Julie Matheson awarded 2024 TMU Gold Medal

At this year's Convocation Ceremony, Lincoln Alexander Law’s Julie Matheson was honoured as the recipient of the prestigious Toronto Metropolitan University Gold Medal. This medal is awarded to one student in each school or faculty who has demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding involvement within the university, their profession, and/or their community. 

As a creative and empathetic leader who is committed to addressing social injustice and supporting underserved communities, Julie is well-deserving of this honour. During her time at Lincoln Alexander Law, Julie engaged with clients through her volunteer work with Pro Bono Students Canada at Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal Services and the 519 Trans ID Clinic, as well as the newly-formed Pro Bone-o Pet Dispute Clinic (external link) . She also stayed active with her broader community, maintaining her position as Provincial President of the Toronto-St. Paul’s NDP Riding Association, and continuing to volunteer as a sex education facilitator in the inclusive and queer positive Our Whole Lives curriculum at her church, First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto.

Prior to joining Lincoln Alexander Law, Julie completed a BA from Dalhousie/King’s College and MAs from both OCAD and York University. During law school, Julie enjoyed participating in mooting competitions and was a proud member of the winning team at the 2023 Walsh Family Law Moot. Adding joy to Julie’s vibrant life are time with loved ones, creative pursuits including knitting and other fibre arts, and most of all - her dog Mashed Potato: the unofficial mascot of the Class of 2024’s Section 5.

We recently asked Julie to share with us her law school journey, how it feels to receive this honour, and her advice for incoming law students.

Tell us a bit about your journey to law school. Why did you choose to pursue a legal education and join Lincoln Alexander Law?

My journey to law school was circuitous, and involved a long layover in academia - but after two master’s degrees and six years of an (unfinished) PhD, the COVID lockdowns gave me the time and motivation to finally do what I’d been threatening for years - drop out and go to law school. I saw law school as an opportunity to start having a tangible impact on people’s lives immediately, and as an effective tool to intervene on a system that I believe is deeply flawed. I chose Lincoln Alexander Law (as it was not yet known) because I wanted to attend a law school that, like me, wanted to do things differently; that valued equity, diversity, and inclusion, and that would give me the tools to practice law with an anti-oppressive lens and in support of my communities.

What does receiving the gold medal mean to you?

Receiving the gold medal came as a bit of a shock. I have been surrounded by brilliant, passionate people at Lincoln Alexander Law, people who are already incredible advocates and who I am proud to have as colleagues in this profession. I knew I had worked hard academically and contributed to my communities as I was able, but so did so many other people. It’s an incredible honour that I am grateful to receive, but there are so many folks at Lincoln Alexander Law that inspire me to keep working and keep fighting for the future we need.

What do you think you will remember most about law school?

Maybe the real gold medal is the friends we made along the way? But seriously, as much as I love case law and theory, the humans I met in law school are what I’ll remember long after I’ve forgotten who is responsible for a flying squib in a marketplace. From professors, mentors, and staff to moot partners and study group members that are permanently bonded in suffering - community and relationships are what are most important to me in life, and law school is no different. I’ll also never forget the support of my family and friends who got me through this experience, especially my partner, Jeremy, and our dog, Mashed Potato.

What advice would you give to students entering their first year?

As a first generation law student, sometimes the whole system seemed intentionally murky. Take advantage of the resources and info sessions that the law school offers, but also make good friends - having people to figure things out alongside makes the whole experience much more manageable. Don’t give up the rest of your life for academics; keep volunteering, keep advocating, and keep having fun! You’re a person, not just a future lawyer. Finally, many people will tell you that you don’t need to do all the readings. While that’s certainly possible, I did pretty much all of them, so…make of that what you will.

What are your future plans?

My future plans are already underway. I’ve returned to the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR), where I previously completed my professional placement during my final year of law school. At CCHR, I’ll be representing qualifying tenants in Toronto in eviction and maintenance matters. And, of course, I’ll always have my backup plan of turning my dog into an Instagram celebrity (@mashedpotatomaltese (external link) ).