The Law Foundation of Ontario is more than doubling the number of grants for articling student positions for the nonprofit justice sector. Beginning in 2025, the Public Interest Articling Fellowship (PIAF) program will expand from 8 to 18 host organizations. This increases the PIAF granting from $1.9M to $4.75M over the 3-year cycle of these grants.
PIAF provides nonprofit organizations with funding to host an articling student for a 10-month period, through the articling program governed by the Law Society of Ontario. PIAF helps respond to the significant need for legal assistance within the community while giving law students valuable work experience in public interest law.
The increased granting has widened both the number and diversity of the placements. This is seen in the addition of new and emerging areas of law such as elder law, health law, and animal rights, as well as location, with 30% of placements outside the Greater Toronto Area.
Based on the Foundation’s strategic focus on increasing access to justice in northern Ontario and the related needs-assessment consultations we did in 2023, we opened the PIAF program for the first time to legal clinics in northern Ontario (as defined by Legal Aid Ontario).
We also made changes to ease pressures on grantees by building in a 2% year-over-year increase for the duration of the 3-year grant and streamlining the annual renewal processes.
2025-2028 Public Interesting Articling Fellowship host organizations
Algoma Community Legal Clinic*
The Algoma Community Legal Clinic provides free legal advice and representation in certain areas of law to eligible clients of the Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding Algoma District.
Amnesty International Canada
Amnesty International Canada conducts research and generates action to prevent and end grave human rights abuses and demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.
Animal Justice Canada*
Animal Justice leads the legal fight for animals by arguing on behalf of animals in court, working to pass strong new animal protection laws, and pushing to prosecute animal abusers.
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic offers legal representation, counselling, and multilingual interpretation to women and gender diverse people who have experienced violence.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is a human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights works to advance the right to housing so that everyone has an adequate, accessible, and affordable place to call home.
Centre for Health Science and Law*
The Centre for Health Science and Law is a health protection organization specializing in food law reform issues and the rights to health and food.
Community Justice Collective*
Community Justice Collective provides legal support for community organizers and social justice movements across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust*
Egale improves and saves lives of 2SLGBTQI people through research, education, awareness, and by advocating for human rights and equality in Canada and around the world.
Innocence Canada
Innocence Canada is dedicated to identifying, advocating for, and exonerating individuals convicted of a crime they did not commit and to preventing future injustices through legal education and reform.
John Howard Society of Canada
The John Howard Society of Canada works for effective, just, and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime.
Luke’s Place Support and Resource Centre for Women and Children*
Luke’s Place is devoted to improving the safety and experience of abused women and their children as they proceed through the family law process.
National Institute on Ageing*
The National Institute on Ageing improves the lives of older adults and the systems that support them through research, convening, and advancing policies and practices.
Nipissing Community Legal Clinic*
Nipissing Community Legal Clinic provides no-fee legal services for low-income residents of the City of North Bay and other communities located within the District of Nipissing.
Peacebuilders Canada
Peacebuilders seeks to improve access to justice for young people in conflict with the law and advocate for change in the justice, child welfare, and education systems.
Pro Bono Ontario*
Pro Bono Ontario develops and manages high quality programs that connect volunteer lawyers with Ontarians who can’t afford a lawyer.
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre provides legal and research services about the provision of important regulated services for all Canadians, in particular vulnerable consumers.
Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
LEAF works toward ensuring the law guarantees substantive equality for all women, girls, trans, and non-binary people.
*First time in PIAF program
