Public Legal Education

Partner Organization: WomenatthecentrE (WATC) 
Project Name: Building a Reproductive Justice Framework – Research & PLE
Full Project Description.

Content Warning: Working on this project requires conversations and includes content about gender-based violence, anti-Black racism, racial capitalism, settler colonialism, reproductive injustice, and other forms of violence. This may be triggering or activating for some folks. We ask that you please consider this carefully when selecting this project and prioritize your needs before, during, and after the work. Please reach out to your local support systems as required.

Brief Description:
Over-Represented, and Under-Protected: Building A Reproductive Justice Framework Centering Indigenous, Black, and Afro-Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Gender-Diverse and Trans (IB- WG2SGDT) Communities in the Greater Toronto Area. 

WomenatthecentrE is a unique non-profit organization that works to eradicate gender-based violence against women, gender diverse, 2 spirit and trans people. WomenatthecentrE is the first survivor-led organization in Canada dedicated to ensuring the voices and expertise of survivors are central in the implementation and development of policies and programs aimed at eradicating all forms of gender violence.

Reproductive justice advocacy focuses on ensuring that women and those facing gender-based discrimination are able to make their own decisions about their reproductive lives, and have access to the resources and supports they need to be able to do so. Student volunteers will assist with the legal dimensions of Reproductive Justice by researching and outlining relevant laws and legal procedures to accessing reproductive justice in Canada for Black and Indigenous communities.

The project’s objectives include:

• Examine and document the systemic barriers impacting IB-WG2SGDT peoples' reproductive and sexual health, including access to culturally safe healthcare, the effects of GBV, and policy gaps
• Engage community members through community-based participatory research (CBPR) that prioritizes lived experiences of survivors and frontline advocates in shaping the research framework and findings
• Build solidarity within and between Indigenous, Black, and Afro-Indigenous communities by recognizing shared histories of oppression and reclaiming ancestral knowledge
• Encourage allyship / accompliceship by involving Indigenous, Black, and Afro-Indigenous men and boys in critical discussions on GBV and its intersection with reproductive rights
• Support sustainable change by sharing research findings through a Reproductive Justice Exchange Hub to inform advocacy, policy recommendations, and service improvements

Role of Student Volunteers 
Students will research and canvas relevant Canadian laws and resources to accessing reproductive justice in Canada. Students will work closely with each other and the lawyer supervisor to determine a work plan and divide up work. 

This project has two components: 

(1) Researching Access to Reproductive Justice: Students will research and canvas relevant Canadian laws and resources to accessing reproductive justice in Canada. 

(2) Public Legal Education Development: Students will then either create a workshop or plan-language resource outlining their findings. These resources will be published to be used by relevant populations, and will support WATC’s research. Please note that the final deliverable will be communicated to students in October, once they are matched with the organization.   

Mode of Delivery: Hybrid 
Prerequisites: None
Eligibility: Open to all years 

Number of Placements: 2

Area of Law: Human Rights Law and Health Law
Communities Served: domestic violence survivors; Indigenous; racialized communities

Partner Organization: The Legal Kid Foundation (TLKF) 
Project Name: Canadian Legal Literacy Collaborative
Full Project Description.

Brief Description:
The Legal Kid Foundation empowers youth through legal literacy, mentorship, and social-emotional learning. Their mission is to ensure every student understands their rights and sees themselves as future leaders in law and justice.

This project supports the continued international expansion of The Legal Kid Foundation (TLKF) by adapting its U.S.-based Student Ambassador Program curriculum to align with Canadian legal and civic frameworks. During the 2026–2027 academic year, student volunteers will adapt TLKF's Rule of Law and Bullying Prevention curriculum to reflect Canadian laws, rights, and civic principles while preserving the interactive, student-centered approach that defines the program. 

See Full Project Description Form for a detailed list of project tasks.

Role of Student Volunteer:
Student volunteers will research Canadian legal principles and collaborate with TLKF in adapting designated curriculum modules for Canadian audiences. Volunteers will draft Canadian legal content, recommend revisions, and prepare supporting resources that will be incorporated into TLKF's proprietary curriculum under the supervision of TLKF staff and Canadian-licensed lawyers. All final curriculum decisions remain with The Legal Kid Foundation. 

In addition to curriculum development, volunteers will help prepare for a TLKF student legal literacy workshop that will be delivered to youth across the Greater Toronto Area in March 2027, providing students with the opportunity to see their work translated into meaningful community impact. 

Mode of Delivery: Hybrid
Prerequisites: None; TLKF wlecomes all law students who are enthusiatic about legal education and community service. A willingness to learn, collaborate, and contribute to youth-centered projects is the only expectation. 
Eligibility: Open to all years
Number of Placements: 1-2

Area of Law: Constitutional law, human rights law, criminal and youth justice law, education law, immigration law, environmental law
Communities Served: Children & youth; immigrants, refugees & newcomers; racialized communities 

Partner Organization: WomenatthecentrE (WATC)
Project Name: Client Navigation Support for Intimate Partner Violence 
Full Project Description.

Brief Description: 
WomenatthecentrE is a unique non-profit organization that works to eradicate gender-based violence against women, gender diverse, 2 spirit and trans people. WomenatthecentrE is the first survivor-led organization in Canada dedicated to ensuring the voices and expertise of survivors are central in the implementation and development of policies and programs aimed at eradicating all forms of gender violence.

Accessing justice for survivors of intimate partner violence can be daunting. A contributing factor is the lack of clear, accessible guidance in locating the most relevant resources and supports available in a given circumstance. To simplify this process, WomenatthecentrE (WATC) is piloting a client legal navigation model to assist survivors of intimate partner violence with navigating the web of legal, medical, and community-based supports. This pilot model builds on WATC’s revised safety planning and risk assessment tools, which will be used to strengthen frontline service delivery.  

Role of Student Volunteer:
Students will assist WATC with developing the legal navigation model using internal organizational resources (such as revised safety planning and risk assessment forms) and external research. Students will work closely with each other and the lawyer supervisor to determine a work plan and divide up work. 

This project has two components: 

1. Research and Development: Students will research and analyze relevant Canadian laws, policies, and community resources related to intimate partner violence. The research will have an emphasis on identifying accessibility issues and applicable supports available throughout the legal process.  

2. Public Legal Education (PLE): Based on their findings, students will help develop plain-language materials or tools that can be integrated into WomenatthecentrE’s survivor toolkit. These resources will strengthen the organization’s pilot navigation model and support its broader access to justice and sustainability initiatives.

OPTIONAL: Students may also have the opportunity to sit in on Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings to better understand the issues shaping the navigation model and contribute their own observations. 

Mode of Delivery: Virtual
Prerequisites: None
Eligibility: Open to all years
Number of Placements: 2-3

Area of Law: Human Rights Law, Family Law, and Accesibility Law
Communities Served: Domestic violence survivors; self-represented litigants; people living with disabilities & chronic illnesses

Partner Organization: METRAC (Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children)
Project Name: Gender Based Violence – PLE and Research Project
Full Project Description.

Brief Description: 
METRAC is an Ontario based non-profit organization (located in Toronto) in operation since 1984 working to end violence towards women, youth, Two-Spirit, nonbinary and trans people. Our current violence prevention and intervention activities are focused on advancing safety, justice, and equity through education, outreach, community safety initiative, research, and social policy work. 

The project has two components, but students may choose to engage with either based on their preferences: 

1. Preparing and presenting Public Legal Education (PLE) presentations for Toronto area community groups, including shelters for women affected by partner violence.  
2. Researching and writing materials that may be published on METRAC’s Ontario Women’s Justice Network (OWJN) website. Written materials may involve preparing articles, case-comments or blog-style posts on various legal issues in collaboration with METRAC staff.  

Please see Full Project Description for past presentation/research topics. 

Role of Student Volunteer: 
Students will work with METRAC's legal information materials to conduct legal research and to develop and adapt new presentation materials as needed. PLE presenetations will explain in clear language, various aspects of the law and legal processes that women are likely to encounter, some of which may be related to information posted on the OWJN and FLEW websites (www.owjn.org; www.onefamilylaw.ca).

The final outputs of the project may include PLE PowerPoint presentations and/or other written resources, which will be used by student to conduct legal information presentations for the community. Students may also prepare articles, case-comments or blog-style posts on various legal issues in collaboration with METRAC staff. 

Mode of Delivery: Virtual
Prerequisites: limited to women-identified volunteers given the sensitivity of a shelter environment and working with women exposed to violence
Eligibility: Open to All Years
Number of Placements: 2 (4-6 total)

Area of Law: Family, Criminal, Human Rights, Employment
Communities Served: Domestic violence survivors; women; other - General
 

Partner Organization: WomenatthecentrE (WATC) 
Project Name: Gender Based Violence Red Flag Toolkit 
Full Project Description.

Brief Description:
WomenatthecentrE is a unique non-profit organization that works to eradicate gender-based violence against women, gender diverse, 2 spirit and trans people. WomenatthecentrE is the first survivor-led organization in Canada dedicated to ensuring the voices and expertise of survivors are central in the implementation and development of policies and programs aimed at eradicating all forms of gender violence

WomenatthecentrE offers Individualized Safety Plans and Risk Assessments to assist survivors of intimate partner violence with accessing justice. These materials identify legal processes and referrals that aim to inform survivors of their rights pertaining to intimate partner violence.  

Students will assist WomenatthecentrE with revising these materials to include information about red flag laws in the context of gender-based violence (including what they are, how to apply safely, and next steps for survivors and service providers, etc.).

Role of Student Volunteers: 
Students will research and canvas relevant Canadian laws and resources to accessing justice for intimate partner violence in Canada. Students will work closely with each other and the lawyer supervisor to determine a work plan and divide up work.  
 
This project has two components:  

1. Researching Red Flag Laws for Gender Based Violence: Students will research and canvas relevant Canadian laws, processes, and resources to accessing justice for survivors of intimate partner violence in Canada. The research will focus on: 

• Identifying red flag laws for survivors accessing justice 

• Identifying relevant judicial processes for survivors accessing justice 

• Explaining how to apply for support (what documentation is required and available aids) 

• Explaining how to ensure survivor safety throughout the process 

2. Public Legal Education Development: Students will then create a plain-language explainer document to assist service providers and peer-support workers with providing effective resource referrals to survivors of intimate partner violence. The document will also inform survivors of their rights pertaining to gender-based violence. 

The students will consult with the organization contact and lawyer supervisor to determine the most appropriate format for the final deliverable. These resources will be published to be used by relevant populations and will support WATC’s mandates.

Mode of Delivery: Virtual
Prerequisites: None
Eligibility: Open to all years
Number of Placements: 2

Area of Law: Human Rights Law, Criminal Law, Family Law
Communities Served: domestic violence survivors; women; self-represented litigants

Partner Organization: Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal Services (KBCLS)
Project Name: Tenant Rights Public Legal Education (PLE) 
Full Project Description.

Brief Description:
KBCLS is a non-profit community legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario. KBCLS gives people living on a low income in Kensington-Bellwoods neighbourhood free legal services for certain problems.

Student volunteers will assist with the creation of digital/audio/physical PLE materials on renting basics in Toronto, as well as conduct legal research, as required. The topics covered by PLE materials will be determined in consultation with individual students, such as:  

• The Standard Form Lease vs OREA forms 
• RTA versus Condo/coop bylaws etc. 
• A guide to preparing tenant applications  
• Guidelines for self-representation at the Landlord and Tenant Board 

Other PLE and research topics will be determined based on emerging issues and students’ interests and skills and will be planned in consultation with students and staff in subsequent months.

Role of Student Volunteer:
Students will research the rights, responsibilities, and entitlements of tenants in Toronto and prepare public legal education materials for Toronto tenants.  

Mode of Delivery: Hybrid; requires students to be in person for some portion of their work to attend meetings at the office or to attend PLE presentations
Prerequisites: None; social justice experience is an asset but not required; interest in tenant rights issues and housing justice is also highly desirable
Eligibility: Open to all years
Number of Placements: 2 (4 total)

Area of Law: Housing; Adminsitrative Law
Communities Served: homeless & mariginally housed; low-income; self-represented litigants

Joint Project: Lincoln Alexander School of Law (Lead); University of Toronto

Partner Organization: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre (OFIFC)
Project Name: Victims and Survivors of Violence: Justice Responses and Legal Remedies
Full Project Description

Brief Description:
The OFIFC works to support, advocate for, and build the capacity of member Friendship Centres across Ontario. Friendship Centres are community hubs where Indigenous people living in towns, cities, and urban centers can access culturally-based programs and services that span justice, health, family-support, long term care, healing and wellness, employment and training, education, research and more.      

OFIFC is seeking law student volunteers to conduct legal research on how federal and provincial justice systems respond to urban Indigenous victims and survivors of violence. Student volunteers will review key laws, victims’ rights acts, legal remedies, and justice system processes related to violent victimization, such as intimate partner violence, family violence, sexual violence, child abuse, and human trafficking. This project will help broaden OFIFC’s knowledge of bail, release conditions, sentencing, diversion, restorative justice, Gladue principles, and sentencing circles to better understand how these processes enable and/or limit safety and access to justice for Indigenous victims and survivors of violence. The project will also help OFIFC identify opportunities for Friendship Centres to better support victims through system navigation, safety planning, and culturally rooted healing.

Role of Student Volunteer:

• Conduct legal and policy research using legislation, case law, policy documents, and academic literature. 
• Review relevant federal and provincial legislation relating to violence prevention, victim protection, legal remedies and justice responses. 
• Examine legal remedies available to victims and survivors of violence, including criminal, civil, family, administrative avenues.
• Analyze justice system responses including bail, release conditions, sentencing, diversion, restorative justice, Gladue principles, sentencing circles where appropriate, and other Indigenous justice approaches and assess how these processes influence victim safety, access to justice, accountability, and healing.
• Identify legislative, policy, and Friendship Centre program gaps affecting urban Indigenous victims and survivors. 
• Develop Public Legal Education resources, legislative summaries, and policy recommendations to support Friendship Centre staff and future policy advocacy. 

Mode of Delivery: Remote
Prerequisites: None; It would be highly desirable for students to have an interest in Indigenous legal principles, restorative justice approaches, and strong understandings of family and criminal law.  

Number of Placements: 2 

Area of Law: Criminal Law, Civil Litigation (Tort Law), Family Law, Child Protection Law, Indigenous laws and legal principles 
Communities Served: Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis; Domestic Violence Survivors; Children & Youth