HARRY CRITCHLEY
PRISON AND POLICE
JUSTICE FUND
The Harry Critchley Prison and Police Justice Fund honours Harry’s commitment to justice, equity, and human rights by supporting prison and policing oversight work through a full-time articling position at PATH Legal. Harry's Fund bridges education with community service, empowering the next generation of advocates to challenge systemic injustice and defend marginalized individuals. Through this initiative, we continue Harry’s legacy of fierce, compassionate, and relentless advocacy.
Harrington (Harry) Critchley
Harry Critchley was a dedicated advocate, lawyer, and community leader whose work transformed the landscape of prison and policing oversight in Nova Scotia. His unwavering commitment to justice, education, and social change continues to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Harry’s passion for justice took root during his time at the University of King’s College in Halifax. While studying Contemporary Studies, he introduced a community-based Humanities curriculum to the Burnside Jail, marking the beginning of his lifelong commitment to working alongside incarcerated individuals.
In 2017, Harry co-founded the East Coast Prison Justice Society (ECPJS), a groundbreaking organization advocating for the rights and dignity of incarcerated people in Nova Scotia. His leadership in civil oversight of jail conditions and police accountability, including contributions to the Defunding the Police report and the Mass Casualty Commission hearings, was instrumental in shaping policy and public discourse.
Harry also served on the board of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia (EFMNS), where he expanded services to Truro and helped develop programs addressing gender-based violence. During the early days of COVID-19, he played a key role in securing the release of nearly half the provincially incarcerated population and was a driving force behind the creation of a sobering centre as an alternative to police lockup, advocating in memory of Corey Rogers.
After earning a law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie in 2022, Harry was called to the bar in 2023 and joined Dartmouth’s Nova Scotia Legal Aid office. It was, in his words, his “dream job,” a perfect fit for his deep commitment to supporting marginalized and impoverished communities. His impact was widely recognized, including being awarded the Justice Abella Prize for his contributions to equity and social justice.
While Harry’s professional achievements were immense, he was, above all, a devoted husband, father, son, and friend. He found his greatest joy in family life, embracing every moment with warmth and love.
About the Harry Critchley Prison Justice Fund
Harry’s legacy lives on through the ongoing work of PATH Legal, ECPJS, EFMNS, and all those he inspired to fight for a more just world. To honour his life, the Harry Critchley Prison and Police Justice Fund was created. This fund is dedicated to continuing his mission, ensuring that his vision for a fairer and more compassionate society endures.
Harry’s Fund sustains the integrated prison and policing oversight work that Harry was so passionate about, and it ensures that new lawyers can continue carrying forward his values of patience, helpfulness, passion, and commitment to systemic change.
Each year, the Harry’s Fund will support the hiring of a paid, full-time articling student at PATH Legal.
This accomplishes two goals:
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Support new lawyers in gaining direct experience in police and prison law at a social justice law firm.
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Build a living legacy through an alumni network of lawyers committed to the same ethic Harry embodied: principled advocacy, solidarity, and dedication to the dignity of all people.
Harry believed strongly in bridging post-secondary education with community service, and this fund allows us to do just that: connecting law graduates to meaningful, justice-centered articling opportunities that might otherwise not exist.
This articling placement is not just about building legal skills, it is about carrying forward Harry’s legacy: patient, principled, community-first advocacy that challenges inequality and insists on dignity for all.
The Organizations
PATH Legal
PATH Legal is a community-based law firm in Halifax, Nova Scotia, dedicated to advancing justice for people affected by prisons and policing.
PATH was established through the collaborative work of community advocates who recognized the urgent need for dedicated legal services in this area.
PATH Legal is a community-based law firm in Halifax, Nova Scotia, dedicated to advancing justice for people affected by prisons and policing.
PATH was established through the collaborative work of community advocates who recognized the urgent need for dedicated legal services in this area.
East Coast Prison Justice Society
ECPJS is a grassroots organization that advocates for accountability, transparency, and human rights in correctional and policing systems across Atlantic Canada.
Community members, including lawyers, advocates, formerly incarcerated people, and family members, came together to create a coalition capable of pressing for systemic reform.
ECPJS is a grassroots organization that advocates for accountability, transparency, and human rights in correctional and policing systems across Atlantic Canada.
Community members, including lawyers, advocates, formerly incarcerated people, and family members, came together to create a coalition capable of pressing for systemic reform.
Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia
EFMNS is a non-profit organization that supports women, girls, and gender-diverse people who are criminalized or at risk of criminalization. EFMNS provides a wide range of programs and services, including housing supports, court navigation, advocacy, and programs addressing gender-based violence, human trafficking, and systemic barriers.
EFMNS is a non-profit organization that supports women, girls, and gender-diverse people who are criminalized or at risk of criminalization. EFMNS provides a wide range of programs and services, including housing supports, court navigation, advocacy, and programs addressing gender-based violence, human trafficking, and systemic barriers.
Articling at PATH Legal
The articling student sponsored by the Harry Critchley Prison and Police Justice Fund will spend their articling year at PATH Legal in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in prison and police law, systemic advocacy, and community-first legal practice.
As an articling student at PATH, you can expect to:
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Work directly with clients;
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Contribute to constitutional and systemic litigation;
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Support police accountability efforts;
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Engage with community partners; and
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Develop practical legal skills.
You will work as part of a small, collaborative team that values independence, compassion, and a commitment to systemic change. The work is often fast-paced, legally complex, and emotionally demanding, but also deeply rewarding.
Most articling positions in Nova Scotia do not provide the chance to focus on prison law, police accountability, and constitutional litigation. At PATH, your work will directly contribute to advancing justice for some of the most marginalized communities in the province.
What to Submit
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Application form
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Resume / CV
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Academic Transcripts
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Personal Statement (max. 1,000 words)
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Writing Sample
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References (1 to 3)
Important Dates
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Applications Open: TBA
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Applications Close: TBA
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Interviews Conducted: TBA
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Recipient Announced: TBA
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Articling Term Begins: Spring/Summer 2027