pbsc uy info session

+ PBSC UY Info Session

2013-2014

+What is Pro Bono Students Canada?

+PBSC MandatePBSC aims (1) to provide vulnerable communities

with legal services free of charge, (2) to provide law students with out-of-

the classroom legal experience, and (3) to instill the pro bono ethic in future

lawyers from their first day of law school.

+

How PBSC Works

PBSC increases access to justice by partnering with: Not-for-profit

Organizations Legal Clinics and Law

Help Centres Government Agencies Courts and Tribunals Lawyers working on Pro

Bono files

+

What am I committing to?

General PBSC Training Westlaw Canada Training

(mandatory for 1Ls and UYs on research projects)

Specialized training (if applicable)

Student Agreement Form 3–5 Hours per Week on

Your PBSC Project On-line, end-of-year survey

+What Do PBSC Volunteers Do? Legal Research and Writing/Policy

Development – more flexibility in terms of hours

Clinical Projects – conduct client intake, provide information to clients, assist with document preparation

Public Presentations – develop and deliver legal information seminars to members of the public who do not have access to lawyers; create plain language documents for the public

Courts and Tribunals – assist self represented litigations attempting to navigate the legal system

++ A multi-disciplinary project with a broad mandate to document discrimination against sexual minorities abroad.

Project goals include facilitating the development and enhancement of LGBT rights by supporting international partners and activists with legal and social research.

The Envisioning Global LGBTRightsProject

+

8

+How does the Envisioning Project work? The Envisioning Project has 3 subcommittees:

Africa, the Caribbean, and India. Students will be assigned to their first choice where possible.

Students will develop reports on their jurisdiction and assist foreign legal challenges by providing research assistance (including comparative constitutional law).

Ben Vandorpe is the Volunteer Coordinator for 2013/2014; he is also a returning student researcher.

8

++ 9

Envisioning Timeline

Mandatory Envisioning training will be held on either Sept 27th or Oct 3rd (Date TBD).

Attend the Community Building Event on Nov. 13.

Formal monitoring occurs from the 11th - 15th.

September November

December Break for Exams.

October Mandatory WestLaw

Training. Assigned to

subcommittees by October 5th.

++ 10

Envisioning Timeline

Subcommittees will reconvene by January 20th.

Attend the Final Appreciation Event.

Students should wrap up their work by March 31st.

January March

April Break for Exams.

February

March

Formal monitoring occurs during the week of February 24th.

++ Help set the foundation for a new project to be launched in Sept 2014

Year 1: Research potential class action files, perform legal research related to the project (e.g. cy pres orders)

Year 2: Work on a class action file with lawyers from a partner firm to be identified

The Class ActionsProject

+

Projects Exclusively for Upper Year Students

Many other projects do not require a specialized application, but are nonetheless just for Upper-Year students

Why Upper-Years? These projects are

generally more hands-on, require advanced LRW, or involve working with a marginalized community

Legal information vs. Legal advice

+METRACA community-based, not-for-profit organization committed to preventing violence against diverse women and youth

+

METRAC

Research and Writing Component One student will provide an article or

research memoranda on a topic of use to survivors of intimate partner violence and woman abuse for the Ontario Women’s Justice Network website

The student will gain skills in legal research and writing, as well as experience in social justice, feminist theory and anti-oppression work

Public Legal Education Component Two upper year female students will

prepare and provide PLE workshops at women’s shelters in the Toronto area

The workshops will cover various aspects of the law that the women are likely to encounter

Students will gain skills in preparing PLE seminars and public speaking, as well as receiving specialized training in anti-oppression work and issues faced by women who have experienced intimate partner violence

+

Projects Exclusively for Upper Year Students

Here are a few other examples: Ontario Deputy Judges

Association (ODJA) Legal Internship

PROS/All Saints Drop-In Legal Information Volunteer

Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC) Legal Internship

Justice for Children and Youth Legal (JFCY) Intern Program

+

How do I Apply?

Download the General Application Form from our website

Rank projects in terms of preference

Include a CV Important Deadlines:

Applications are due by e-mail to the Program Coordinators at [email protected] by WED. SEPTEMBER 18 at 5pm.

An electronic signature is acceptable!

+

Family Law Program (FLP)

Award-winning program developed in 1998 in order to provide support and assistance to individuals who cannot afford legal services and who do not have access to legal aid

Under supervision of Legal Aid Ontario lawyers, students help unrepresented litigants navigate the family law justice system by drafting their court documents and providing them with legal information

+How does the FLP work? Work under the supervision of Legal Aid

Ontario lawyers at one of three Ontario Courts of Justice: North York, 311 Jarvis, Brampton

One four hour shift per week Provide legal information and draft court

documents Gain client interviewing and drafting

skills Gain exposure to the family law justice

system and court procedure Network with advice and duty counsel

and family law judges Promote access to justice in the family

law system

+

The FLP is an incredibly rewarding experience because of the impact that it has on low-income families and the access to justice crisis in the family law system. As Justice Harvey Brownstone has noted, “the improved clarity, accuracy, and relevance of documents filed by student-assisted litigants is of enormous benefit in our efforts to provide fairness, efficiency, and due process to all litigants.”

+FLP Timeline Applications due September 13; decisions

made by September 20;

Full day training on Saturday, September 28 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

One sessions on substantive family law to be held during lunch hour in September, date TBA

Attend the Community Building Event on Nov. 13

September

October

November

December Break for Exams• Students start volunteering

at courts

+FLP Timeline

Attend the Final Appreciation Event

January

February

March

April Break for Exams

• Recommence volunteering at courts

• Summer employment positions are posted, with interviews to take place during the Faculty OCI process

• Judge shadowing

+

Sign me up! How do I Apply?

Application Process: Students must e-mail a brief application form to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13th. The application form is found here: http://www.law.utoronto.ca/programs-centres/programs/pbsc-pro-bono-students-canada/pbsc-family-law-project/upper-years

Students must commit to one four hour shift per week, as well as two mandatory training sessions, one of which will take place on Saturday, September 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The second training session will be held over lunch hour in September, exact date TBA.

mailto:[email protected]


+

The Wills Project

Originally operated as a PBSC initiative in partnership with the 519 Church Community Centre

Recently expanded to serve Aboriginal clients, individuals that fall within a low income bracket, as well as the original goal of serving members of the Toronto community who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS

4-5 upper year students Drafting and reviewing Wills

and Powers of Attorney

+How does the Wills Project work? Students will gain hands-on experience as they track

client files from initiation to closing. They will be meeting directly with clients. They will also have individual supervision from a lawyer who provides valuable insight and guidance throughout the file.

Approximately 20 hrs across 2-3 week period Attend 2 training sessions (one session at Basman Smith

office on Tues Oct 8 and the general PBSC training on Sept 25 or 26)

Students will also be required to plan and put on a Public Legal Education seminar

+Wills Timeline

Applications due Fri Sep 13 PBSC Training on the 25 or

26

Continue drafting Break for reading week Nov. 4-8 Meeting with client and lawyer to

execute document Possibly deliver Public Legal

Education seminar

September

October

November

December Break for Exams Attend mandatory training Oct.

8 1-5pm Receive client and lawyer

match Intake meeting with client and

lawyer Start drafting

+Wills Timeline

Project resumes New clients assigned if fall

semester client completed Intake meeting with client

and lawyer


Possibly deliver Public Legal Education Seminar

January

February

March

April Break for Exams Drafting

Break for reading week Feb. 17-21

Meeting with client and lawyer to execute document

+

Sign me up! How do I Apply?

Application Process: Students must e-mail a cover letter describing their interest and a current resume to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13th.

Students must commit to two mandatory training sessions, one of which will take place on Tuesday, October 8th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.


+

The Tax Court of Canada Advocacy Project

Six Upper-Students work in teams of two to assist unrepresented litigants appearing in front of the Tax Court of Canada

Students help taxpayers navigate the procedures of Tax Court under the supervision of Dentons lawyers (formerly FMC)

The project is restricted to Informal Procedure cases

+How does the Tax Court Advocacy Project work? Students meet with the client assigned to

them, get the history of the case, obtain relevant and missing documents and a list of witnesses

Students prepare written submissions and conduct the hearing

Lawyer supervisors are present in court observing

After the hearing students complete a Post-Hearing Report

+

Photo: Jean-Marc Carisse

Judges of the Tax Court of Canada

Drag picture to placeholder or click icon to add

+Tax Court Timeline

Apply by September 13 Attend PBSC Training on

September 25 or 26


Students meet with clients and continue to learn about relevant case law

September

October

November

December Break for Exams Attend WestLaw

Training on 21st or 22nd Dentons’ “How to Run a

Trial” training session Students study relevant

case law

+Tax Court Timeline

Begin substantive work to prepare for hearing (written submissions, etc.)


Fill out End-of-Year Survey

January

February

March

April Break for Exams Students make

themselves available for formal monitoring with the Volunteer Coordinator

+

“Ain’t No Party like a Tax Club Party.” How do I Apply?

Qualifications: Income Tax Law pre OR co-req Litigation experience strongly

preferred Important Deadlines:

Submit cover letter detailing interest and CV to [email protected] by Fri. Sept 13 at 5pm.

Also Seeking a French-speaking Volunteer Coordinator: Contact person for PBSC

students, regular check-ins to ensure teams meet with clients in timely manner, draft submissions and prepare for hearings

Works with Program Manager to ensure smooth running of program

+The Medico-Legal Society of Toronto Advocacy Project (MLST)

The MLST Advocacy Project provides unrepresented complainants with assistance before the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board

HPARB deals with appeals of complaints that have been dismissed by the Complaints Committees of the Colleges of various regulated health professions in Ontario, including doctors, dentists, and nurses

The project provides an important access to justice service, as many of the complainants are self-represented and face experienced counsel

The project is amazing hands-on experience, especially for students that may be interested in health law or tribunal/admin work

+How does the MLST advocacy project work? Students are placed in groups of 2 or 3 and are

assigned a file to handle from start to finish, including client interviews, research, a pre-review conference, drafting, the oral hearing before HPARB, and follow-up with the client after the decision is issued

Students will work with a legal supervisor and a physician supervisor to build their case, and also have the volunteer coordinator as a resource

There are also training sessions in the fall semester, including advocacy and how to read medical records

+MLST Timeline Attend the Community

Building Event on Nov. 13 Conduct preliminary research

and begin drafting Hold PRC, schedule hearing

September

October

November

December Break for Exams

Applications due Wed September 18th

Volunteer selection and file assignment thereafter

Training session Oct 4. Meet with team and supervisors Intake meeting with client Schedule PRC

+MLST Timeline


Hearing (February or March)

January

February

March

April Break for Exams Follow-up with client after

decision issued

Project resumes Continue researching and

drafting Mock hearings

Mock hearings Hearing (February or March)

+I’m Sold! How do I Apply?

Application Process: Interested students should

apply directly to the Volunteer Coordinator (Madlyn Axelrod) via email at [email protected], with a cover letter and resume

Important Deadlines: Applications are due on

Wednesday September 18 at 12pm.

Please note students must be available for mandatory MLST training on Oct 4 in addition to PBSC training.


+The Immigration and Refugee Detention Centres Project (IRDC)

Public legal education on immigration/refugee law and procedure at key Ontario provincial correctional facilities ("detention centres").

After training, you and a partner go to the detention centres once a month to present to a group of approximately 4-10 detainees.

Through this project, detainees - an isolated and vulnerable population - gain access to legal information they otherwise would be unable to receive, and you gain first-hand exposure to correctional facilities and immigration/refugee law.

+How does the IRDC project work? You need a background/demonstrated

interest in refugee law (e.g. Migration Law or Refugee Law)

Presentation is already prepared, so no research requirement and you will receive training both from Rana Khan at the UNHCR and a lawyer mentor from Refugee Law Office at Legal Aid

VC will assist with scheduling visits, liaising with detention centres

You must have a valid driver’s license, but there is a budget for car rental.

+

“My experience as a volunteer with PBSC's IRDC project stands out as one of the more challenging and rewarding commitments I made as a law student. It's a unique opportunity to bring valuable legal information to individuals who are detained and facing the possibility of deportation, more often than not without having had the benefit of any legal advice or information. It is an important program I was privileged to be a part of during the three years I was at U of T Law.” – Janet McGill, 3L

+IRDC Timeline Attend PBSC training session on

Sept. 25 or 26 and specialized IRDC training with Rana Khan at UNHCR on Sep. 27

Apply for Police clearance Practice presentations with

lawyer mentors


Visit to detention centre Fall monitoring

September

October

November


+IRDC Timeline

Visit to detention centre Attend the Final Appreciation Event

Fill out End-of-Year Survey

January

February

March

April Break for Exams Spring monitoring

+So How do I Apply?

Apply through the General Application process (available for download on our website)

Due: Wednesday Sept. 18 Please note that students must

have taken or concurrently take Migration Law/Refugee Law or equivalent course

Students must hold a valid driver’s license and those with vehicles will be preferred

For security clearance reasons, students must be Canadian citizens

+

PBSC at Law Help Ontario

PBSC at Law Help Ontario provides an opportunity to assist individuals who are involved in civil litigation and can’t afford legal representation.

This year we will be recruiting 20 students at the University of Toronto

+How does the Civil Litigation project work? Volunteers will be assigned a weekly 3

hour shift (either morning or afternoon) based on their availability at the 393 University Centre office, which is focused on litigation issues at the Superior Court of Justice.

Volunteers interview clients, identify legal issues, and assist lawyers in providing legal support to the clients.

Volunteers assist with drafting legal documents and correspondence under the guidance of a lawyer.

+

"Volunteering at Law Help Ontario has been the most practical learning experience I have had during Law School. I was exposed to every aspect of litigation, including meeting clients and helping lawyers draft pleadings, motions and affidavits. More importantly, volunteering at LHO is a great way to make a meaningful impact in the lives of unrepresented litigants."

Student volunteer, 3L

+Law Help Timeline


September

October

November


Applications Due Sept. 13 PBSC General Training 25 or 26 Training Session Sept. 27, 1-4pm Shifts Begin Sept. 30 (tentative)

+Law Help Timeline


January

February

March


Shifts re-start at beginning of winter term

Monitoring

+I’m Sold! How do I Apply?

Application Process: apply online through the PBSC at Law Help Ontario website: http://www.law.utoronto.ca/programs-centres/programs/pbsc/pro-bono-law-ontario-civil-litigation-project

Important Deadlines: All applications are due by

Friday, September 13, 2013 Training will take place on

September 27th

http://www.law.utoronto.ca/programs-centres/programs/pbsc/pro-bono-law-ontario-civil-litigation-project




+

The Deputy Judges Clerkship Project

Two 3L students will assist Administrative Deputy Judge Laura Ntoukas with legal research and writing, at the Toronto Small Claims Court (47 Sheppard Ave).

Students must be available for a regular shift TBD based on student’s schedule and will in addition perform work remotely

+How does the Deputy Judges Clerkship Project work? Students will attend the Small Claims Court

for a regular weekly shift (to be determined with the student)and will provide research support onsite or remotely

Students will perform “file review” of upcoming court appearances

Students will have shadowing opportunities and a full briefing of the files with the parties’ consent (e.g. trial, settlement conferences, hearings, etc.)

+Deputy Judges Timeline


September

October

November


PBSC Training on Sept 25th or 26th

First Meeting with Admin. Deputy Judge Ntoukas by Oct. 11.

WestLaw Training on Oct 21 or 22

+Deputy Judges Timeline


January

February

March


Resume placement

+

What Makes a Good Candidate?

How do I Apply?

Students should have an interest in litigation and a strong academic record

To apply please send a cover letter detailing your interest and a CV to [email protected] by Fri. Sept. 13 at 5pm. Unsuccessful candidates will be automatically considered for the Ontario Deputy Judges Association Research Internship.

Please note that students must be willing to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen.


+Before we take your questions, thank you to PBSC’s sponsors:

+

Any Questions?

pbsc uy info session

Documents

communities pbsc

pbsc mandatepbsc

pbsc goals

pbsc experiences

pbsc placements

pro bono publico

pro bono organization

pro bono ethic