Project Type: Client Intake and Assistance
Fields of Law: Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, Criminal Code
Positions Available: 1 student
About The Empowerment Council
The Empowerment Council (EC) acts as a voice for the collective community of mental health addiction service users primarily in the Toronto area and at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The EC is a non-profit organization independent of CAMH and responsible to its members and board. Our history as an organization is founded on the work, activism and scholarship of people who have firsthand experience of mental health, and addiction system(s).
Project Details
Social Justice Clinic at The Empowerment Council:
The (pilot) clinic is a student-supported and lawyer-supervised social justice clinic. The Clinic will be centered on, driven by and supportive of the work of the Empowerment Council. The Clinic provides a range of services, from referral, public legal education and outreach, assistance with law reform submissions, summary advice, and test-case litigation research support. The Clinic operates under the leadership and with the expertise of an Advisory Committee, and members of the Empowerment Council with lived experience of the mental health system.
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
The student will be engaging in research and public legal education. The student will be undertaking research related to the needs of the social justice clinic. There will be team meetings with project and lawyer supervisors as well as other legal students working on other aspects of the social justice clinic. Tasks will include research, review, and consolidation of literature as well as identifying legal gaps. Later in the year, preparing Education/Information and communications for public legal education event for diversity situated mental health clients.
Is A Work Plan Required For This Position?
Yes, the student will meet with the organization to determine expectations and deadlines for project..
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.
Orientation to the work of the Empowerment Council and the Justice Clinic as well as advocacy within CAMH.
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?
Some flexibility, schedule will be discussed and agreed upon among the student and the organization.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
Yes, if volunteering in person a workspace will be provided.
Requirements and Expectations
Familiarity with the Mental Health Act and Criminal Code and other intersecting Health Care legislation is preferred.
Strong research skills and time management.