Project Summary
Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) provides legal services and expertise to individuals and the legal community to support fairness in the justice system. It is an independent, publicly funded, not-for-profit organization that provides a broad range of services in family law and child welfare, adult and youth criminal law, immigration, and refugee law.
Law student volunteers will support LAA Duty Counsel lawyers by conducting intake and assisting applicants as they prepare and process Emergency Protection Orders (EPO). Intake and assisting applicants may occur in person (at the Calgary Court Centre) or virtually, depending on current protocols. EPOs are available when violence or threatening behaviour occurs between family members and there is a need for immediate protection.
Students will be the first point of contact in the EPO process. Students will conduct a client intake session by listening to the client’s story and assisting them in filling out the necessary paperwork. Students also have an opportunity to sit in with duty counsel (in person or virtually) and listen to the lawyer speaking with the client or accompany duty counsel to court to watch her or him present the applications.
Time Commitment
Students will be scheduled for one 3-hour shift weekly during the months of October – March (excluding December and February reading break). The 3-hour shifts will take place on a business day from Monday to Friday, during the morning or in the afternoon. Students will have approximately 5 scheduled shifts per semester.
Law student volunteers on this project are expected to volunteer from October to March (excluding December). It is anticipated that students will volunteer approximately 3-5 hours per week. Additional hours are at the student’s discretion. Overall, all PBSC projects are easily manageable alongside academic demands.
Required Training
Volunteers must be available for training provided by Legal Aid Alberta on a date to be determined in September or October, at a location TBD. Students will be sent LAA’s Process Manual and PowerPoints ahead of time, so they can read ahead in preparation. In addition to these training sessions, students must also participate in all mandatory PBSC General Training Sessions in September and October, which includes a mandatory Anti- Oppression Training Session in September, as well as the WestLaw Research Training that
will take place in October.
Number of Students and Prerequisites
– 5 law student volunteers
– 1 project lead
– Preference will be given to upper year students
– No prerequisites required
– Students who apply should display an adequate ability to handle the matters involved with EPO claims and maintain discretion and professionalism while working with clients
Area of Law
– Family law
– Criminal law
Legal Skills
– Legal research and writing
– Delivery of legal information
– Client management
Project Type
Direct Legal Assistance
How to Apply?
Applications for the 2023/2024 are currently open! Please fill out the Google Form linked below.