyers who provide legal advice in family, criminal and immigration law cases to individuals who qualify. These dedicated, compassionate individuals support people navigating the legal process and the justice system. This is one in a series of profiles of duty counsel across Ontario. Learn more on National Duty Counsel Day.
