Criminal & Constitutional Law

Open to: 1L, 2L, 3L

Project Summary

Component 1: Research 

The student will collect resources of lawyers within the GTA. They will conduct research on family laws that newcomer families need to be aware of in order to avoid conflict with the law i.e. Child protection laws, gender based and intimate partner violence laws, etc. The student will compile resources on marriage and divorce laws catered towards racialized, immigrant women including division of assets and spousal support. The resources will inform component 2. 

Component 2: Build & Facilitate PLE’s

Based on the research conducted, the student will create and lead workshops virtually and in person (webinars, presentations). They will also create plain language resources that EFRY staff can provide to clients on an ad hoc basis. EFRY staff will always be present during workshops, and the PLE is for legal information purposes only. 

Type: Research, Public Legal Education

Area(s) of Law: Criminal Law, Child & Family Law 

Community served: Women, Immigrants, refugees & newcomers, Trans and gender diverse individuals

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 1

Commitment: 3-5 hours/week

Special Requirements: Preference will be given to female-identifying applicants who have experience working with vulnerable populations

Open to: 2L, 3L

Project Summary

The ODJA provides their members with resources to assist in decision-making. The ODJA is requesting one Student Volunteer to assist with updating resources through legal research and writing, and legal analysis. ​Students will assist Deputy Judges in Ontario in specific areas as requested. Some of these areas include: 

• ​Costs 

• Contempt 

• Powers of judges 

• Damages 

Type: Research

Area(s) of Law: Civil Litigation 

Community served: This project covers various areas of law addressed by Small Claims Courts, and as such, this project serves a diverse clientele from a vast array of backgrounds, geographic locations, and socio-economic statuses. 

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 1

Commitment: 3-5 hours/week

Special Requirements: Interest in Small Claims Court matters and judicial internships would be preferred. Experience and/or interest in civil litigation would be an asset.

Open to: 2L, 3L

Project Summary

Students will be asked to conduct legal research and prepare memoranda on various topics by the CCLA’s Program Directors. This may include case briefs, reviews of draft or proposed legislation, policy reviews and research memoranda on fundamental freedoms, police powers, national security, privacy, criminal law reform, and equality. Students may periodically be asked to conduct social science research as well, used to inform CCLA’s advocacy and education work.

Type: Research

Area(s) of Law: Constitutional Law, Public Law, Human Rights Law

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 1

Commitment: 3-5 hours/week

Special Requirements: Upper Year student who has completed a course on constitutional/public law; must have expressed an interest in CCLA and/or civil liberties/human rights work

Open to: 2L, 3L

Project Summary

AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through accessible media, reflection and portrayal. 

Kelly & Co. is a weekly 2-hour broadcast that reaches 3k-5k people each week, featuring interviews and discussions about arts, entertainment and lifestyle issues. The student volunteer will support production of the Kelly & Co. broadcast by conducting issue-driven and legal research and producing brief research memos. Once research memos are reviewed and approved by the supervising lawyer and organization contact, legal information contained within these memos will be disseminated publicly via the broadcasts. Information on the broadcast and topics can be found at https://www.ami.ca/category/kelly-and-company. 

The project will engage a law student in research about current legal issues that pertain to people living with disabilities in Canada. Particular focus will be on new federal legislation, as well as that of Ontario. Research may also include non-legal research to learn about public reactions to the state of the law. Further, students may be tasked with conducting outreach. Students may also have the chance to appear on the Kelly and Co cable TV show if they choose to do so. 

Type: Research

Area(s) of Law: Constitutional Law, Public Law, Human Rights Law

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 1

Commitment: 3-5 hours/week

Special Requirements: This is a virtual project. 

• Interest in the rights of people with disabilities

• Lived experience is an asset, but not required in order to be successful. We welcome applications from students who live with a disability, particularly low vision or blindness, as the broadcaster targets this audience.

•  Familiarity with disability issues would be very helpful. Students with familiarity with and interest in the Charter, Constitutional, Human Rights and Disability law are preferred.

Open to: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls

Project Summary

The project will support the ongoing development of the Asian-Pacific Peace Museum by ALPHA Education. In particular, the project will involve the research and development of materials that will support the museum’s exhibits on justice and other legal issues surrounding the legacies of WWII in Asia and the Pacific. The output of the project will be used as add-on information that will later be accessed by museum visitors through QR codes. 

Student  volunteers  will  research  and  develop  plain  language  resources  on  legal  topics  that  are relevant to museum exhibits, using existing resources and research already developed by ALPHA Education.  Students will  also  connect  historical  legal  issues  to  ongoing  and  potential future legal issues in the same general topic, revealing impacts and implications. They may also suggest to museum development staff further considerations in how to discuss international and human rights legal issues for the public. 

Type: Public Legal Education

Area(s) of Law: Human Rights, International Law, Labour Law, Criminal Law, Legal History, Treaty Law

Community served: Children & youth, Racialized communities, Immigrants, refugees & newcomers

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 1

Commitment: 3-5 hours/week

Special Requirements: An  interest  and/or  background  in  history,  international  law,  human  rights,  and  an  interest  in World War II history is an asset. Observance of deadlines, above average (or better) writing skills are also an asset