This course offers students the opportunity to advocate for the rights of women in a feminist legal clinic with an anti-oppression and anti-violence mandate.
Our Work
The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic provides free legal, counseling and cultural interpretation services for women survivors of violence. The Clinic receives referrals from countless community-based agencies, as well as medical, legal and criminal justice professionals, social service organizations, and individuals concerned about violence against women.
The legal department receives well over 150 requests every month from women seeking assistance. We offer direct client services in the areas of family, immigration/refugee protection and criminal law, to women who have experienced different forms of violence.
Our services are designed to promote women’s autonomy and safety, increase women’s access to justice and facilitate their effective participation justice systems.
In addition to direct client service, the Clinic engages in public legal education, professional development, law reform and community development initiatives that address the root causes of violence against women in society and promote the development of more effective systemic responses to female victims of violence.
The U of T Clinical Education Program
Students will work in teams on client files under the supervision of a staff lawyer. Student teams will have full carriage of 3-5 client files. Casework will include: drafting pleadings and affidavits, directing client meetings, attending court appearances, third-party advocacy, and legal research. Advocacy projects may include policy research, assistance with position papers, and public legal education.
The purposes of the Schlifer Clinic placement are for students:
- to be exposed to the practice of substantive areas of law;
- to develop client communication and interviewing skills;
- to learn to create and maintain effective solicitor-client relationships; and
- to develop file and case management skills.
Pre-requisites
There are no formal pre-requisites for this course. Preference will be given to candidates who have: previous knowledge or experience in any of the Clinic’s practice areas; previous demonstrated interest or commitment in social justice or women’s rights; or previous experience providing direct client services.
To register for this course, please send an email to Marina Izakov at m.izakov@schliferclinic.com with a current CV, a short writing sample (ex. an excerpt from an academic paper) and a statement of interest including the following information:
- Why you wish to enroll in the Schlifer Clinic program;
- Your interest or experience in the areas of social justice and/or women’s rights;
- Your interest or experience in any of the Clinic’s legal practice areas; and
- A list of courses taken in any of our practice areas, social justice, or women’s rights (transcript not necessary).
Students must apply to the clinic prior to the deadline for course selection in July. Review of applications begins in June and students will be interviewed for the available positions. Acceptance to the Clinic is on a rolling basis starting in June and interested students are encouraged to apply early. Please note that exchange students are not eligible to participate in clinics.
Note: You may select the clinic on the on-line course system but will be waitlisted until the clinic has provided approval of your participation to the Assistant Registrar Records, Celia Genua at celia.genua.utoronto.ca.
