Refugee Law

Open to: 2L, New Project

Project Summary

​​​Students will work remotely with the CASA Program Director to assist them with their caseload which includes research, client directed and law reform work. Typical tasks include:

• Development of communication and education tools with new and archival footage of CASA stakeholders  

• Client services – including preparing immigration applications and undertaking research  

• Systemic advocacy research  

Type: Research

Area(s) of Law: Immigration and Refugee, Human Rights

Community served: Children & Youth, Immigrants, refugees & newcomers

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 1

Commitment: 4-5 hours/week

Special Requirements: ​​​Demonstrated experience in teaching including interactive pedagogy with technology; ​Experience working with youth; Interest in immigration law/migration rights 

Open to: 1L, 2L, 3L

Project Summary

Students will assist with legal research around immigration laws in countries where our clients reside with a focus on the Emergency Travel Support (ETS) and complementary pathways. Students will support in gathering evidence to build cases, and may work with clients to fill out forms and applications. Second language proficiency in Arabic, Turkish or Russian are strongly preferred to provide informal translations of documents as well as translate client calls. Students may also assist lawyers and caseworkers in drafting cover letters and immigration claim summaries. All legal research and draft cover letters will be reviewed and approved by the supervising lawyer prior to use by the partner organization. 

Type: Research

Area(s) of Law: Immigration and Refugee, Human Rights

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

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 1

Commitment: 5 hours/week

Special Requirements: This is an in person project with shifts on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. Preference will be given to students with second language fluency in: Arabic, Farsi, Russian, Turkish, Spanish. Those with personal lived experience that relates to our clients are encouraged to apply – i.e. those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions and/or those from regions where we work internationally (Caribbean, Africa, South-Central Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East). 

Open to: 2L

Project Summary

Students will work remotely with their assigned lawyer supervisor to assist them with their caseload. The mock hearing provides an opportunity for refugee claimants get assistance with drafting/structuring their narrative/claim; have a paper review claim or a simulated hearing with the student volunteers and lawyer supervisor – a practicing immigration and refugee lawyer in the province of Ontario. The objective of the mock hearing familiarizes claimants with the hearing process in an affirming environment and provide an opportunity for the claimant to take a more critical look at the implications or their claim.

Student volunteers are expected provide guidance to claimant on how to structure their claims; to review the claimants Basis of Claim (BoC) prior to each mock hearing. They are also expected to review the IRB’s National Documentation Package for the country the claimant is seeking to be protected from. Student volunteers will then identify any key issues and draft questions which may be explored during the mock hearing. They will be expected to consult with their supervising lawyer prior to each mock hearing/paper review. Students will also be required to carry out some client communication with clients by placing calls and requesting for documentations/evidence or completion of application.

Type: Client Services 

Area(s) of Law: Immigration and Refugee Law

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

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 2

Commitment: 5 hours/week

Special Requirements: Mock hearings will take place twice per week @ 5:30 – 8:30 p.m EDT. Student volunteers will be assigned two mock hearings per month and are expected to work with the partner organization to determine which dates are most appropriate. Preference will be given to those who have taken or are enrolled in an immigration and refugee law course. Given the focus of the clinic and clientele served, students that identify as BIPOC are encouraged to apply. Additional assets include:

• • Experience in clinical, client-facing, and/or tribunal settings

  • Experience working with LGBTQ+ communities and survivors of trauma.

  • Volunteers should be able to demonstrate ongoing and meaningful allyship with the LGBTQ+/queer and trans communities.

Open to: 1L, 2L

Project Summary

DVCLS’ immigration team provides summary advice and legal representation for various immigration problems. In this project, the law student will be responsible for contacting clients via DVCLS’s Zoom Phone app to record their information and a statement of their legal issue(s). The student will then log this information into DVCLS’ statistical case management program. Students will do research into clients’ issues and files.

Type: Client Services 

Area(s) of Law: Immigration and Refugee Law

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

Number of Student Volunteer Positions: 1

Commitment: 3 hours/week

Special Requirements: Students will be expected to show up for a regular shift each week (Friday morning from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM) at DVCLS’s office: 1 Leaside Park Dr #1, Toronto, ON M4H 1R1