Project Summary
Student volunteers on this project will work closely with McCarthy Tétrault lawyers to deliver an educational program in 2 – 4 Calgary elementary schools. The workshops delivered will prepare elementary students to participate in an interactive civil mock trial where they will play the roles of clients, lawyers, witnesses, and jury members. The workshops will be taught to one classroom per school (approximately 25 – 35 students maximum per workshop). The focus of this project is to prioritize underserved schools in Calgary so that students who experience barriers to opportunity can learn about the law in an inspirational way.
“This project is a lot a fun as the students are really engaged and excited to participate. A mock trial I participated in as a child helped spark my interest in the law, and it is rewarding to think that this project could also inspire some of them in the same way.”
Michael Wald, 3L
Project Lead 2020-2021
“Teaching enthusiastic elementary students about the Canadian judicial system is both rewarding and fun!”
Catherine Ohler, 3L
Project Lead 2020-2021
Number of Students and Prerequisites
– 12 student volunteers and 2 project leads
– 1Ls are strongly encouraged to apply
– No prerequisites required
– Experience working with children, teens, or in an educative role is an asset, but not required
Area of Law
– Civil Law
– Court Procedure
Legal Skills
– Delivery of legal information
– Public speaking skills
Project Type
Public Legal Education
Time Commitment
Student volunteers on this project are expected to volunteer from October to March (excluding December).
Students will be expected to volunteer 3-5 hours of preparation prior to the mock trials each semester. The greatest time commitment is during the week of the mock trial in the classrooms where students will be required to attend at least one day each semester. Students must receive approval from their professors to miss class should scheduling of the trial overlap with class time. Should a trial be scheduled during class, student will be required to receive approval from their professor to miss class. Students will likely volunteer for approximately 10 hours per month.
Required Training
All training for this project is schedule and provided by PBSC Calgary. This training will take place in September-October, and will not conflict with students’ course schedules.
The following PBSC training sessions are mandatory to volunteer on this project:
– PBSC Process Overview
– PBSC Ethics and Professional Responsibility Training
– PBSC Anti-Oppression Training
– Westlaw Research Strategies Training
Specific dates and times will be provided once volunteers are placed on their respective projects.
How to Apply?
Applications for the 2023/2024 are currently open! Please fill out the Google Form linked below.