Questions?
Please contact
Danielle Douglas or Jana Wiens
probonos@ucalgary.ca
THE 2015 - 2016 PBSC PROJECT ROSTER
Applications DUE: September 11th at 1:00 to the PBSC office: MFH 3324
PUBLIC LEGAL EDUCATION PROJECTS
1.
Aboriginal Youth Outreach Project
Students in this project will deliver a series of presentations to high school students at Siksika Nation High School
and Exshaw School in Stoney Nakoda. The presentations will be in the form of an interactive mock trial where
students play the roles of clients, lawyers, and witnesses. The curriculum for the project has been developed
specifically for First Nation youth by the Ontario Justice Education Network and is delivered through the
Canadian Lawyers Abroad Dare to Dream program. Students will be tasked with developing creative and
interactive lessons with insight from members of the aboriginal bar and teachers at the schools. Students assigned
to this project will attend a cultural education training session in October in order to deliver effective
presentations and in accordance with Aboriginal customs.
Area of Law
 Criminal Law
 Constitutional Law
 Aboriginal Law
Legal Skills
 Deliver legal information
 Public speaking skills
2.
# Students
 6 students
Elementary School Mock Trial
Students in this project will deliver a series of presentations to students at high need schools within Calgary. The
presentations will be in the form of an interactive mock trial where students play the roles of clients, lawyers, and
witnesses. Students will be tasked with delivering the lessons and developing creative and interactive lessons with
insight from members of legal community and teachers at the schools. There will also be an opportunity to
accompany the youth on a tour of the Calgary Court House.
Area of Law
 Criminal Law
 Civil Law
 Court Procedure


Legal Skills
Deliver legal information
Public speaking skills
# Students
 6 students
3.
Women’s Legal Education Action Fund - Yes Means Yes Project
The Yes Means Yes Workshop is based off materials from LEAF and is focused on providing high-school aged
students with a comprehensive look at the legal issues of consent and relationships. Aimed at students in grades
10-12, the workshops are designed to help these students understand their rights and responsibilities as they begin
to navigate the wider world of adulthood, particularly with respect to their relationships with others. Much of the
material will focus on consent and issues of violence in intimate relationships, but other interpersonal
relationships [e.g. friends, family, teachers, coaches, etc.] will be touched on. Please note there will be an initial
3-hour training session held on September 23, from 3:30-6:30pm in room 3340.
Area of Law
 Human Rights Law
 Criminal Law
Legal Skills
 Deliver legal information
 Public Speaking Skills
 Research and Writing
# Students
 6 students
4.
Discovery House Project
Students will develop and deliver public legal education sessions at a local women’s shelter in the areas of family
and immigration law for clients and staff. Discovery House operates two programs that support their clients. The
Residential program currently houses up to 19 women who live within the 24 hour secure Discovery House
location for up to one year. The Community program supports up to 100 women who live in the community in
individual housing units for up to two years. Students will be required to sign an oath of confidentiality before
participating in this project.
Area of Law
 Family Law
 Immigration Law
Legal Skills
 Legal research and writing
 Deliver legal information
 Networking skills
# Students
 6 students
LEGAL RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY PROJECTS
5.
Human Rights Project
In this project, students support volunteer lawyers as they provide legal assistance to unrepresented claimants and
respondents before the Alberta Human Rights Commission. Students will have the opportunity to interview
clients and conduct legal research. The Alberta Human Rights Act establishes the Alberta Human Rights
Commission to carry out functions under the Act. The purpose of the Alberta Human Rights Act is to ensure that
all Albertans are offered an equal opportunity to earn a living, find a place to live, and enjoy services customarily
available to the public without discrimination. Please attach a copy of your resume and a 250 word Statement of
Interest along with your application form. Priority will be given to upper year students enrolled in or have
previously taken Human Rights Law. A small number of first year students will be selected to assist upper year
students with legal research. Westlaw research training for this project will be provided October 8th, 2015 from
1:00pm – 2:00pm.
Area of Law
 Human Rights law
 Labour and Employment
Law
Legal Skills
 Legal advocacy
 Legal research and writing
 Client interviewing
# Students
 2 first year students
 8 upper year students
COURT BASED PROJECTS
6.
Emergency Protection Order Project
In this project, upper year students support Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) Duty Counsel lawyers by conducting intake
and assisting applicants as they prepare and process Emergency Protection Orders (EPO). EPOs are available
when violence or threatening behaviour occurs between family members and there is a need for immediate
protection. Students are the first point of contact in the EPO process. Students listen to the client’s story and help
them fill out the necessary paperwork. Students also have the opportunity to sit in with duty counsel and listen to
the lawyer speaking with the client or accompany duty counsel to court to watch her or him present the
applications. This part of the project requires students to take on a weekly 3 hour shift. Please note training for
this project will be September 23rd from 12:30-2:00pm in MFH 3360.
Area of Law
 Family Law
 Court Procedure
Legal Skills
 Client interview skills
 Deliver legal information
 Court Procedure
# Students
 2 first year students
 8 upper year students
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7.
Civil Claims Duty Council
This civil litigation project assists unrepresented litigants with their civil claims in Provincial Court. Students on
this project assist volunteer lawyers (all major Calgary firms participate in this project - so this is a great
networking opportunity) in interviewing clients, providing clients with legal information, and assisting with the
required project documentation. This project requires students take on a fixed weekly 3 hour shift (first year shifts
will be shortened to accommodate class schedules). Shifts are available Monday to Friday in both the afternoon
and morning (with the exception of Monday morning). Please note there will be a training session Friday, October
2nd from 1:00-2:00pm.
Area of Law
 Civil law
 Court Procedure
Professional Development
 Client interview skills
 Deliver legal information
 Networking Skills
# Students
 12 students
Queen’s Bench Amicus
8.
This new and exciting litigation project assists unrepresented litigants with their civil claims in Calgary’s Queen’s
Bench Court and Master’s Chambers. In this project students support volunteer lawyers in providing summary
legal information, procedural information, referrals, and assist with the drafting of documents, letters, affidavits,
and court forms. Shifts are available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in both the morning and afternoon.
Please note there will be a training session Friday, September 18th from 12:00-1:00pm.
Area of Law
 Civil law
 Bankruptcy law
 Insolvency Law
 Court procedure
Professional Development
 Client interview skills
 Deliver legal information
 Networking Skills
 Court Procedure
9.
# Students and prerequisites
 6 upper year students
 Prerequisite: CCDC or
comparable court experience
(please indicate in your application)
Family Law Project
In this project students participate at Queen’s Bench Court by assisting Legal Aid Duty Counsel with
unrepresented family law litigants in the family law courts by explaining basic court processes, simplifying
family law issues for them, and assisting claimants with completing the necessary court forms in a concise and
effective manner. This project requires students take on a fixed weekly 3 hour shift in the morning (first year
shifts will be shortened to accommodate class schedules).
Area of Law
 Family law
 Court Procedure
Professional Development
 Client interview skills
 Deliver legal information
 Networking skills
 Court Procedure
# Students and prerequisites
 10-12 students
LEGAL RESEARCH PROJECTS
10.
Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS) – Tenant Rights & Responsibilities
Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping low income families.
Through integrated health care, education and housing services, CUPS aims to help people to overcome the
challenges of poverty. Students will research the legal rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords for the
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Social Housing Program at CUPS. Students will prepare a presentation on their research to staff enabling them to
coach and assist those marginalized by poverty in understanding their rights and responsibilities under RTA.
Additional presentations will be given to CUPS clients in simple language and brochures will be prepared for
future tenants entering CUPS social housing programs.
Area of Law
Professional Development
# Students and prerequisites
 Poverty Law
 Deliver Legal Information
 6 students
 Residential Tenancies Act
 Legal Research & Writing
12.
CBA/PBSC – Justice Junction
The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and PBSC have partnered to develop the Equal Justice Junction. CBA and
PBSC will work together to build and maintain this national website summarizing provincial/territorial initiatives
to improve access to justice. The initiative advances several action items from the CBA’s Reaching Equal Justice
Report and will focus on the following categories: facilitating everyday justice, transforming formal justice,
reinventing the delivery of legal services, building public engagement and participation, building a coherent civil
justice system, and building capacity of innovation.
Students will engage in directed research into all services offering legal help in their respective jurisdictions.
Students will be asked for a brief description of the specific services offered, and identify who can take advantage
of those services. CBA will create a structure for presenting this information, and for organizing the various
initiatives. Once all relevant information has been collected, the CBA will then publish the resource on its
website, in a format that is easily accessible for a wide ranging audience. Mandatory Orientation and Training
Call will be Friday, October 9 at 2pm.
Area of Law
 Access to justice
13.
Legal Skills
 Legal research and writing
 Deliver legal information
 Networking skills
# Students
 1 student
 Must be self-motivated,
engaged w/ current
events and/or politics,
and enjoy writing.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) Rights Watch
This national PBSC project is a partnership with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Rights Watch
Blog. Each PBSC Chapter provides two students to work with a legal or academic mentor to monitor and research
civil liberties issues and abuses as they are taking place. The volunteers will update the Rights Watch blog with
written information and provide CCLA lawyers with regular updates on key developments on civil liberties
issues. The goal is to share information individuals and organizations interested in civil liberties issues and to
benefit society at large by keeping a spotlight on civil liberties issues. Students will also engage in civil liberties
“intensives” with leading practitioners and raise the profile of civil liberties issues at the law school by organizing
an event held at the law school with assistance from the CCLA. Please note students in this project must attend
one of the following online training sessions: Friday, October 9 or Saturday, October 10.
Area of Law
 Access to Justice
 Human Rights Law
 Constitutional Law
14.
Legal Skills
 Legal research and writing
 Deliver legal information
 Networking skills
# Students
 2 students
 Must be self-motivated,
engaged w/ current
events and/or politics,
and enjoy writing.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) – Talk Rights
In partnership with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, this project will focus on the development of
accessible legal information for the public on cutting edge civil liberties issues in Canada. Working under the
supervision of the CCLA, one student will be provided with a topic assignment and asked to conduct preliminary
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background research and prepare an issue summary. The student will work with CCLA staff to determine the
kinds of rights materials that would be useful to the public on the topic and will work on drafting those materials.
The student will also engage in civil liberties “intensives” with leading practitioners and raise the profile of civil
liberties issues at the law school by organizing an event with assistance from the CCLA. Please note students in
this project must attend one of the following online training sessions: Friday, October 9 or Saturday, October 10.
Area of Law
 Access to Justice
 Human Rights Law
 Constitutional Law
Legal Skills
 Legal research and writing
 Deliver legal information
 Networking skills
# Students
 1 student
 Must be self-motivated,
engaged w/ current
events and/or politics,
and enjoy writing.
DIRECT LEGAL ASSISTANCE
15.
Immigration Law Project
This project has both a legal education and clinic aspect. Students will attend legal clinics hosted by Calgary
Legal Guidance at the Centre for Newcomers and Immigration Services Calgary. Here they will conduct client
intakes and support lawyers as they provide immigration law information to clients.
Students will also participate in the creation and delivery of public legal education materials (ie. brochures,
presentations, etc.) regarding areas of law most often affecting immigrant populations: immigration law,
sponsorship, employment law, Residential Tenancies Act.
Area of Law
 Immigration Law
 Employment Law
 Residential Tenancies Act
Legal Skills
 Deliver legal information
 Legal research and writing
 Client interviewing
 Networking skills
# Students
 8 students
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