2023 McIntyre Medal winner: Jinjae Jeong

The William R. McIntyre Medal is awarded to the member of the graduating class who exhibits the highest qualities of academic excellence, community service and student leadership. The medal recognizes the  special relationship that the Faculty of Law has enjoyed with the Honourable William R. McIntyre, who retired from the Supreme Court of Canada in 1989. 

This year’s McIntyre Medal winner is Jinjae Jeong. 

In addition to maintaining excellent grades, Jinjae was involved in the law student community as Co-President of the Pan Asian Law Society, was the student representative on the faculty’s Equity and Diversity Council and was involved with the Racialized Law Students’ Collective. He was a Publications Manager then Editor-in-Chief of Appeal: Review of Current Law and Law Reform, the student-run law journal. He also competed in the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot, which focuses on areas of law in which issues of equity and diversity arise. As part of the respondent team with Shermaine Chua, he received the Runner-Up Team Award for reaching the final round, as well as the Spirit of the Moot Award.  

His demonstrated commitment to social justice is evident in his work experience at the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC), Access Pro Bono and the Community Legal Assistance Society, all in Vancouver. 

Jinjae plans to use his legal skills to continue addressing the housing crisis in BC, something he is very passionate about. He is doing his articles with TRAC, a non-profit organization whose mandate is to enhance legal protections for all tenants living in British Columbia through education, representation, and advocacy. He will then clerk at the BC Supreme Court in Vancouver in 2024, then return to TRAC as a lawyer in 2025.