Project Summary
Historically, Calgary Legal Guidance’s Dial-A-Law service allowed clients to call, select a legal topic from the options available, and listen to pre-recorded messages that broke down those topics into plain language. The topics provide only general information on legal issues within the province of Alberta. The purpose of this service is to provide free legal information to increase legal literacy and individuals aware of their legal rights and responsibilities.
There are between 120 – 140 topics covered by this CLG service. Students on this project will review and update these topics to reflect the current state of the law, with an emphasis on clear and plain language writing. Students will consult with the Lawyer Supervisor and CLG to determine the priority and number of topics to be updated per semester. Student volunteers will be expected to select topics in collaboration with CLG and the Lawyer Supervisor.
Number of Students and Prerequisites
– 2 student volunteers
– There are no prerequisites for this project
Area of Law
– Family Law
– Wills & Estates Law
– Property Law
– Business Law
– Civil Procedure
– Criminal Law
Legal Skills
– Delivery of legal information
– Legal research and writing skills
Time Commitmen
Law student volunteers on this project are expected to volunteer from October – March (excluding December). Students are anticipated to 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
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. In addition to the training provided by CLG, 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.