This is a joint project between Osgoode Hall Law School, the University of Toronto, and Lincoln Alexander
Project Type: Client Intake and Assistance
Fields of Law: Family Law
Positions Available: 2-3 students
About Luke's Place
Luke’s Place is a non-profit organization providing legal and support services to self-identified women across Ontario who have been subjected to intimate partner violence as they proceed through the family court system. Luke’s Place also engages in systemic advocacy, research and
training on gender-based violence and family law.
Project Details
Component 1
Note taking: students will sit-in on summary legal advice appointments between women and a volunteer or staff lawyer and take detailed notes, which will then be provided to women following the appointment.
Component 2
Legal research and resource creation: students will assist in preparing case law summaries and/or brief legal informational handouts for family court support workers across Ontario to help them better understand a particular family law legal issues. Students may also be asked to prepare brief legal memos on an assigned topic in family law for internal use by the staff team.
Component 3
Court accompaniment: Students will accompany women to court appearances, including motions and conferences. Their role will be to provide support and take detailed notes, which will then be provided to women following the court appearance. Students cannot and will not provide legal advice.
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
Students will complete legal research and assist with client support under the supervision of a lawyer or legal support worker. Students will also assist with the creation of informational resources on a particular family law issue. The student role will be flexible to reflect the day-to-day needs and realities of the organization, but will be closely monitored by their assigned lawyer. Depending on the needs of the organization and the nature of the assigned task, the students may work together collaboratively.
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.
Detailed volunteer manual; 3-hour online training course and associated manual on how to be an effective family law lawyer for women who have experienced abuse; software specific training; court accompaniment training.
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?
Clinic note-taking and court accompaniments will be at set times during the workday. Legal research and resource development can be done on the student’s own schedule.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
Yes, if volunteering in person a workspace will be provided.
Requirements and Expectations
Family Law preferred but not required.
Background and interests in working with women who have been subjected to intimate partnerviolence would be an asset