Project Type: Legal Research and Writing
Fields of Law: Human rights, constitutional and criminal law.
Positions Available: 1 student
About HIV Legal Network
The HIV Legal Network promotes the human rights of people living with HIV or AIDS and other populations disproportionately affected by HIV, punitive laws and policies, and criminalization, in Canada and internationally. We do this through research and analysis, litigation and other advocacy, public education, and community mobilization.
Project Details
The HIV Legal Network project will be divided into two distinct research topics; the student will work on them concurrently throughout their placement.
TOPIC #1: Constitutional Challenges to Anti-Sodomy Laws – Jamaica and Dominica
This topic involves comparative legal research in support of two constitutional challenges to anti-sodomy laws in the Caribbean (Jamaica and Dominica). Research on this topic would support two court cases that the HIV Legal Network is spearheading in Jamaica and Dominica, which challenge laws that criminalize same-sex intimacy in those countries.
TOPIC #2: Support Research for a Charter, Prison and/or Criminal Law Issue
This topic involves legal research in support of either a Charter, Prison and/or Criminal law case, where HIV Legal Network is acting as an intervenor or as a co-applicant. This involves conducting research in for a Charter, Prison and/or Criminal law issue to support law reform in a specified area to be determined between the student and lawyer supervisor. The research may specifically focus on restorative justice.
In addition to legal research, students will have the opportunity to write media articles and blog posts for HIV Legal Network’s website.
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
The student will be required to conduct and complete research memos on one of the assigned topics.
TOPIC 1:
The student will research jurisprudence of relevance to the constitutional challenges underway, focusing on cases in Jamaica, Dominica, Canada, and likely other Commonwealth jurisdictions. In particular, the student will be asked to review and analyze recent court decisions addressing LGBTQ rights around the world. Their findings will be encapsulated in the form of one or more research memos summarizing their findings.
TOPIC 2:
The student will produce one or more research memos in support of either a Charter, Prison and/or Criminal public interest litigation.
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.
Supervisor will conduct a virtual orientation during the first week of placement, explaining the mandate of the organization, the goals of each research project, and the expectations for the deliverables that the student is responsible for (i.e. research memos).
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 as the work will be done remotely. Check-ins may be scheduled at a fixed time every week, as agreed upon by the student and supervisor.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
No.
Requirements and Expectations
The ability to read and understand the French language is preferred (as some of the case law will be in French).
A background and/or interest in human rights, Charter rights and Criminal Law would be an asset.