Law students entering their second or third year at the University of Ottawa are encouraged to apply for summer employment at the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic (UOCLC).

Please see How to Apply for more details.

Students will be hired to work in one of the following divisions:

• Community Legal Education and Outreach
• Criminal
• Family
• Tenant

Please see Clinic Divisions section for more information.

In selecting candidates, the Clinic considers factors such as:

• Principles of employment equity;
• Client service related experience;
• Sensitivity to barriers facing the community served by the Clinic; and
• Evidence that the student is not experiencing or in any academic difficulty.

A summer job at the Clinic is an opportunity to work full-time on client files, or community legal education and gain practical legal skills in a collegial and supportive environment. Summer students work very closely with Review Counsel due to the small group size and regular hours. Consequently, they gain significant experience with Clinic files and legal procedure in that time.

Students who work at the UOCLC in the summer must return as caseworkers in the 6 credit Clinical Legal Aid II or III course from September to April, where they will continue their casework at the UOCLC while providing a mentoring role for new students as Division Leaders. There is not class attendance required.

• Work on client files under the supervision of a lawyer throughout the school year in one of the following divisions:
  • Community Legal Education & Outreach
  • Criminal
  • Family
  • Landlord & Tenant
  • Participation in a rotating schedule of intake interviews for prospective clients; and
  • Participation in Community Legal Education and Outreach Division workshops, as needed.

Students cannot register for internships or international courses during the January term.

CML 3248 - Introductory Legal Aid Clinic Course

Process

• Students must apply to be considered for the course.
• Students must be selected by the professor for admittance into the course.
• Students should enrol in a full course load pending admittance to the Clinic course. If accepted, students can then drop a course and add the Clinic to their schedule.

Teaching method

• A weekly three hour seminar, Wednesdays 8:30-11:30 am, during the fall term
• Casework

Method of evaluation

• Satisfactory with distinction / Satisfactory / Non-satisfactory

Objectives

• This course provides clinical legal experience to law students, helping them develop skills and confidence as legal professionals. Skills development includes training in interviewing and advising clients, negotiation, legal drafting, oral advocacy, file and practice management and professional conduct.
• Clinical responsibilities include carriage of client files, participation in a rotating schedule of intake interviews), remand court, duty counsel, community legal education and outreach, and division meetings.

CML 3449 - Clinical Legal Aid II / CML 3450 - Clinical Legal Aid III

Process

• Students must apply to be considered for the course.
• Students must be selected by the professor for admittance into the course.
• Prerequisite: CML 3248 Introductory Legal Aid Clinic Course (or equivalent experience).

Teaching method

• Casework

Method of evaluation

• Satisfactory with distinction / Satisfactory / Non-satisfactory

Objectives

• Open to summer employees the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic or students who have completed a joint placement.
• Clinical responsibilities include carriage of client files, participation in a rotating schedule of intake interviews, remand court, duty counsel, community legal education and outreach, and division meetings.
• Provide students to act as Division Leaders where they mentor incoming students.

During the academic year, students must apply to be placed in external community clinics or Legal Aid offices.

1. Community Legal Aid Clinics

• Appeals to the Social Benefits Tribunal where people have been denied Ontario Disability Support Program benefits
• Immigration/Refugee Law
• Tenant Law

2. Duty Counsel

• Criminal Duty Counsel: Duty counsel are lawyers who can give immediate, legal assistance to low-income people who appear in court without a lawyer.
• Family Duty Counsel: Students may assist duty counsel with family law matters. Typical matters include child custody and support.

3. Legal Aid Ontario Offices:

• Criminal law
• Immigration and refugee law

If you require additional information, please consult the following links:

• Community Legal Services of Ottawa
• Vanier Community Services Centre
• Duty Counsel (click on “getting legal help” and select the area of law)

Please note that students in joint placements do not participate in the general University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic duties such as intakes or Community Legal Education and Outreach workshops, although similar activities may take place through their placements.

CML 3248 B - Joint Placement Program Course

Process

• Students must apply to be considered for the course.
• Students must interview with the external organization.
• Students be selected by the professor for admittance into the course.
• Students should enrol in a full course load pending admittance to the Clinic course. If accepted, students can then drop a course and add the Clinic to their schedule.

Teaching method

• Seminar, 3 hours per week in the fall term
• Casework

Methods of evaluation

• Satisfactory with distinction / Satisfactory / Non-satisfactory

Objectives

• Students are placed with a Community Legal Aid clinic or Legal Aid Ontario office and will conduct casework in accordance with the placement. Students will develop skills such as interviewing, legal drafting, oral advocacy, file management and professional conduct.