Prasanna Balasundaram receives Cirillo Award

Prasanna Balasundaram has been awarded the Association for Canadian Clinical Legal Education’s (ACCLE) Cirillo Award, which recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the life of their legal clinics.

Balasundaram is the director of Downtown Legal Services (DLS), a community legal clinic and clinical education program operated by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law. Prior to his appointment, Balasundaram was a staff lawyer at the clinic for seven years, overseeing the refugee and immigration division.

An excellent litigator with notable successes with law reform/test case litigation, including constitutional challenges to the Safe Third Country Agreement and other interventions, Balasundaram is a popular clinical educator and supervisor. He has supported, evaluated and reviewed case work for countless U of T Law students.

ACCLE is an association of individuals and clinics who provide a forum for legal educators across Canada to share best practices, pedagogies and other information related to clinical legal education.

The Cirillo Award was named in honour of Lisa Cirillo, long-time ACCLE Board member and former director of Downtown Legal Services.

“Our JD students and alumni will attest to the transformative client experience Downtown Legal Services provides,” said University Professor Jutta Brunnée, dean of the Faculty of Law.

“Congratulations to Prasanna on this significant honour, recognizing his educational contributions and the clinic’s impact on community it serves.”