This is a Special Project managed by PBSC National.
Name of Organization: Level Justice
Website of Organization: www.leveljustice.org
Organization’s Mandate: Founded in 2004, Level is a Canadian charitable organization that levels barriers to justice by building empathy, disrupting prejudice, and advancing human rights. We pursue our mission through outreach and public legal education initiatives, human rights research and events, and through specialized mentorship programs.
We believe that if stakeholders are empowered to understand, shape, and use the law, they can become active participants in breaking down barriers to justice. We also believe that if our legal professionals have empathy and cultural humility, we can create a justice system that serves the people who need it the most.
Project Name: Indigenous Youth Outreach Project
Project Type: Public Legal Education (presentations, workshops, podcasts, brochures, blogs, etc.)& Research (memoranda used for internal purposes only)
Project Delivery: In Person. Programs will likely take place in person but there could be opportunities for remote volunteer work.
Description of Project: The project will involve supporting online/remote or in-person justice education sessions for Level’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (IYOP). It will feature two components: (i) assisting in leading and delivering justice education and mock trials for youth (ii) researching and drafting new mock trial scenarios (iii) drafting of a Cultural Humility reflection on your work with IYOP throughout the school year.
Part I: The project will involve support for Level’s online/remote or in-person justice education sessions for Level’s Indigenous Youth Outreach Program (IYOP).
IYOP is a justice education and mentorship program for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth aged 11-18. Youth work with justice sector volunteers on fun and engaging activities that teach them about the Canadian criminal justice system while incorporating Indigenous pedagogy, including smudging feasting, Elder teachings, and a focus on restorative justice.
Level launched IYOP in Toronto in 2012, serving 25 youth and engaging 12 justice sector volunteers at the time. Since then, the program has grown to serve over 300 youth and work with over 125 justice sector professionals from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories.
Typically, IYOP runs 6-10 justice education sessions with Indigenous students in a particular school location. Volunteer students participate in relationship-building exercises, identity work, and justice education games and experiences with the program participants.
Part II: IYOP relies on a mock trial handbook to ensure the smooth delivery of sessions. These handbooks contain mock trial scenarios for use by volunteers in the program. During off times (i.e. durations where students are not supporting mock trials), student volunteers will be expected to conduct legal research for use by the partner organization, pending review and approval by the supervising lawyer.
Part III: The final part of volunteer work with Level Justice includes completing a short cultural humility exercise. This is a reflection exercise and can be anywhere from a few sentences to a page long. For this exercise, volunteers will ask themselves things such as: how did the program go? What did they learn about themselves throughout participating in the program? What did they learn about the students that they worked with? Did they have fun, or were they nervous?
Role of Student Volunteers: Student Volunteers will be in charge of:
• Under the guidance of the IYOP Facilitators, lead small justice education group activities during program sessions
• Partnering with students to prepare them for a mock trial and sentencing circle activity
• Providing education on different career paths in the justice system
• Ensuring that they are present at all scheduled justice education sessions they are involved in
Not required, but If interest is expressed, other potential tasks the volunteer may assist the IYOP
Facilitators by:
• Assist by conducting outreach of a Judge for the youth mock trial activity
• Assist by conducting outreach of Lawyer volunteers for the youth mock trial activity
• Contacting and coordinating with courthouses where the youth mock trial can take place
• Contacting and coordinating with law firms where a youth field trip can occur
Volunteers are expected to commit 1-2 hours per week over the course of 8 weeks in the fall semester (October – November). In the winter semester, volunteers are expected to commit to 1 – 2 hours per week for 12 weeks (January – March). Sessions will generally take place in person; however, some sessions may be on Zoom. In addition to attending the program sessions, volunteers must complete:
• A one-hour introductory training session with Level
• A one-hour Cultural Humility and Empathy Training session
A Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) may be required depending on the school the volunteer attends.
If a VSC is required and if this provides undue hardship for the volunteer, Level will cover the cost.
Role of Supervising Lawyer(s): The Supervising Lawyer will review and approve all legal research and mock trial scenarios before they are used by the partner organization and will be available to provide guidance and mentorship throughout the project.
The Supervising Lawyer and/or a volunteer lawyer will attend each IYOP presentation. The IYOP Program Manager will instruct student volunteers on their involvement for each session. A lawyer will supervise all student volunteers during PLE sessions.
Any questions specific to a participant’s legal rights will be referred to the Supervising Lawyer for follow-up, and Student Volunteers are not permitted to offer legal advice.
Type of Law: Criminal Law, Indigenous, Human Rights
Main Project Deliverable: Presenting public legal education (e.g. in-person or virtual presentations, workshops, training sessions, etc.)
Number of Student Placements: 4-6 students
Hours per week the student volunteer(s) will be expected to work: 1-2 hours/week
Regular shifts or a flexible schedule: Students are expected to be able to attend all program sessions but any additional work is flexible and can be completed remotely.
Is there a workspace provided for the student at the Organization: No
Devices and technologies the students will be required to have: In cases where the Students Volunteers work remotely, they will need a computer, internet access, telephone and Zoom account to be able to complete their volunteer work.
Is there an expectation for the student(s) to be bilingual: No
Law School Pre-Requisites: None. However, an interest in or completion of Indigenous Law, Indigenous Legal Traditions, and Canadian Criminal Law will be an asset.
Other Requirements or Expectations: Given the nature of clientele served (youth), student volunteers should possess comfort working with youth, and a high degree of humility.