This is a joint project between Osgoode Hall Law School, the University of Toronto, and Lincoln Alexander
Project Type: Legal Research and Writing
Fields of Law: Knowledge of ODSP and OW policies/legal precedents is an asset. Knowledge of medical conditions is an asset.
Positions Available: 1 student
About the Don Valley Community Legal Services (DVCLS)
Don Valley Community Legal Services is a community legal resource centre. The Clinic serves persons of modest income in our catchment area on an individual, case-by-case basis. The Clinic also serves the community generally by providing outreach, legal education and community organizing to agencies, individuals and other groups in our community.
Project Details
DVCLS’ Income Maintenance team provides information, advice, and assistance related to income assistance, including Ontario Works (often still called welfare), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and more.
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
This project may have a research component and/or a client-facing (shadowing) component. Research: The student may be asked to provide supporting research for cases and/or public legal education.
Clients: The student will sit in on meetings with clients and possibly shadow particular files from start to finish to gain an understanding of how cases evolve. The student will sit in on client interviews, Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT) hearings, etc. They will take note of any issues (including medical concerns such as physical and mental health) which would be relevant to a social worker.
Students are not lawyers and are not authorized to provide legal advice.
Additional responsibilities: Students may assist the IM team with additional responsibilities including preparing a file to be closed, sending out medical request letters to doctors, and various administrative tasks related to the survey. Administrative tasks are to take up no more than 10% of a students’ time.
Is A Work Plan Required For This Position?
Yes.
If yes, the student(s) must reach out to the lawyer supervisor, draft a work plan, and submit it by email to the Program Coordinator and the lawyer supervisor by November 1st at the latest. Please note that workplans are required for all legal research and writing projects.
What Type Of Training Will the Organization Provide?
Note: All first year PBSC volunteers and all volunteers working on research projects must also attend a PBSC/Thomson Reuters legal research strategies workshop.
DVCLS will provide training on CIMS, their statistical management system; ensure students have knowledge of ODSP appeal processes.
How Many Hours Per Week Will the Student Volunteer(s) Be Expected to Volunteer?
3-5 hours per week.
Will The Student(s) Be Expected To Show Up For Regular Shifts Each Week?
The schedule is flexible. Client meetings may happen on an ad-hoc/sporadic basis.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
Space is provided but not designated.
This project includes both research and client-facing responsibilities. Students will usually be able to complete their research work virtually. Depending on the client-related tasks, students can complete them virtually or at the office. Some tasks will be done at the clinic to benefit from thesupport of DVCLS’ other staff.
Student volunteers who come into the clinic will need to comply with the clinic’s requirements: they must be masked, must be vaccinated (or display a negative rapid test), and must not have had any COVID symptoms.
Requirements and Expectations
- Some knowledge of ODSP/OW legislation is helpful.
- Ability to work with a variety of staff/computer competent.