MONDAY, OCTOBER 25
Legal Document Review Initiative
Ongoing: October 25-30, 2021
Presented by Pro Bono Law Alberta
Apply by leaving a message at 403-541-4804 or submit and application online.
Ongoing: October 25-30, 2021
Presented by Pro Bono Law Alberta
Apply by leaving a message at 403-541-4804 or submit and application online.
A Closer Look: The justice sector's response to the TRC calls to action
Time: 8:00 a.m. (MT)
Presented by The Action Group on Access to Justice
Enhancing the legal professions’ relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples is a priority in advancing access to justice. This session, moderated by Treasurer Teresa Donnelly, explores the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action relevant to the justice sector, and examines the unique cultural, historical, and socio-economic barriers that continue to impact Indigenous Peoples’ access to and interaction with the Canadian justice system. Indigenous legal professionals will provide insights on how these barriers can be addressed to provide better legal services to Indigenous communities.
Time: 8:00 a.m. (MT)
Presented by The Action Group on Access to Justice
Enhancing the legal professions’ relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples is a priority in advancing access to justice. This session, moderated by Treasurer Teresa Donnelly, explores the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action relevant to the justice sector, and examines the unique cultural, historical, and socio-economic barriers that continue to impact Indigenous Peoples’ access to and interaction with the Canadian justice system. Indigenous legal professionals will provide insights on how these barriers can be addressed to provide better legal services to Indigenous communities.
Access to Justice: Indigenous Perspectives
Time: 10:00 a.m. (MT)
Presented by the Law Society of Manitoba
The Law Society of Manitoba is excited to take part in Access to Justice Week by hosting this important 90 minute panel discussion. Join the Law Society for a timely conversation with the Honourable Murray Sinclair, Canadian Bar Association Past President Bradley Regehr, Dr. Cindy Blackstock and Dr. Pam Palmater.
Time: 10:00 a.m. (MT)
Presented by the Law Society of Manitoba
The Law Society of Manitoba is excited to take part in Access to Justice Week by hosting this important 90 minute panel discussion. Join the Law Society for a timely conversation with the Honourable Murray Sinclair, Canadian Bar Association Past President Bradley Regehr, Dr. Cindy Blackstock and Dr. Pam Palmater.
Meet CPLEA!
Time: 2:00p.m. (MT)
Presented by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta
In celebration of Access to Justice Week, this session will introduce participants to the different public legal information resources offered by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA).
Time: 2:00p.m. (MT)
Presented by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta
In celebration of Access to Justice Week, this session will introduce participants to the different public legal information resources offered by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA).
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26
People-Centered Justice: Best practices for serving clients with mental health needs
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by The Action Group on Access to Justice
The pandemic has created a renewed focus on mental health, especially within the justice sector. Legal professionals are not only striving to look after their own mental health and wellness but are often serving clients facing mental health challenges themselves. The panel of lawyers with experience acting for clients with mental health needs will discuss how to identify when your client may be facing mental health challenges and what people-centered approaches will help both you and your client successfully navigate these challenges together.
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by The Action Group on Access to Justice
The pandemic has created a renewed focus on mental health, especially within the justice sector. Legal professionals are not only striving to look after their own mental health and wellness but are often serving clients facing mental health challenges themselves. The panel of lawyers with experience acting for clients with mental health needs will discuss how to identify when your client may be facing mental health challenges and what people-centered approaches will help both you and your client successfully navigate these challenges together.
Reflections on the Impact of COVID-19 on Online Adjudication
1:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the University of Saskatchewan, College of Law
This session will involve a conversation reflecting on the past year with respect to online adjudication and dispute resolution in a variety of settings. Panelists will address questions such as, what went well with advancements with online adjudication, and what could have gone better? What online adjudication issues could have been prevented if we knew COVID-19 was going to happen, and we had more time to prepare to turn to online adjudication? What would we have done differently, if anything? Given the advancements and potential shortcomings of online adjudication, what benefits does it provide from an access to justice perspective? What adjustments and tools are around to stay?
1:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the University of Saskatchewan, College of Law
This session will involve a conversation reflecting on the past year with respect to online adjudication and dispute resolution in a variety of settings. Panelists will address questions such as, what went well with advancements with online adjudication, and what could have gone better? What online adjudication issues could have been prevented if we knew COVID-19 was going to happen, and we had more time to prepare to turn to online adjudication? What would we have done differently, if anything? Given the advancements and potential shortcomings of online adjudication, what benefits does it provide from an access to justice perspective? What adjustments and tools are around to stay?
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27
Duty Counsel Day
All Day
Presented by the Legal Aid Plans of Canada
Canadians benefit from outstanding social services. We're all familiar with our public health care, but few know about our legal services. We made a day to change that.
October 27 is Duty Counsel Day. Initiated by Canada's legal aid associations, this is a day to create awareness of Duty Counsel - legal aid lawyers who give free, on-the-spot legal advice in family, criminal and immigration cases for people living in Canada. Join us, and tell your fellow Canadians. The power to navigate the justice system is in your hands.
All Day
Presented by the Legal Aid Plans of Canada
Canadians benefit from outstanding social services. We're all familiar with our public health care, but few know about our legal services. We made a day to change that.
October 27 is Duty Counsel Day. Initiated by Canada's legal aid associations, this is a day to create awareness of Duty Counsel - legal aid lawyers who give free, on-the-spot legal advice in family, criminal and immigration cases for people living in Canada. Join us, and tell your fellow Canadians. The power to navigate the justice system is in your hands.
Finding Reliable Legal Information: When Google gives too many answers
Time: 10:00 a.m. (MT)
Presented by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta
In celebration of Access to Justice Week, this session will provide participants with helpful tips on how to search for relevant and accurate legal information without getting lost on the web. And Alberta Law Libraries will be joining us!
Time: 10:00 a.m. (MT)
Presented by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta
In celebration of Access to Justice Week, this session will provide participants with helpful tips on how to search for relevant and accurate legal information without getting lost on the web. And Alberta Law Libraries will be joining us!
Developing and Engaging in a Reconciliation Mapping Exercise
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the Law Society of Saskatchewan
As part of its commitment to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action, the Law Society of Saskatchewan is undertaking a Reconciliation Mapping Exercise, developed and facilitated by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) to determine a baseline of reconciliation efforts and support the development of recommendations for forward progress.
The OTC has worked with partner organizations to develop a common vision for successful Truth and Reconciliation and a methodology for guiding and measuring progress in Saskatchewan aimed at inspiring action, informing reconciliation learning, and increasing collective impact. The OTC has identified indicators to measure progress based on foundational reports such as the TRC Calls to Action, the MMIWG Calls for Justice, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These indicators have been used to create a logic or outcomes model for determining a possible path that an individual, an organization and society can grow towards. In turn, a growth model summarizes the logic model into a series of steps for the advancement of truth and reconciliation, starting with capacity change and moving to behavioural change and then systems change.
During this session, the OTC and Law Society of Saskatchewan will discuss the importance of the Reconciliation Mapping Exercise, its methodology, experiences to date, and offer perspectives on lessons and good practices.
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the Law Society of Saskatchewan
As part of its commitment to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action, the Law Society of Saskatchewan is undertaking a Reconciliation Mapping Exercise, developed and facilitated by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) to determine a baseline of reconciliation efforts and support the development of recommendations for forward progress.
The OTC has worked with partner organizations to develop a common vision for successful Truth and Reconciliation and a methodology for guiding and measuring progress in Saskatchewan aimed at inspiring action, informing reconciliation learning, and increasing collective impact. The OTC has identified indicators to measure progress based on foundational reports such as the TRC Calls to Action, the MMIWG Calls for Justice, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These indicators have been used to create a logic or outcomes model for determining a possible path that an individual, an organization and society can grow towards. In turn, a growth model summarizes the logic model into a series of steps for the advancement of truth and reconciliation, starting with capacity change and moving to behavioural change and then systems change.
During this session, the OTC and Law Society of Saskatchewan will discuss the importance of the Reconciliation Mapping Exercise, its methodology, experiences to date, and offer perspectives on lessons and good practices.
Rural Access to Justice
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Presented by the Atlantic Canada Justice Panel
Join us to hear justice professionals from across rural Atlantic Canada discuss the various challenges presented by the access to justice crisis in their region. Panelists will share and compare challenges in their respective regions and discuss possible solutions.
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Presented by the Atlantic Canada Justice Panel
Join us to hear justice professionals from across rural Atlantic Canada discuss the various challenges presented by the access to justice crisis in their region. Panelists will share and compare challenges in their respective regions and discuss possible solutions.
Duty Counsel Day National Virtual Event
Time: 4:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the Atlantic Canada Justice Panel
Join us to hear justice professionals from across rural Atlantic Canada discuss the various challenges presented by the access to justice crisis in their region. Panelists will share and compare challenges in their respective regions and discuss possible solutions.
Time: 4:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the Atlantic Canada Justice Panel
Join us to hear justice professionals from across rural Atlantic Canada discuss the various challenges presented by the access to justice crisis in their region. Panelists will share and compare challenges in their respective regions and discuss possible solutions.
Ask a Lawyer Series
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by Pro Bono Law Alberta
PBLA is hosting two Facebook live Ask-a-Lawyer sessions during Access to Justice Week. This offers a chance for the public to ask general legal questions in specific areas (Civil, Criminal, Employment, Landlord/Tenant, Municipal/Bylaw Infractions) to volunteer lawyers in real time. PBLA staff will moderate the questions and set parameters for areas of law depending on the volunteers’ area of expertise.
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by Pro Bono Law Alberta
PBLA is hosting two Facebook live Ask-a-Lawyer sessions during Access to Justice Week. This offers a chance for the public to ask general legal questions in specific areas (Civil, Criminal, Employment, Landlord/Tenant, Municipal/Bylaw Infractions) to volunteer lawyers in real time. PBLA staff will moderate the questions and set parameters for areas of law depending on the volunteers’ area of expertise.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28
Advancing Community-Based Justice
Presented by the Action Committee on Access to Justice
This session will explore the critical work done by community-based organizations that support and assist people with their housing, immigration, health care, employment and other problems with legal dimensions. Our keynote for this event will be Rebecca Sandefur, a leading American access to justice scholar. This will be followed by a panel on community-based workers across Canada who will share their views on what is working and what is not, and what they have learned about providing responsive, effective services. Lastly, we will open up the conversation to participants focusing on how the justice system can better support the community based work.
Presented by the Action Committee on Access to Justice
This session will explore the critical work done by community-based organizations that support and assist people with their housing, immigration, health care, employment and other problems with legal dimensions. Our keynote for this event will be Rebecca Sandefur, a leading American access to justice scholar. This will be followed by a panel on community-based workers across Canada who will share their views on what is working and what is not, and what they have learned about providing responsive, effective services. Lastly, we will open up the conversation to participants focusing on how the justice system can better support the community based work.
Calgary Legal Advice Clinic
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by Pro Bono Law Alberta, Calgary Legal Guidance & Norton Rose Fulbright (Canada) LLP
PBLA is partnering with Calgary Legal Guidance, and Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP to host the 11th Annual Calgary Legal Advice clinic. Members of the public seeking legal help could receive free, confidential advice from a volunteer lawyer for 30 minutes. Given the virtual format for the event, assistance will be provided by appointment only. Available appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be prepared to provide details of your matter, including opposing party information to our intake volunteers when booking. Appointments cannot be scheduled outside of the intake period.
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by Pro Bono Law Alberta, Calgary Legal Guidance & Norton Rose Fulbright (Canada) LLP
PBLA is partnering with Calgary Legal Guidance, and Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP to host the 11th Annual Calgary Legal Advice clinic. Members of the public seeking legal help could receive free, confidential advice from a volunteer lawyer for 30 minutes. Given the virtual format for the event, assistance will be provided by appointment only. Available appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be prepared to provide details of your matter, including opposing party information to our intake volunteers when booking. Appointments cannot be scheduled outside of the intake period.
Disability Justice: Accessibility and Beyond
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law
Disability justice is a core issue for millions of Canadians. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many of the continuing injustices faced by Canadians with disabilities/disabled Canadians: punitive social assistance programs, substandard conditions in supportive housing, and ableist assumptions in the delivery of healthcare, to name a few. Accessibility legislation is one important element of disability justice. Speakers in this session will detail what accessibility legislation does and why it is important. They will describe the development and implementation of accessibility legislation in Ontario and federally, as well as the current efforts to have such legislation adopted in Alberta. They will reflect on the promise and limits of law reform and invite us to consider “what else” we must do to achieve real disability justice in Canada.
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law
Disability justice is a core issue for millions of Canadians. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many of the continuing injustices faced by Canadians with disabilities/disabled Canadians: punitive social assistance programs, substandard conditions in supportive housing, and ableist assumptions in the delivery of healthcare, to name a few. Accessibility legislation is one important element of disability justice. Speakers in this session will detail what accessibility legislation does and why it is important. They will describe the development and implementation of accessibility legislation in Ontario and federally, as well as the current efforts to have such legislation adopted in Alberta. They will reflect on the promise and limits of law reform and invite us to consider “what else” we must do to achieve real disability justice in Canada.
A Win For All: Return on investment in Alberta's justice system
Time: 3:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the Canadian Bar Association - Alberta Branch
In early 2020, the CBA Alberta undertook public opinion and economic research about the desire for and value of increased investment in our justice system, and the results are now in.
Albertans tell us that they support investment in the justice system, especially when it impacts them and their families. The economic research demonstrates that increased investment in the justice system, such as funding for Legal Aid, provides significant direct and indirect return on investment. A modest increase in funding in legal aid would also pay for itself and return a net cash benefit that could then be reinvested elsewhere in the justice system.
Join CBA Alberta Agenda for Justice & Advocacy Committee Chair and past president Frank Friesacher as he speaks with President Bianca Kratt about the results of this study and what it means for improving access to justice in Alberta
Time: 3:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by the Canadian Bar Association - Alberta Branch
In early 2020, the CBA Alberta undertook public opinion and economic research about the desire for and value of increased investment in our justice system, and the results are now in.
Albertans tell us that they support investment in the justice system, especially when it impacts them and their families. The economic research demonstrates that increased investment in the justice system, such as funding for Legal Aid, provides significant direct and indirect return on investment. A modest increase in funding in legal aid would also pay for itself and return a net cash benefit that could then be reinvested elsewhere in the justice system.
Join CBA Alberta Agenda for Justice & Advocacy Committee Chair and past president Frank Friesacher as he speaks with President Bianca Kratt about the results of this study and what it means for improving access to justice in Alberta
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29
Ask a Lawyer Live Series
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by Pro Bono Law Alberta
PBLA is hosting two Facebook live Ask-a-Lawyer sessions during Access to Justice Week. This offers a chance for the public to ask general legal questions in specific areas (Civil, Criminal, Employment, Landlord/Tenant, Municipal/Bylaw Infractions) to volunteer lawyers in real time. PBLA staff will moderate the questions and set parameters for areas of law depending on the volunteers’ area of expertise.
Time: 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Presented by Pro Bono Law Alberta
PBLA is hosting two Facebook live Ask-a-Lawyer sessions during Access to Justice Week. This offers a chance for the public to ask general legal questions in specific areas (Civil, Criminal, Employment, Landlord/Tenant, Municipal/Bylaw Infractions) to volunteer lawyers in real time. PBLA staff will moderate the questions and set parameters for areas of law depending on the volunteers’ area of expertise.
Do you have an event you would like us to promote during Access to Justice Week? Are you hosting a lecture, an open house, a legal clinic or other event during or around Access to Justice Week? We want to help you promote it! Contact Us to have your event listed here.
Some of Our Partners
Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) was launched as a legacy project in recognition of the centenary of the Law Society of Alberta in 2007, and we are a leader and valued partner in fostering pro bono contributions by the legal community to facilitate access to justice for Albertans. |
Calgary Legal Guidance (CLG) is a non-governmental non-profit organization that provides legal assistance to low-income and disadvantaged people. Volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice to low-income individuals, provide free legal education presentations and materials to members of the public and take on cases for free (pro bono). |
The Edmonton Community Legal Centre (ECLC) is a non-profit organization that has been providing legal assistance to individuals living with low income for the past 17 years. Volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice and staff lawyers provide free legal representation. |
