Project Type: Client Intake and Assistance
Fields of Law: Family law; human rights law; Women’s rights
Positions Available: 1 student
About Family Transition Place
Family Transition Place (FTP) primarily provides services to women and children who have been subjected to abuse. FTP knows that abuse has wide ranging impact on peoples’ lives in the community and society in general, so they aspire to: A community free of abuse where all individuals are treated with compassion, equity and respect, and live their lives in health relationships. Their mission is to support the holistic wellbeing of those affected by gender-based violence and promote health relationships and community, through education.
Project Details
The Family Transition Place (FTP) is a shelter that provides a safe and comfortable place to stay for women (16 years of age and older) and their children. FTP provides food and other essentials. They offer assistance with transportation and childcare, advocacy and accompaniment to appointments and court, individual and group counselling, and follow up support after your stay.
FTP will often receive requests from clients at their shelters to draft the following forms for family court:
- Form 8 – General Application
- Form 35.1 – Affidavit in Support of Claim for Custody or Access
- Form 5 – Application to Transfer the Family Law Value
FTP is looking for a student to support the drafting of such documents for women in crisis.
Additionally, FTP is looking to run a workshop with general family law information. The workshop will begin as virtual and depending on if it is successful, it may shift to an in-person model. There will be 2-3 workshops that will be built from a PowerPoint that the student will put together. The lawyer supervisor will review this prior to the workshop.
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
Students will have the opportunity to interview clients and draft legal documents under the supervision of the lawyer supervisor. Students will receive an internal email provided by FTP to communicate with all clients.
Students will also have the opportunity to create public legal education tools and deliver them in the form of a workshop. The materials will focus on general family law information.
Is A Work Plan Required For This Position?
No.
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.
FLP will provide students with the following training:
- Introduction to family law
- Working with trauma survivors
- Services in family court, including how to fill out forms.
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?
Flexible. If the student is able to attend in person, they will have to provide FTP with their schedule in order to set shifts.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
Yes, if volunteering in person a workspace will be provided.
Requirements and Expectations
Preference for completion of Ethical Lawyering in a Global Community and Family Law.
Past work with survivors of violence would be an asset.