+
PBSC UY Info Session
2013-2014
What is Pro Bono
+ Students
Canada?
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PBSC Mandate
PBSC aims
(1)
to provide vulnerable communities
with legal services free of charge,
(2)
to provide law students with out-ofthe classroom legal experience, and
(3)
to instill the pro bono ethic in future
lawyers from their first day of law
school.
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How PBSC
Works
PBSC increases access
to justice by
partnering with:
Not-for-profit
Organizations
 Legal Clinics and Law
Help Centres
 Government Agencies
 Courts and Tribunals
 Lawyers working on Pro
Bono files

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 General
PBSC Training
 Westlaw
Canada Training
(mandatory for 1Ls and UYs
on research projects)
What am I
committing
to?
 Specialized
training (if
applicable)
 Student
Agreement Form
 3–5
Hours per Week on Your
PBSC Project
 On-line, end-of-year
survey
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What Do PBSC Volunteers Do?
 Legal
Research and Writing/Policy
Development – more flexibility in terms of hours
 Clinical
Projects – conduct client intake, provide
information to clients, assist with document
preparation
 Public
Presentations – develop and deliver legal
information seminars to members of the public
who do not have access to lawyers; create plain
language documents for the public
 Courts
and Tribunals – assist self represented
litigations attempting to navigate the legal system
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The
Envisioning
Global LGBT
Rights
Project
A
multi-disciplinary
project with a broad
mandate to document
discrimination against
sexual minorities
abroad.
 Project
goals include
facilitating the
development and
enhancement of LGBT
rights by supporting
international partners
and activists with legal
and social research.
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8
How does the Envisioning
Project work?

The Envisioning Project has 3 subcommittees: Africa, the
Caribbean, and India. Students will be assigned to their
first choice where possible.

Students will develop reports on their jurisdiction and
assist foreign legal challenges by providing research
assistance (including comparative constitutional law).

Ben Vandorpe is the Volunteer Coordinator for 2013/2014;
he is also a returning student researcher.
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Envisioning Timeline
September
 Mandatory
Envisioning
training will be held on
either Sept 27th or Oct 3rd
(Date TBD).
October

Mandatory WestLaw Training.

Assigned to subcommittees
by October 5th.
November
 Attend
the Community
Building Event on Nov. 13.
 Formal
monitoring occurs
from the 11th - 15th.
December
 Break
for Exams.
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Envisioning Timeline
January
 Subcommittees
will
reconvene by January 20th.
March
 Attend
the Final
Appreciation Event.
 Students
should wrap up
their work by March 31st.
February

Formal monitoring occurs
during the week of February
24th.
April
 Break
for Exams.
10
++
The Class
Actions
Project
 Help
set the foundation
for a new project to be
launched in Sept 2014
 Year 1: Research
potential class action
files, perform legal
research related to the
project (e.g. cy pres
orders)
 Year 2: Work on a class
action file with lawyers
from a partner firm to be
identified
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Projects
Exclusively
for Upper Year
Students
 Many
other projects do not
require a specialized
application, but are
nonetheless just for UpperYear students
 Why
Upper-Years?
 These projects are
generally more hands-on,
require advanced LRW, or
involve working with a
marginalized community
 Legal information vs. Legal
advice
METRAC
A community-based, not-for-profit
organization committed to
+
preventing violence against
diverse women and youth
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
Research and Writing Component


METRAC

One student will provide an article or
research memoranda on a topic of use to
survivors of intimate partner violence and
woman abuse for the Ontario Women’s
Justice Network website
The student will gain skills in legal
research and writing, as well as experience
in social justice, feminist theory and antioppression work
Public Legal Education Component



Two upper year female students will
prepare and provide PLE workshops at
women’s shelters in the Toronto area
The workshops will cover various aspects
of the law that the women are likely to
encounter
Students will gain skills in preparing PLE
seminars and public speaking, as well as
receiving specialized training in antioppression work and issues faced by
women who have experienced intimate
partner violence
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Projects
Exclusively
for Upper Year
Students
 Here
are a few other
examples:
 Ontario Deputy Judges
Association (ODJA) Legal
Internship
 PROS/All Saints Drop-In
Legal Information Volunteer
 Law Society of Upper
Canada (LSUC) Legal
Internship
 Justice for Children and
Youth Legal (JFCY) Intern
Program
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How do I
Apply?

Download the General
Application Form from our
website

Rank projects in terms of
preference

Include a CV

Important Deadlines:
Applications are due by e-mail
to the Program Coordinators at
probono.students@utoronto.ca
by WED. SEPTEMBER 18 at 5pm.

An electronic signature is
acceptable!
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Family Law
Program (FLP)

Award-winning program
developed in 1998 in order to
provide support and assistance
to individuals who cannot afford
legal services and who do not
have access to legal aid

Under supervision of Legal Aid
Ontario lawyers, students help
unrepresented litigants navigate
the family law justice system by
drafting their court documents
and providing them with legal
information
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How does the FLP work?
 Work
under the supervision of Legal Aid
Ontario lawyers at one of three Ontario Courts
of Justice: North York, 311 Jarvis, Brampton
 One four hour shift per week
 Provide legal information and draft court
documents
 Gain client interviewing and drafting skills
 Gain exposure to the family law justice system
and court procedure
 Network with advice and duty counsel and
family law judges
 Promote access to justice in the family law
system
The FLP is an incredibly rewarding experience
because of the impact that it has on low-income
families and the access to justice crisis in the
family law system. As Justice Harvey Brownstone
has noted, “the improved clarity, accuracy, and
relevance of documents filed by student-assisted
litigants is of enormous benefit in our efforts to
provide fairness, efficiency, and due process to
all litigants.”
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FLP Timeline
September

Applications due September 13; decisions
made by September 20;

Full day training on Saturday, September 28
from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

One sessions on substantive family law to be
held during lunch hour in September, date
TBA
November

Attend the Community
Building Event on Nov. 13
December
October
• Students start volunteering at
courts

Break for Exams
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FLP Timeline
January
•
•
•
Recommence volunteering at
courts
Summer employment positions
are posted, with interviews to take
place during the Faculty OCI
process
Judge shadowing
March

Attend the Final Appreciation
Event
April
February

Break for Exams
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
Application Process: Students
must e-mail a brief application form
to flp.toronto@probonostudents.ca
by 5:00 p.m. on Friday,
September 13th. The application
form is found here:
http://www.law.utoronto.ca/progra
ms-centres/programs/pbsc-probono-students-canada/pbscfamily-law-project/upper-years

Students must commit to one four
hour shift per week, as well as two
mandatory training sessions, one of
which will take place on Saturday,
September 28th from 9:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. The second training
session will be held over lunch
hour in September, exact date TBA.
Sign me up!
How do I
Apply?
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 Originally
operated as a
PBSC initiative in partnership
with the 519 Church
Community Centre
 Recently
The Wills
Project
expanded to serve
Aboriginal clients,
individuals that fall within a
low income bracket, as well
as the original goal of serving
members of the Toronto
community who have been
diagnosed with HIV/AIDS
 4-5
upper year students
 Drafting
and reviewing Wills
and Powers of Attorney
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How does the Wills Project
work?

Students will gain hands-on experience as they track client
files from initiation to closing. They will be meeting directly
with clients. They will also have individual supervision from a
lawyer who provides valuable insight and guidance throughout
the file.

Approximately 20 hrs across 2-3 week period

Attend 2 training sessions (one session at Basman Smith office
on Tues Oct 8 and the general PBSC training on Sept 25 or 26)

Students will also be required to plan and put on a Public Legal
Education seminar
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Wills Timeline
September


Applications due Fri Sep 13
PBSC Training on the 25 or 26
November

Continue drafting

Break for reading week Nov. 4-8

Meeting with client and lawyer to
execute document

Possibly deliver Public Legal
Education seminar
December
October

Attend mandatory training Oct. 8
1-5pm

Receive client and lawyer match

Intake meeting with client and
lawyer

Start drafting

Break for Exams
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Wills Timeline
January
March

Project resumes


New clients assigned if fall
semester client completed
Attend the Final Appreciation
Event

Possibly deliver Public Legal
Education Seminar

Intake meeting with client and
lawyer
April
February

Drafting

Break for reading week Feb. 1721

Meeting with client and lawyer
to execute document

Break for Exams
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Sign me up!
How do I
Apply?

Application Process: Students
must e-mail a cover letter
describing their interest and a
current resume to
willsproject.pbsc@utoronto.ca by
5:00 p.m. on Friday, September
13th.

Students must commit to two
mandatory training sessions, one of
which will take place on Tuesday,
October 8th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m.
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 Six
The Tax Court
of Canada
Advocacy
Project
Upper-Students work in
teams of two to assist
unrepresented litigants
appearing in front of the Tax
Court of Canada
 Students
help taxpayers
navigate the procedures of
Tax Court under the
supervision of Dentons
lawyers (formerly FMC)
 The
project is restricted to
Informal Procedure cases
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How does the Tax Court
Advocacy Project work?
 Students
meet with the client assigned to them, get
the history of the case, obtain relevant and missing
documents and a list of witnesses
 Students
prepare written submissions and conduct
the hearing
 Lawyer
 After
supervisors are present in court observing
the hearing students complete a PostHearing Report
Photo: Jean-Marc Carisse
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Judges of the Tax Court of Canada
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Tax Court Timeline
September
November

Apply by September 13

Attend the Community
Building Event on Nov. 13

Attend PBSC Training on
September 25 or 26

Students meet with clients
and continue to learn about
relevant case law



December
October
Attend WestLaw Training
on 21st or 22nd
Dentons’ “How to Run a
Trial” training session
Students study relevant
case law

Break for Exams
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Tax Court Timeline
January

Begin substantive work to
prepare for hearing
(written submissions, etc.)
March

Attend the Final
Appreciation Event

Fill out End-of-Year Survey
April
February
 Students make themselves
available for formal
monitoring with the
Volunteer Coordinator

Break for Exams
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“Ain’t No
Party like a
Tax Club
Party.” How
do I Apply?

Qualifications:
 Income Tax Law pre OR co-req
 Litigation experience strongly
preferred

Important Deadlines:
 Submit cover letter detailing
interest and CV to
krystyna.drywa@probonostudents.
ca by Fri. Sept 13 at 5pm.

Also Seeking a French-speaking
Volunteer Coordinator:
 Contact person for PBSC students,
regular check-ins to ensure teams
meet with clients in timely manner,
draft submissions and prepare for
hearings
 Works with Program Manager to
ensure smooth running of program
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The MedicoLegal Society
of Toronto
Advocacy
Project (MLST)

The MLST Advocacy Project provides
unrepresented complainants with
assistance before the Health
Professions Appeal and Review
Board

HPARB deals with appeals of
complaints that have been dismissed
by the Complaints Committees of the
Colleges of various regulated health
professions in Ontario, including
doctors, dentists, and nurses

The project provides an important
access to justice service, as many of
the complainants are selfrepresented and face experienced
counsel

The project is amazing hands-on
experience, especially for students
that may be interested in health law
or tribunal/admin work
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How does the MLST advocacy
project work?

Students are placed in groups of 2 or 3 and are
assigned a file to handle from start to finish,
including client interviews, research, a pre-review
conference, drafting, the oral hearing before
HPARB, and follow-up with the client after the
decision is issued

Students will work with a legal supervisor and a
physician supervisor to build their case, and also
have the volunteer coordinator as a resource

There are also training sessions in the fall
semester, including advocacy and how to read
medical records
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MLST Timeline
September
November

Applications due Wed
September 18th

Attend the Community
Building Event on Nov. 13

Volunteer selection and file
assignment thereafter

Conduct preliminary research
and begin drafting

Hold PRC, schedule hearing
December
October

Training session Oct 4.

Meet with team and supervisors

Intake meeting with client

Schedule PRC

Break for Exams
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MLST Timeline
January
March

Project resumes

Attend the Final Appreciation
Event

Continue researching and
drafting

Hearing (February or March)

Mock hearings
April
February

Mock hearings

Break for Exams

Hearing (February or March)

Follow-up with client after
decision issued
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
Application Process:
 Interested students should apply
directly to the Volunteer
Coordinator (Madlyn Axelrod)
via email at
mlst.pbsc@utoronto.ca, with a
cover letter and resume

Important Deadlines:
 Applications are due on
Wednesday September 18 at
12pm.
 Please note students must be
available for mandatory MLST
training on Oct 4 in addition to
PBSC training.
I’m Sold!
How do I
Apply?
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The
Immigration
and Refugee
Detention
Centres
Project (IRDC)

Public legal education on
immigration/refugee law and
procedure at key Ontario
provincial correctional facilities
("detention centres").

After training, you and a partner
go to the detention centres once
a month to present to a group of
approximately 4-10 detainees.

Through this project, detainees an isolated and vulnerable
population - gain access to legal
information they otherwise
would be unable to receive, and
you gain first-hand exposure to
correctional facilities and
immigration/refugee law.
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How does the IRDC project work?
 You
need a background/demonstrated interest
in refugee law (e.g. Migration Law or Refugee
Law)
 Presentation
is already prepared, so no
research requirement and you will receive
training both from Rana Khan at the UNHCR
and a lawyer mentor from Refugee Law Office
at Legal Aid
 VC
will assist with scheduling visits, liaising
with detention centres
 You
must have a valid driver’s license, but
there is a budget for car rental.
“My experience as a volunteer with PBSC's IRDC
project stands out as one of the more challenging
and rewarding commitments I made as a law
student. It's a unique opportunity to bring
valuable legal information to individuals who are
detained and facing the possibility of
deportation, more often than not without having
had the benefit of any legal advice or information.
It is an important program I was privileged to be
a part of during the three years I was at U of T
Law.” – Janet McGill, 3L
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IRDC Timeline
September

Attend PBSC training session on
Sept. 25 or 26 and specialized
IRDC training with Rana Khan at
UNHCR on Sep. 27

Apply for Police clearance

Practice presentations with lawyer
mentors
November

Attend the Community
Building Event on Nov. 13

Visit to detention centre

Fall monitoring
December
October

Break for Exams
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IRDC Timeline
January

Visit to detention centre
March

Attend the Final Appreciation
Event

Fill out End-of-Year Survey
April
February

Spring monitoring

Break for Exams
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So How do
I Apply?

Apply through the General
Application process (available for
download on our website)

Due: Wednesday Sept. 18

Please note that students must have
taken or concurrently take
Migration Law/Refugee Law or
equivalent course

Students must hold a valid driver’s
license and those with vehicles will
be preferred

For security clearance reasons,
students must be Canadian citizens
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 PBSC
PBSC at Law
Help Ontario
at Law Help Ontario
provides an opportunity to
assist individuals who are
involved in civil litigation and
can’t afford legal
representation.
 This
year we will be
recruiting 20 students at the
University of Toronto
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How does the Civil Litigation
project work?
 Volunteers
will be assigned a weekly 3 hour
shift (either morning or afternoon) based on
their availability at the 393 University Centre
office, which is focused on litigation issues at
the Superior Court of Justice.
 Volunteers
interview clients, identify legal
issues, and assist lawyers in providing legal
support to the clients.
 Volunteers
assist with drafting legal documents
and correspondence under the guidance of a
lawyer.
"Volunteering at Law Help Ontario has
been the most practical learning
experience I have had during Law
School. I was exposed to every aspect of
litigation, including meeting clients and
helping lawyers draft pleadings, motions
+ affidavits. More importantly,
and
volunteering at LHO is a great way to
make a meaningful impact in the lives of
unrepresented litigants."
Student volunteer, 3L
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Law Help Timeline
September

Applications Due Sept. 13

PBSC General Training 25 or 26

Training Session Sept. 27, 1-4pm

Shifts Begin Sept. 30 (tentative)
November

Attend the Community
Building Event on Nov. 13
December
October

Break for Exams
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Law Help Timeline
January

Shifts re-start at beginning
of winter term
March

Attend the Final
Appreciation Event
April
February
 Monitoring

Break for Exams
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I’m Sold!
How do I
Apply?

Application Process: apply online
through the PBSC at Law Help
Ontario website:
http://www.law.utoronto.ca/progra
ms-centres/programs/pbsc/probono-law-ontario-civil-litigationproject

Important Deadlines:
 All applications are due by
Friday, September 13, 2013
 Training will take place on
September 27th
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 Two
The Deputy
Judges
Clerkship
Project
3L students will assist
Administrative Deputy Judge
Laura Ntoukas with legal
research and writing, at the
Toronto Small Claims Court
(47 Sheppard Ave).
 Students
must be available
for a regular shift TBD based
on student’s schedule and
will in addition perform work
remotely
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How does the Deputy Judges
Clerkship Project work?
 Students
will attend the Small Claims Court for a
regular weekly shift (to be determined with the
student)and will provide research support onsite
or remotely
 Students
will perform “file review” of upcoming
court appearances
 Students
will have shadowing opportunities and a
full briefing of the files with the parties’ consent
(e.g. trial, settlement conferences, hearings, etc.)
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Deputy Judges Timeline
September
 PBSC Training on Sept 25th or
26th
November

Attend the Community
Building Event on Nov. 13
December
October
 First Meeting with Admin.
Deputy Judge Ntoukas by Oct.
11.
 WestLaw Training on Oct 21
or 22

Break for Exams
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Deputy Judges Timeline
January
 Resume placement
March

Attend the Final Appreciation
Event
April
February

Break for Exams
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What
Makes a
Good
Candidate?
How do I
Apply?

Students should have an interest in
litigation and a strong academic
record

To apply please send a cover letter
detailing your interest and a CV to
probono.students@utoronto.ca by
Fri. Sept. 13 at 5pm. Unsuccessful
candidates will be automatically
considered for the Ontario Deputy
Judges Association Research
Internship.

Please note that students must be
willing to swear an oath of
allegiance to the Queen.
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Before we take your questions,
thank you to PBSC’s sponsors:
+
Any
Questions?