The Family Justice Centre

WELCOME TO THE FJC

PBSC, Epstein Cole LLP, and Legal Aid Ontario have partnered to launch the Family Justice Centre (FJC). At the FJC, we aim to address the longstanding gaps in our family justice system by hosting virtual legal clinics for Ontarians dealing with family law issues who are unable to afford a lawyer, but do not meet the threshold to qualify for legal aid services. At the virtual clinics, family law lawyers will supervise law students in the delivery of unbundled legal services to self-represented litigants in Ontario. The FJC will also create public legal education resources to support self-represented litigants in navigating the family law process.

READ PRESS RELEASE

INTAKE SCHEDULE

To find out if the FJC can help you, please call during one of the times listed below. You will speak with a law student who will ask you questions about your situation to determine whether the FJC can assist you. If the FJC can help, you will be scheduled to meet with a lawyer during one of our clinics.

Please note that law students are not permitted to provide legal advice.

If you are not able to call during one of the times below, you can leave a voicemail and a law student will call you back.

Please note intake and clinics are only available to residents of Ontario at this time.

NUMBER COMING SOON!

February 1, 2021: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

February 5, 2021: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

February 8, 2021: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

February 12, 2021: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

February 19, 2021: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

February 22, 2021: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

February 26, 2021: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

CLINIC DATES

PLEASE NOTE: Appointments are required for the clinics and can be scheduled through the intake process.

February 9, 2021: 4:30pm - 7:30pm

A CLIENT'S JOURNEY

NOTE: Blue boxes indicate work happening outside of clinic hours!

Final forms are emailed to client with resource explaining how to sign, serve, and file the documents

SERVICE COMPLETE

Lawyer, student, and client meet to review final forms

Student sends forms to lawyer for review & approval. May involve:

The exchange of drafts between lawyer and student until forms complete

Student drafts court forms. May involve student:

Speaking again to client to get further information
Speaking with PBSC Program Manager for guidance

START HERE

Client has family law issue but cannot afford to hire a lawyer

Client contacts the FJC to complete an intake

Law student conducts intake to determine financial eligibility, gather basic information about client, situation

Student provides referrals to client because client ineligible

SERVICE COMPLETE

Client meets with lawyer (student present also)

Lawyer provides summary advice

SERVICE COMPLETE

Lawyer provides summary advice & suggests client proceed with court documents

Client drafts using CLEO's guided pathways

SERVICE COMPLETE

WHAT ARE

'UNBUNDLED LEGAL SERVICES'?

Also known as ‘limited scope representation’, the ‘unbundling’ of legal services allows lawyers to assist with a specific part of a client’s legal case. Unbundling gives clients and lawyers the freedom to decide which tasks may be performed by the client themselves, and which should be performed by the lawyer, offering a more accessible pathway to justice. The FJC will only be providing unbundled legal services in the form of summary advice and, when appropriate, assistance with document drafting.

SERVICES OFFERED

PUBLIC LEGAL EDUCATION

Short videos, flowcharts, pamphlets, and other interactive resources to assist self-represented litigants in navigating the family law system.

SUMMARY LEGAL ADVICE

There can be many paths to a resolution. Get a lawyer's opinion on your case before determining how to proceed.

DRAFTING COURT FORMS

With the assistance of law students, filling in court forms is a less daunting task.

OTHER RESOURCES

LEGAL AID ONTARIO

Check eligibility and apply for a legal aid certificate

Receive free summary advice for your legal matter

LAW SOCIETY REFERRAL SERVICE

Request a lawyer referral online and receive a free consultation of up to 30 minutes to help determine your rights and options.

FLSC

Contact to request free unbundled legal services for your family law matter.

STUDENT LEGAL AID CLINICS

Contact a student legal aid clinic to seek assistance with your family law matter.

STEPS TO JUSTICE

Find step-by-step information about your family law matter.

JUSTICENET

Find a lawyer who charges reduced rates for qualifying clients seeking family law services.

SHELTERSAFE

Resource for women/children seeking safety from violence/abuse.

BARBARA SCHLIFER CLINIC

Free legal services for women who have experienced violence or abuse in the areas of immigration and family law.

LUKE'S PLACE

Free family law advice, information and support for women who have experienced violence, including virtual appointments with family law lawyers.

COVID-19 has amplified inequities in access to the family justice system, resulting in backlogs caused by court closures and the inability of people to pay for legal services due to job and/or income loss. Though we recognize the barriers presented by running virtual-only clinics to those without access to technology, due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is anticipated that all FJC work will be conducted virtually until mid-2021.

It is our hope that by providing virtual clinic services, we will be able to reach clients throughout Ontario, including in remote areas where access to service has historically been limited. Whenever possible, we will endeavour to support clients in accessing technology by providing referrals and instruction, and also by communicating through telephone instead of videoconferencing.

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