Archives: Grants (page 42)

Innocence Canada is dedicated to identifying, advocating for, and exonerating individuals convicted of a crime that they did not commit and to preventing such injustices in the future through legal education and justice system reform. The Catalyst grant will enable the organization to continue to coordinate and administer its pro bono program, which reviews and assesses claims of innocence, as well as to enable the continuation of its legal education program.

The John Howard Society of Ontario (JHSO) will create an innovative new program to scope and serve the unmet civil legal needs of JHSO clients in Ontario. This grant will benefit JHSO clients, which includes people in provincial or federal correctional institutions, those recently released from those institutions, and other at-risk clients. Through the Catalyst grant, JHSO aims to develop programming that is responsive to the particular circumstances of justice-involved individuals who have civil legal problems.

L'Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario (AJEFO) raises awareness, informs, and educates the general public and jurists about their legal rights in the official language of their choice. It will offer services at its legal information centre in Ottawa and public legal education on its CliquezJustice.ca portal. AJEFO also plans to enhance its services for the general public. It will offer different workshops about justice-related topics across the province. This benefits Franco-Ontarians and other Ontarians.

The Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) will conduct research, provide multidisciplinary analysis, and develop reports on current and emerging legal policy issues. Partners include various justice sector organizations such as the Citizen Lab and the Criminal Lawyers Association. This grant will benefit justice sector stakeholders and the general public. Through the Catalyst grant, the LCO aims to promote access to justice and contribute to public debate.

Law in Action Within Schools is a partnership between the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, and the Toronto District School Board that delivers a law and justice-themed academic and extra-curricular high school program designed to teach students about law and justice. It will support them to graduate from high school, access post-secondary education, and consider a justice sector or legal profession career.

Luke’s Place serves women needing family support who have been subjected to abuse and the frontline workers and lawyers who assist them. It supports women and their children through the family law process. It provides both direct services and systemic support in Durham region and provincially. The Catalyst grant will enable the organization to expand access to summary legal advice at its Oshawa-based pro bono clinic, improve upon and expand its virtual legal clinic to rural southwestern Ontario (currently, in partnership with over 20 women-serving organizations the virtual clinic serves urban and rural areas in northwestern and northeastern Ontario), update its legal information resources and training materials, and evaluate the overall impact of its work.

Luke’s Place serves women needing family support who have been subjected to abuse and the frontline workers and lawyers who assist them. It supports women and their children through the family law process. It provides both direct services and systemic support in Durham region and provincially. The Catalyst grant will enable the organization to expand access to summary legal advice at its Oshawa-based pro bono clinic, improve upon and expand its virtual legal clinic to rural southwestern Ontario (currently, in partnership with over 20 women-serving organizations the virtual clinic serves urban and rural areas in northwestern and northeastern Ontario), update its legal information resources and training materials, and evaluate the overall impact of its work.

Ontario Justice Education Network will carry out programs that facilitate and support broad-based activity by the judiciary, the bar, the courts, and the education community throughout Ontario, with a primary focus on students and the strengthening of links between the justice and education communities. It develops innovative educational tools that introduce young people to the justice system, helps them understand the law, and builds their legal capability, and prepares them to manage the legal aspects of problems that arise in their own lives.

Pro Bono Ontario (PBO) bridges the gap between low-income Ontarians who cannot afford a lawyer or qualify for legal aid, and lawyers who want to donate their services. Its programs include a legal advice hotline, litigation assistance programs in small claims court and Superior Court in Toronto and Ottawa, and medical-legal partnerships that operate out of five children’s hospitals. In addition to supporting these activities, the Catalyst grant will enable PBO to enhance its hotline services. The hotline currently provides free summary advice and legal drafting services in the areas of civil litigation, consumer debt and protection, employment law, housing, power of attorney for property and personal care, and corporate law (for nonprofits and small newcomer-run start-ups).

Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) will provide legal help without charge to low-income individuals and nonprofit organizations, and experiential learning opportunities to law students. With chapters in 22 of 23 Canadian law schools, PBSC develops legal placements for law students in a range of work settings, including clinics, nonprofit organizations, law offices, courts, and tribunals. Under the supervision of a lawyer, student volunteers draft memos, prepare policies and manuals, develop and deliver legal education workshops, assist lawyers and duty counsel with client intake, assist clients with document preparation, represent clients before tribunals and courts (under lawyer supervision), and provide legal information to clients.