U of M student community law centre expands reach

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This article was published 25/03/2022 (1461 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Robson Hall’s community legal clinic is expanding so lawyers-in-training can now provide low-cost counsel to clients with minor family law and prison law cases, as well as Indigenous legal services.

The University of Manitoba and Legal Aid Manitoba recently signed a memorandum of understanding to both renew their partnership, which is marking its 50-year anniversary in 2022, and bolster the U of M Community Law Centre.

Since 1972, the so-called UMCLC has been staffed by law students seeking experiential learning opportunities, primarily in relation to criminal law, and course credit.

“One thing that people worry about is the quality of service that students can provide. The fact is a student is able to devote a lot more time to legal research, to speaking with their clients, and to generally working on their files — and we receive really good supervision and advice. We carry on the file from start to close,” said Patrick Gutowski, a third-year law student who began volunteering at the centre in December 2020.

Students handle, under the supervision of working professionals and faculty members, between 400 and 600 criminal cases on a typical year. As many as 100 volunteers at a time have received and reviewed disclosures, undertaken interviews, provided advice, and represented clients in court in the past.

Small claims cases and petty offences out of the scope of legal aid and thus, unlikely to see anyone face jail-time have typically been referred to the UMCLC. Now, students will also be able to advise clients on everything from uncontested divorces to appeals to the Court of Queen’s Bench to status applications under the Indian Act.

The affordable legal service, funded primarily by the Manitoba Law Foundation, provides eligible Manitobans with assistance for under $100.

“Hiring a lawyer is expensive and it’s a complicated process, no matter what area of law you’re looking at, so I think the more that we can help, the better,” said Gutowski, 27.

The UMCLC student supervisor spends several hours a day working on cases. He said key takeaways from the ongoing experience are the importance of trauma-informed practice and relationship-building with clients.

Law dean Richard Jochelson touted the importance of experiential learning at Robson Hall. Jochelson also noted there is growing recognition access to justice should go beyond criminal law advice to people in need of it.

Both of the above factored into the decision to expand the UMCLC.

Robson Hall is designating a team of four full-time faculty members, an Indigenous support co-ordinator, and a director of career services to support clinical upscaling work. Legal aid will also continue to provide the expertise of a handful of supervising lawyers.

Simply put, the initiative will ensure students assist more low-income people and learn about different areas of the law in a hands-on manner, said Michael Walker, UMCLC director.

Walker indicated the past few years have been quiet, owing to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on court visits limiting referral opportunities, a drop in police charging minor offenses, and an increase in restorative justice decisions, among other reasons.

Meantime, Legal Aid Manitoba’s executive director said the bolstered partnership will ensure students are trained to consider truth and reconciliation principles as they assist Indigenous clients.

“It will turn law students’ minds to the practical application of this whole new area of law (Indigenous law) that is really changing as Canadians begin to learn what it really means to be treaty people,” said Peter Kingsley.

An added bonus of the expansion, he said, is more students will be exposed to legal aid and may become interested in providing it once they are licensed.

The UMCLC operates primarily out of the basement at Robson Hall, but volunteers will start working at 287 Broadway as face-to-face operations resume.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie