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: Poverty, Housing, Human Rights, Constitutional, Immigration and Refugee, Administrative, Family, Criminal, Education
Positions Available: 3 students
About Justice for Children and Youth
Justice for Children and Youth strives to protect and advance the legal rights and dignity of children and youth. Justice for Children and Youth provides legal advice, representation, and assistance to young people under the age of 18 and unstably housed adults up until the age of 25.
Project Details
Students will work remotely with their assigned lawyer supervisor to assist them with their caseload which can include client-directed work and law reform work. Typical tasks include legal research, client follow up, and letter writing.
Although each student may get the opportunity to sit in on an intake meeting between a client and their supervisor, students will predominately be engaging in research-based work on a broad range of topics.
Examples of potential research topics may include child welfare, human rights claims, privacy matters, immigration matters, criminal law, education law or administrative law matters. All students are closely supervised and are given regular feedback on task performance. Each student will submit their research directly to their supervisor. Pursuant to organizational and institutional regulations, students may be able to volunteer in
the clinic during the winter term.
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
Students will complete legal research and assist with client intake under the supervision of a lawyer.
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.
The JFCY staff lawyer will provide a 1-hour virtual orientation for the student and provide reading materials which include information on the type of work that JFCY does. Additional training can be requested by the student. The student will be working closely with the supervising lawyer for the duration of the project, so there is plenty of time for ongoing training and mentorship.
How Many Hours Per Week Will the Student Volunteer(s) Be Expected to Volunteer?
4-5 hours per week.
Will The Student(s) Be Expected To Show Up For Regular Shifts Each Week?
Students will be required to commit to a four-hour shift where work will be completed remotely. Ideally shifts will be on a weekday from 9:30am-1:30pm or 1:00-5:00pm depending on the class schedules of the student volunteers.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
Students will be working remotely.
Requirements and Expectations
Bilingualism would be an asset.
Knowledge in criminal law, family law, administrative law and poverty law knowledge helps.
Legal Writing Interest
- Interest in gaining skills with client interviews
- Experience working with youth is an asset
- Experience working within an anti-oppression framework is an asset
Other: Students are expected to work within a social justice, anti-oppression and children’s
rightsframework. Justice for Children and Youth is an inclusive and safe space. Students should be
interested in legal research and have strong memo writing skills.