PBSC: Queen's Chapter is proud to partner with organizations in the Greater Kingston Area, providing rewarding opportunities for Queen's Law students in the 2022-2023 academic year. Student volunteers are placed on projects based on skills, experience, interest, and dedication to promoting access to justice.  

2022/23

PROJECTS

Public Legal Education

Projects
 

LGBTQ2S+ ACCESS TO RESOURCES

Students will prepare a plain language presentation on the ways a parent or guardian refusing consent may uniquely affect LGBTQ2S+ youth’s access to resources. Students will summarize the law under the Change of Name Act as it is relevant to children under 18 and will research jurisprudence, with a focus on Ontario, and summarize any case law concerning the dispensing of consent as it pertains to LGBTQ2S+ youth’s access to necessary services. 

Number of Students: 3 - 4

Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in youth, human rights and/or LGBTQ2S+ issues

• Strong communication skills

• Strong research, writing, and presentation skills

The Kingston Youth Shelter operates an emergency shelter for youth ages 16-24 in Kingston. Staff provide support with meeting basic needs, crisis management, and life skill development, as well as support with looking for more stable housing or family mediation. We also operate 2 transitional homes. 

INDIGENOUS YOUTH & PUBLIC SERVICE 

This project will be used to  inform  the  organization  broadly  about  how  to  better assist Indigenous youth. Students will conduct research into international and Canadian efforts towards reconciliation and how reconciliation will affect the legal obligations public services have to youth, specifically Indigenous youth who are street-entrenched or in-care. Students will then use this research to write a legal memorandum for the partner organization and will inform them how to better assist indigenous youth.

Number of Students: 4-5

Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in youth, and Indigenous law

• Strong research, writing, and presentation skills. 

• Knowledge of Canadian law on Indigenous rights will be considered an asset

The Kingston Youth Shelter operates an emergency shelter for youth ages 16-24 in Kingston. Staff provide support with meeting basic needs, crisis management, and life skill development, as well as support with looking for more stable housing or family mediation. We also operate 2 transitional homes. 

LEGALITY SURROUNDING SOLVENCY

Number of Students: 3-4

LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT

Students will create a seminar will on an overview or “nuts & bolts” of Labour and Employment law. Many of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce’s members are small business owners, and cannot afford professional legal advice, this topic will resonate and be impactful to them. Some of the subjects the partner organization requires students to touch upon are: 

• Review and preparation of employment contracts and policies

• Hybrid work arrangements

• Legal requires around hiring through immigration

• Use of non-disclosure agreements in the workplace

• Paid sick days

• Vacation entitlements/holiday pay

Client Intake and document

assistance

Legal research Projects
 

CCLA RESEARCH PROJECT

Students will be asked to conduct legal research and prepare memoranda on various topics by the CCLA’s Program Directors. This may include case briefs, reviews of draft or proposed legislation, policy reviews and research memoranda on fundamental freedoms, police powers, national security, privacy, criminal law reform, and equality. Students may periodically be asked to conduct social science research as well, used to inform CCLA’s advocacy and education work.  

Number of Students: 1 (in conjunction with other PBSC chapters)

Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in constitutional law

• Strong research, writing, and collaboration skills

• Upper year students who have completed a course on constitutional/public law, and who have expressed an interest in CCLA and/or civil liberties/human rights work will be considered an asset 

Canadian Civil Liberties Association

​CCLA fights for the civil liberties, human rights, and democratic freedoms of all people across Canada. We are an independent, national, nongovernmental organization, working in the courts, before legislative committees, in classrooms and in the streets, protecting the rights and freedoms cherished by Canadians and entrenched in our Constitution. 

RIGHT TO READ 

The recent Right to Read Report from the OHRC is expected to have profound impacts on the delivery of literacy education to Ontario students. Specifically, students in kindergarten through grade 3, the critical years for learning to read and write.  This project will involve a review of the current literacy curriculum used across Ontario and in Kingston’s school boards; and analysis of what will be required to institute the types of changes recommended by the OHRC.  The output of the project will include, but not be limited to, documents (pamphlets, diagrams) that can be disseminated by LDAK to our community.

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Number of Students: 4-5

Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in the rights of children and promoting education

• An interest in human rights law

• Strong research and writing skills

Learning Disabilities Association of Kingston provides leadership in learning disabilities services, research, education and advocacy, and to advance the full participation of children, youth and adults with learning disabilities in today’s society.  They value promoting positive change through innovation, strategic partnerships and participating in informing public policy.

LITERACY & INCARCERATION

Students will investigate aspects of the criminal justice system that may contribute to an over-representation of persons with learning disabilities or low levels of literacy in incarceration or other legal outcomes.

Students will then produce a report suitable for multiple audiences (brochure or pamphlet) (professional and consumers) on the outcomes of the project and recommendations for reducing barriers to access legal information

Number of Students: 4-5

Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in criminal law

• Strong research and writing skills

Issues Impacting Ontario Residents with Sight Loss

Students will:

1. Through interviews with CNIB clients (who have experienced challenges related to blindness and vehicles) and a review of government processes and insurance policies pertaining to car ownership and insurance, students will identify where the primary barriers lie.

2. Students will prepare a legal memorandum which includes relevant caselaw from Ontario and jurisdictions outside of Ontario.

Number of Students: 2 - 3

Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in issues pertaining to people living with disabilities

• Insurance law 

• Strong research and writing skills

Canadian National Institute for the Blind

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (“CNIB”) is a national non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind. Founded in 1918, CNIB delivers innovative programs and robust advocacy, across Canada. CNIB empowers people impacted by blindness to challenge barriers and live the life they choose.

ARBOUR REPORT ANALYSIS

The Arbour report was delivered in 1994 and identified a number of failings within the federal prison system. The Arbour Report also delivered a number of pressing recommendations. 30 years on, many of these recommendations have not been implemented. The JHSC will identify a number of specific recommendations and will ask the law students to examine case law, legislation, regulations and commissioner’s directives to identify how these recommendations have been implemented, if at all.

Students will draft a legal memo answering the following questions:

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1. The Arbour Report was issued in 1994. The Report noted a number of failings in federal prisons what is of specific interest to the JHSC. Are you able to identify any legal steps which have been taken to implement each recommendation?

2. Specifically, can you find any evidence of legislative amendments, regulatory amendments or amendments to CSC's Commissioner's Directives which would further the implementation of these recommendations.

3. Is there any case law which has furthered the implementation of any of these four recommendations. For context, federal prisons are governed by (1) the Charter (2) the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (3) The Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations (4) The CSC Commissioner's Directives (5) Other federal legislation which may tangentially impact prisons (For example, the Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act, the Canada Health Act etc. 

Number of Students: 3 - 4

Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in public law

• An interest in criminal law

• Strong legal research and writing skills

RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY

Students will conduct legal research for upcoming projects focusing on access to justice, such as:

• Improving students’ mental health: researching the impacts of the LSSO’s Headspace partnership, including how the LSSO can improve the partnership; researching other mental health initiatives.

• Improving students’ educational experience: researching and developing surveys which would be sent out to all Ontario law students

• Investigating Ontario law students’ preferences with respect to the length of articling

• Brainstorming, researching, and writing articles related to issues affecting Ontario law students

• Other research projects TBD by the students and LSSO team in the fall.

Students will also analyze and compare data, and contribute to the writing and publication of LSSO advocacy materials.

Number of Students: 1 (in conjunction with other PBSC chapters)

Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in administrative law

• An interest in advocating for fellow law students

• Strong collaborative and teamwork skills

• Strong research and writing skills

Law Students' Society of Ontario (LSSO)

The Law Students’ Society of Ontario (LSSO) represents Ontario undergraduate law school students (i.e. those pursuing a J.D. or equivalent degrees). The LSSO’s general objectives include building relationships with governmental and regulatory stakeholders; establishing a dialogue with law school administrators; sharing best practices among law school student governments; providing opportunities for law students to communicate and share their experiences and struggles at law school; advocating for policies that reduce financial and non-financial barriers to accessing and completing legal education; and promoting representativeness and diversity in law school classrooms and the legal profession.

CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY

On May 31, 2021, the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) released draft model legislation to provide lawmakers with a blueprint for a new international corporate accountability law in Canada. Similar legislation has already been adopted by France and is being considered by the EU. The proposed legislation will require of Canadian companies that they review all their business activities (including those of subsidiaries, and other business relations), identify actual and potential human rights and environmental risks, take steps to mitigate and address these risks, and report on their actions yearly to a commissioner. The legislation also proposes a cause of action for foreign litigants to sue Canadian companies in Canada for environmental and human rights harm done by the Canadian parent company or any of its subsidiaries or business relations overseas. 

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Student Volunteers will conduct legal research and prepare a memorandum addressing the following questions:

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1. Is there a need for such legislation to prevent and remedy failures by companies operating in Canada to carry out human rights due diligence?

2. What is the constitutional and legal basis for such legislation being implemented at the federal or provincial level in Canada?

3. What legal considerations would Indigenous governments in Canada need to consider in order to advocate for implementing such legislation?

Number of Students: 3-5

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Apply for this project if you have...

• An interest in mining

• An interest in environmental law

• Strong research and writing skills