Appointments to Legal Aid Commission

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tom Marshall is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Nick Avis, Q.C., as chairperson and the appointment of Krista L. Gillam, Marina C. Whitten, John Jenniex and Mary Adams as members of the province�s Legal Aid Commission. The appointments are for a two-year term.

The Legal Aid Commission facilitates access to legal counsel for persons with limited financial means.

Nick Avis attended Memorial University graduating in 1976 with a bachelor of science in physics. He graduated from Queen�s University, Ontario in 1980 with an LL.B. He articled with the Newfoundland Legal Aid Commission for two years and became staff solicitor/area director for the Newfoundland Legal Aid Commission for a brief period in St. John�s before moving on to Corner Brook. He is currently an associate with Brown Fitzgerald Morgan & Avis Law Firm in St. John�s. He was admitted to the Bar in December 1980 and was appointed to Queen�s Counsel in June 2000.

Mary Adams was born in the Arctic and raised in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Fluent in both Inutititut and English, she began translating on a volunteer basis within the health care system and for the RCMP throughout the 1970s. She expanded her interpretation services in the 1980s to include the court system and federal and provincial departments of Justice. Ms. Adams attended McGill University and completed courses in guidance counseling in both Inutititut and English and completed distance courses in translating and interpretation from Yellowknife. She has worked as guidance councilor in Quebec and is currently employed as an interpreter for Labrador Legal Services and Labrador Health Corporation.

John Jenniex worked 36 years in the former Department of Socials Services with the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador. He was an office clerk, a welfare officer, an office manager, district supervisor and regional director. He has been active in the community as past chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Registration of Social Workers, chairperson/ board member of the Corner Brook Rec Plex, past-chair of the Humber Village Committee and a member of the Lions Club.

Marina C. Whitten graduated from the University of Toronto Law School and was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 1992. In 1994, she became an associate with the Law Firm Aylward, Chislett and joined as partner in 1998.

Krista L. Gillam attended Dalhousie Law School and was called to the Newfoundland and Labrador Bar in 1996. From 1995 through 1997 she worked as an associate with White, Ottenheimer and Baker before joining Collins and Associates in 1997 where she currently practices today.

Media contact: Billy Hickey, Communications, (709) 729-6985, 691-6390

2005 11 14                                       2:00 p.m.