Event Schedule
Monday, February 3
Reimagining Justice Through User-Centred Principles
1:30 - 2:00 p.m. MT | Virtual
Presented by the Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch
A legal system that focuses on the needs and experiences of those who interact with it ensures a more positive and effective journey towards justice. Access to justice experts, Zach Zarnow and Dr. Andrew Pilliar, identify the principles of user-centred design and how it can be applied to address real-world barriers. Front line justice system worker, Angie Still, discusses the use of user-centred design to deliver culturally appropriate services for Indigenous people through its Indigenous Justice Centres, including wraparound supports to address the discrimination, traumas, and barriers to fully accessing justice.
Tuesday, February 4
Ask-a-Lawyer Legal Advice Clinic
11:00 - 1:00 p.m. MT | Red Deer Public Library, Downtown Branch
Presented by the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic
Get free legal advice during Access to Justice Week! Have a legal question? Volunteer lawyers provide 30 minutes of free legal advice in family, civil, and other areas of law.
No registration required, walk-in only, first come, first served. People will be seen by intake order, legal type, and lawyer availability. Not necessarily solely in the order of intake. Please note that appointments are not guaranteed due to large volumes of people.
Access to Justice Open House
12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. MT | Student Legal Assistance, University of Calgary
Presented by Student Legal Assistance
Join SLA for an open house celebrating Access to Justice Week, where we highlight the vital role of ensuring all Albertans have access to the legal resources they need. Connect with our caseworkers and students to learn how Student Legal Assistance and Pro Bono Students Canada are working to improve access to justice through our student programs at the University of Calgary.
Access to Justice for Victims of Economic Abuse
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. MT | Virtual
Presented by the Canadian Bar Association - Alberta Branch
Economic Abuse is an important form of Intimate Partner Violence (“IPV”) that is often used to trap victims in an abusive relationship. Though victims of all types of IPV encounter barriers to accessing justice, there are particular issues for those victimized by Economic Abuse. This presentation explains the prevalence and consequences of Economic Abuse and explores the evidence that survivors lack access to justice. It proposes the primary obstacles survivors of Economic Abuse encounter and proposes specific actions to assist lawyers, judges, and legislators in recognizing Economic Abuse and promoting appropriate remedies.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. MT | Virtual
Presented by the Canadian Bar Association - Alberta Branch
Economic Abuse is an important form of Intimate Partner Violence (“IPV”) that is often used to trap victims in an abusive relationship. Though victims of all types of IPV encounter barriers to accessing justice, there are particular issues for those victimized by Economic Abuse. This presentation explains the prevalence and consequences of Economic Abuse and explores the evidence that survivors lack access to justice. It proposes the primary obstacles survivors of Economic Abuse encounter and proposes specific actions to assist lawyers, judges, and legislators in recognizing Economic Abuse and promoting appropriate remedies.
Wednesday, February 5
Safe at Home: Shining a Light on Newborn Apprehensions in Alberta
1:00 - 3:30 p.m. MT | Carya Village Commons, Calgary
Presented by the Family Advocacy Support Centre
While the practice of birth alerts officially ended in 2019, parents across the province still face the devastating reality of having their newborns removed at birth—often with far-reaching effects on maternal mental health, families, and communities. Featuring a diverse panel of parents with lived experience as well as professionals in healthcare and legal sectors, this event will examine why these practices persist, how they represent a critical access to justice issue, and what changes are needed to achieve systemic transformation. Through open dialogue and firsthand stories, Safer at Home seeks to raise awareness, promote accountability, and advocate for a future where families have all they need to keep their children safe and thriving at home.
Access to Justice in the AI Era: Risk vs Innovation
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. MT | Virtual
Presented by the Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch
ChatGPT’s 2022 release pushed the world into the AI era, with the potential of artificial intelligence sparking widespread interest throughout the legal sector. But do the risks outweigh the innovation of AI? Separate hype from reality through this session's examination of AI and access to justice. Through practical use cases, participants will be encouraged to explore the opportunities, risks and regulatory considerations for using AI.
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. MT | Virtual
Presented by the Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch
ChatGPT’s 2022 release pushed the world into the AI era, with the potential of artificial intelligence sparking widespread interest throughout the legal sector. But do the risks outweigh the innovation of AI? Separate hype from reality through this session's examination of AI and access to justice. Through practical use cases, participants will be encouraged to explore the opportunities, risks and regulatory considerations for using AI.
Thursday, February 6
Bridging the Justice Gap: Hackathons as Catalysts for Change
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. MT | Virtual
Presented by the Canadian Bar Association - BC Branch
More than ever, hackathons hold the potential to generate ideas that can be harnessed and implemented to create more equitable approaches and systems. This panel brings together experts and innovators from hackathons, including The Justice Hack (BC), the Stanford CodeX Hackathon, the Philly (Philadelphia) Social Justice Hackathon, and the Cambridge Hack the Law (LLM x Law) Hackathon. Together, they will share how hackathons contribute to user-centred and multi-disciplinary approaches that generate novel tools, strategies, and partnerships. With a focus on access to justice and the evolving role of technology, this discussion will showcase the speakers’ leadership in hackathon coordination and continuity.
Registration coming soon.
Friday, February 7
Children and the Law: Representing Kids in High-Conflict Family Cases
12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. MT | Virtual
Presented by Legal Aid Alberta
In high-conflict family disputes, parents and guardians are at the forefront. But who protects the kids?
Join us for a free virtual discussion with LAA lawyers on the ins and outs of children’s rights when it comes to family legal matters – including why children’s voices matter – and how LAA represents children in high-conflict parenting situations.
In this session, you will:
- Gain an understanding of how and when a lawyer can represent a child.
- Learn about the role of counsel when representing a child and how they help ensure their clients' voices are heard.
- Discover how involving children in the legal processes can lead to better outcomes.
- Find out about the services offered by Legal Aid Alberta.
In this interactive session, attendees can ask questions of our experienced lawyers, each with years of practice in this field. While we encourage questions, we are unable to provide specific advice on individual cases.
Access to Justice and Fair Proceedings: The Fundamental conflict Between an Inherently Complex Justice System and Self-Representation
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. MT | Zoom
Presented by the Peter A. Allard School of Law
More than ever, hackathons hold the potential to generate ideas that can be harnessed and implemented to create more equitable approaches and systems. This panel brings together experts and innovators from hackathons, including The Justice Hack (BC), the Stanford CodeX Hackathon, the Philly (Philadelphia) Social Justice Hackathon, and the Cambridge Hack the Law (LLM x Law) Hackathon. Together, they will share how hackathons contribute to user-centred and multi-disciplinary approaches that generate novel tools, strategies, and partnerships. With a focus on access to justice and the evolving role of technology, this discussion will showcase the speakers’ leadership in hackathon coordination and continuity.
Registration coming soon.
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. MT | Zoom
Presented by the Peter A. Allard School of Law
More than ever, hackathons hold the potential to generate ideas that can be harnessed and implemented to create more equitable approaches and systems. This panel brings together experts and innovators from hackathons, including The Justice Hack (BC), the Stanford CodeX Hackathon, the Philly (Philadelphia) Social Justice Hackathon, and the Cambridge Hack the Law (LLM x Law) Hackathon. Together, they will share how hackathons contribute to user-centred and multi-disciplinary approaches that generate novel tools, strategies, and partnerships. With a focus on access to justice and the evolving role of technology, this discussion will showcase the speakers’ leadership in hackathon coordination and continuity.
Registration coming soon.
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. |
