Student Legal Services

Student Legal Services is a not-for-profit organization run by law students at the University of Alberta and was established to provide the low-income community with free legal information and assistance. The organization was created in the summer of 1969 by fourteen law students who had a passion for access to justice and who were inspired by the student legal clinics emerging across Canada. During the early years, the law students assisted individuals with a variety of matters ​

anging from criminal charges to welfare disputes and tenancy problems. Since then, the organization has continued to evolve and expand.

Today, Student Legal Services has two offices: East Campus House (at the University of Alberta) and Corona Office (in downtown Edmonton). SLS runs five projects: 

1. The Criminal Law Project provides legal assistance and representation to individuals charged with a summary offence in Provincial Court who do not qualify for Legal Aid. Each year, the project handles upwards of 1000 criminal files. 
2. The Civil Law Project assists individuals in Provincial Court and before several administrative tribunals with matters including landlord tenant issues, WCB appeals, employment disputes, EI appeals, contract disputes, and general civil claims. 
3. The Family Law Project assists individuals in Provincial Court with child support and varying parenting matters. SLS also hosts Do-Your-Own-Divorce clinics.
4. The Legal Education and Reform Project provides legal information to individuals through outreaches at low-income community organizations, including the Mustard Seed, Boyle Street, Bissell Centre, Homeless Connect, and Hope Mission. 
5. The Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) Project provides assistance to other legal services in Edmonton (such as Civil Claims Duty Counsel and QB Amicus) and legal research to third-party organizations in Edmonton. 

Fall Project Expansions 

This fall, SLS is expanding two of its projects: the Criminal Law Project and the PBSC Project. The Criminal Law Project is expanding its services into Wetaskiwin and Vegreville. Currently, the project assists individuals in Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Morinville, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, and Stony Plain. There is a substantial need for free legal services in rural Alberta, and SLS is trying to fill that gap as much as possible. Therefore, expanding into Wetaskiwin and Vegreville was a natural next step. Student Legal Services caseworkers are at the Wetaskiwin courthouse to open files the third Tuesday of every month. Caseworkers are at the Vegreville courthouse the second Monday of every month. 

For more information about Student Legal Services at the University of Alberta, click here.