The Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, as a member of the Access to Justice Steering Committee, would like to bring the following information to your attention:

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The Newfoundland and Labrador Access to Justice Steering Committee celebrates volunteerism in the legal community during Volunteer Week 2018

The Newfoundland and Labrador Access to Justice Steering Committee is proud to celebrate volunteerism in the legal community and mark the success of local pro bono legal assistance clinics during Volunteer Week 2018.

Since 2016, five pro bono legal assistance clinics have been established, the Small Claims Legal Assistance Clinic, Court of Appeal Legal Assistance Clinic, Access Law Clinic, Gathering Place Legal Assistance Clinic, and the Choices for Youth Legal Assistance Clinic.

Combined to date the five clinics have assisted 267 participants, supported by 61 volunteer lawyers, articling students and law students, totaling 212 hours of pro bono legal service to the community.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Access to Justice Steering Committee and its member groups extend sincere thanks to all volunteers who have participated in these valuable initiatives.

About the Pro Bono Legal Assistance Clinics

Small Claims Legal Assistance Clinic
Established in 2016, the Small Claims Legal Assistance Clinic is held once a month and to date has assisted over 100 clients. The clinic offers individual appointments with a volunteer lawyer or articling student who can provide self-represented litigants with summary legal advice and suggestions for next steps on Small Claims Court matters. To sign up to become a volunteer at the Small Claims Clinic, please email cba-nl@cba.org.

Court of Appeal Legal Assistance Clinic
In June 2016, the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador launched the Court of Appeal Legal Assistance Clinic, a project intended to promote access to justice and legal education. The clinic is held once a month and offers free legal assistance to people who do not have a lawyer and are seeking advice about their appeal. For information on volunteering at the clinic please email calac@appeal.court.nl.ca.

Gathering Place Legal Clinic
In the summer of 2017, the Gathering Place Legal Clinic was established. The clinic runs monthly at the Gathering Place where volunteer lawyers, articling students and law students meet with clients to discuss matters related to including housing, family law, and criminal law. The Gathering Place is a service centre and non-profit organization offering a range of programs and services to persons aged 25 or older who are homeless, live in less than desirable housing conditions, unemployed, or who do not have adequate social supports in their lives. For more information, or to sign up to become a volunteer, please contact director@publiclegalinfo.com.

Choices for Youth Legal Assistance Clinic
Recently launched the Choices for Youth Legal Assistance Clinic operates monthly, on a drop in basis, for clients of Choices for Youth to meet with a volunteer lawyer or articling student for general legal information and summary legal advice. Choices for Youth is a non-profit organization that works to empower at-risk youth by providing supportive housing, outreach and youth engagement, job training and other services. For more information, or to sign up to become a volunteer, please contact director@publiclegalinfo.com.

Access Law Clinic
A collaborative effort of the Newfoundland and Labrador Access to Justice Steering Committee member groups, the first Access Law Clinic was held in November 2016. Held at the Law Society Library, three Access Law Clinics have been held to date, covering family law, wills and estates, employment law, human rights law, and housing issues. For information on the next Access Law Clinic, please email cba-nl@cba.org.

About the Newfoundland and Labrador Access to Justice Steering Committee

The Newfoundland and Labrador Access to Justice Steering Committee was formed in 2014 out of recommendations from the report of the Action Committee on Access to Justice in Civil and Family Matters. The committee is comprised of members from twelve justice stakeholder groups including: Department of Justice and Public Safety, Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador, Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador General and Family Divisions, Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador Legal Aid Commission, Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canadian Bar Association – Newfoundland and Labrador Branch, Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission, Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.