Stefania Vomiero, Osgoode CLF Vice-President of Events (2024-2025) and Co-President (2025-2026), at the 2025 National Law Student Conference.
Stefania Vomiero is an incoming 3L at Osgoode Hall Law School. She recently finished her tenure as the 2024-2025 Vice President of Events of Osgoode’s CLF law student chapter, host of the 2025 National Law Student Conference. She will be acting as Co-President of Osgoode CLF for 2025-2026.
As the Osgoode CLF Vice-President of Events, I am thrilled to share a report on the 2025 CLF National Law Student Conference, which was the culmination of an incredible amount of planning and work, and has certainly been one of the most rewarding experiences of law school thus far.
This Conference is an annual opportunity for the students of CLF chapters from law schools across the country to come together at a host school for a weekend to connect with other law students, lawyers and legal professionals who share two incredibly important vocations: we are passionate about the law, truth-seeking and justice, and we have been called by God to pursue these ambitions and goals while living out our Christian faith as we navigate the legal profession.
“Every time we have the opportunity to share in fellowship and legal discourse, I am inspired to know that we are part of a National network of legal professionals working to make the world a better place through the practice of law. ”
The theme for the 2025 Conference was, “Salt and Light in the Law: The Christian Lawyer’s Purposeful Calling”. Our focus was to curate an agenda that highlighted the importance of keeping faith at the forefront of legal practice as Christian legal professionals, as well as how Christians can live authentically in their careers. The inspiration for our theme this year was derived from Matthew 5:13-16 which reads:
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (RSV)
These passages remind us that as Christian lawyers we must be both the salt of the legal profession, preserving and seeking truth, justice, and integrity, all of which are fundamental to our callings in both law and religion; as well as the light, sharing God’s love and mercy with everyone we meet, both through our work and in our everyday lives.
The official programming kicked off on Friday morning with a welcome speech from the Associate Dean (Academic) of Osgoode, Lisa Dufraimont. She shared that she was happy that we were able to host the conference at Osgoode this year because it is important for all students, including Christian students, to feel that they can participate authentically in law school.
Our first substantive session focused on “Protecting Mental Health in the Legal Profession”, featuring Winston Sayson and Lia Milousis, who shared the unique mental health challenges that legal professionals face in pursuit of excellence in their careers. This results both from the sometimes difficult nature of the work we are engaged in, as well as the demanding schedules we must often maintain. This was an important reminder for law students embarking on this career path to prioritize self-care and rest.
“If you haven’t yet attended a CLF National Law Student Conference, I highly recommend prioritizing attending before you’ve finished law school. You will cultivate a network and support system that can be relied upon throughout the remainder of your career both professionally and spiritually.”
This was followed by an excellent session called “Christianity, Reconciliation and Indigenous Peoples in Canada”, featuring Professor Frankie Young and Terry LeBlanc of Abegweit First Nation, moderated by lawyer Brenna Staats. The discussion focused on the history and relationship between Indigenous peoples and Christianity, inviting all to reflect on the importance of continuing to engage with these challenging topics in working towards true reconciliation.
We then enjoyed a lunchtime fireside chat, “Law & Religion: Religious Freedom, Equality and Diversity in a Pluralistic Society”, with CLF’s Derek Ross and Osgoode Professor Benjamin Berger. This was a special opportunity to discuss the unique perspectives that people across faiths bring to the study and practice of law, including issues surrounding human rights and freedom of expression, as well as whether and how the law should regulate people’s ability to live out their religious beliefs.
Panelists Dr. Sam Henein, Karen Henein, Winston Sayson and Barbara Sayson at the 2025 National Law Student Conference.
Our next session, “Living a Full Life In (and Outside) of the Law”, featured two couples, Winston and Barbara Sayson as well as Karen and Sam Henein, and provided insight regarding how to balance busy careers in the legal profession with family life and marriage. This session was particularly valuable because family life and professional excellence are callings that Christian lawyers often struggle to reconcile. This session provided an opportunity to delve deeper and receive practical guidance and advice to manage this dilemma based on the panelists’ lived experience.
We also had the opportunity to hear from articling students and recently called lawyers Evelyn Lee, Jonathan Obara, Lucas Lisitsky and Jonathan Ng, in a session titled “Navigating Your Early Career”. We discussed the challenges and demands surrounding articling and the early years of working as a lawyer, and how to maintain balance and make time for personal goals as well.
CLF’s National Office team at the 2025 National Law Student Conference.
Day 2 began with the session “Salt, Light and Litigation”, featuring lawyers Brandon Pasternak, Rhoda Cookhorn, Winston Sayson and Vivian Clemence, focused on living out our Christian faith and values in the adversarial environments that litigation can cultivate. Across the criminal, civil and poverty law contexts we discussed the various ways that litigators can show up in their careers as a reflection of God’s love for humanity.
Next, we had the opportunity to hear from lawyers Robert Reynolds and Derek Ross on “Religious Freedom and the Charter”. This session focused on the importance of the right to religious freedom, which has now been entrenched in the Canadian Constitution through the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and why it is vital for Christians to continue to advocate for a conception of religious freedom that allows people across religious traditions to practice their faith without undue interference or persecution.
The Honourable Justice Peter D. Lauwers of the Court of Appeal for Ontario at the Conference Celebration Banquet.
The formal programming for the Conference concluded with a Celebration Banquet on Saturday evening. Our keynote speaker, the Honourable Justice Peter D. Lauwers of the Court of Appeal for Ontario, spoke on the topic “Speaking Peaceably”. He discussed the role that understanding human nature plays in advocacy and judging, and how to maintain professional and personal relationships without compromising our core commitments and values.
Osgoode CLF Co-Presidents Ebun Akomolafe and Travis Godfrey led the organizing of the 2025 CLF Student Conference.
In closing, both planning and attending the 2025 CLF National Law Student Conference was an unforgettable experience. Working with a fantastic executive team to bring this initiative to life, including our Co-Presidents Ebun Akomolafe and Travis Godfrey, our VP External Calvin Lei, our VP Communications Noriana Odisho, our VP Finance Jeremy Vyn and our VP Social Angelina Chen (as well as our amazing 1L representatives Ethan New, Mikayla Sinclair, Kevin Wang, and Daniella Charles-Obazei), made the process not only manageable but deeply enjoyable, and brought us all together in a special way, solidifying some great friendships.
The re-invigoration and connection I experienced over this weekend spent with the CLF community within the halls of Osgoode Hall Law School also cannot be overstated. This is such a unique community that unites us all both through our love for Christ and for the practice of law. Every time we have the opportunity to share in fellowship and legal discourse, I am inspired to know that we are part of a National network of legal professionals working to make the world a better place through the practice of law. Getting to meet and connect with so many Christian law students from across the country was incredibly powerful and uplifting, and created a sense of belonging that has been invaluable to me.
“This is such a unique community that unites us all both through our love for Christ and for the practice of law.”
In addition to the academic programming we enjoyed, there were many profound opportunities for fellowship and community building in Christ throughout the weekend. Each morning, we worshipped the Lord together and even gathered at the law school for a Sunday service when the snow prevented us from gathering in a church. The duration of the weekend – including Thursday night Bible jeopardy, and our Friday night socials with groups enjoying either a games night at Osgoode or taking on downtown Toronto – was filled with laughter, conversation and forming new friendships with brothers and sisters in Christ from across the country.
If you haven’t yet attended a CLF National Law Student Conference, I highly recommend prioritizing attending before you’ve finished law school. You will cultivate a network and support system that can be relied upon throughout the remainder of your career both professionally and spiritually. Thank you to all who made this event possible.
Osgoode CLF students, alumni, and student executives at the 2025 National Law Student Conference.
2025 National Law Student Conference attendees at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Learn more about the annual CLF National Law Student Conference here.
Photos courtesy of Elsie Abang and Shubila K Photography