This is a joint project between the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Osgoode Hall & Lincoln Alexander School of Law.
Name of Organization: All Saints Toronto
Website of Organization: https://allsaintstoronto.com/
Organization’s Mandate: All Saints Church – Community Centre is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment while enhancing the well-being of homeless and street-involved individuals.
The All Saints Drop-in welcomes people from all walks of life, especially people in need. Many of our drop-in participants are experiencing or have experienced homelessness, physical and/or mental illness including addiction, and other challenges. Open four days a week, our drop-in space is a safe, non-judgemental place where people can have coffee, rest, use washroom facilities, see a nurse or social worker, eat a hot meal, and access telephone, wifi, and computer services. We provide clothing, toiletries, and harm reduction kits to all who ask. We also provide takeout meals, and serve approximately 800 meals each week.
Project Name: Drop-In Legal Information Clinic
Project Type: Public Legal Education (presentations, workshops, podcasts, brochures, blogs, etc.)
Project Delivery: Hybrid. Attendance at the drop-in must take place in person. Other tasks, such as legal research, may be completed remotely.
Description of Project: The All Saints’ Drop-in is a safe, non-judgemental place where people can have coffee, rest, use washroom facilities, see a nurse or social worker, eat a hot meal, and access telephone, wifi, and computer services.
2 student volunteers will provide legal information during the drop-in. The student will gather any legal questions and will spend the following 1-2 weeks researching the question (e.g. working on the streets, how the law differentiates sex work and trafficking, navigating criminal justice system, etc.). The lawyer supervisor will approve the accuracy of the information, and then the student will set up a phone call or in-person meeting with the client to deliver legal information only (likely this will occur on a subsequent drop-in session).
If needed by All Saints, students will create a plain language resource on a legal issue that is of importance to the drop-in clients. The resource will be approved by the lawyer supervisor before being distributed.
Staff will be present at the drop-in each week and is available to attend all presentations to help the students effectively deliver their presentations to the audience. The legal issues often dealt with in the drop-in clinic are landlord/tenant disputes and criminal justice issues.
Role of Student Volunteers: Student volunteers will complete the tasks as outlined above.
Role of Supervising Lawyer(s): The lawyer supervisor will be available to meet students on a weekly basis. They will approve the accuracy of the information put together by the students, including any written materials, and provide guidance to students with respect to providing legal information to clients.
Type of Law: Human Rights Law; Clinics/Poverty Law; Criminal Law.
Main Project Deliverable: Presenting public legal education (e.g. in-person or virtual presentations, workshops, training sessions, etc.)
Number of Student Placements: 2 students
Hours per week the student volunteer(s) will be expected to work: 3-5 hours/week
Regular shifts or a flexible schedule: From All Saints’ website, the Drop-in Hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm; Wednesday: 10:30 am to 3 pm.
All Saints would prefer students commit to a regular weekly time slot within those operating hours.
Legal research can likely be done on a flexible schedule.
Is there a workspace provided for the student at the Organization: All Saints will set up a desk in the drop-in for students to use.
Devices and technologies the students will be required to have: Computer, Internet access, telephone, Zoom.
Is there an expectation for the student(s) to be bilingual: No, but multilingualism is an asset.
Law School Pre-Requisites: None.
Other Requirements or Expectations: Students should understand that the drop-in is a low barrier space; as such, clients may not be sober and may be experiencing mental health difficulties or other challenges during the session. Potential students should think carefully about whether they are able to volunteer in an unpredictable and client-facing environment.
Preference for experience or interest in social justice or human rights field, working with marginalized communities, particularly sex workers and/ or people who use drugs. Experience navigating criminal justice system and accessing resources like legal aid and court support, experience with family law and child welfare would also be an asset.