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Our Divisions
Aboriginal Legal Services Division
The Aboriginal Legal Services Division is composed of caseworkers who are members of Aboriginal communities and who have a first-hand appreciation of the issues faced by their clients from a legal perspective and a cultural perspective. The Aboriginal Legal Services Division strives to ensure that Aboriginal people have meaningful access to the justice system, and that they are treated fairly, equitably, and with respect when they come into contact with the justice system.
Caseworkers in the Aboriginal Legal Services Division provide services to Aboriginal clients within the mandate of the other divisions in the Clinic while adding a cultural context. Thus, students in the Aboriginal Division, in collaboration with Aboriginal community organizations, may provide Civil, Criminal, Tenant, Community Legal Education and Outreach or Women Division services to the Aboriginal community, as needed.
Caseworkers in the Aboriginal Division are, in fact, also caseworkers in one of the other five divisions at the Clinic. They therefore provide Aboriginal Legal Services in parallel to the services they provide within their respective divisions. For example, say an Aboriginal student is enrolled in the Tenant Division and an Aboriginal client attends the Clinic with tenant issues: the client file is assigned to the Aboriginal student.
Civil Division
The Civil Division provides legal services in a broad range of areas, such as employment law, consumer rights, and human rights law. Example cases include wrongful dismissals where the employment lasted for at least one year, breach of contract, debtor/creditor matters, and discrimination contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code. The amount at stake in the dispute must be more than $500 and less than $10,000. Civil Division caseworkers may appear for matters in both the Small Claims Court and before the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
The Civil Division does not provide services in the areas of wills/estate litigation, bankruptcy, family law, medical malpractice, personal injury, incorporations, labour/union related matters, or actions in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Caseworkers in the Civil Division assess evidence produced by their clients and opposing parties, send demand letters and conduct negotiations in the attempt to resolve disputes informally, and conduct trials where appropriate and where so instructed by their clients.
In addition to having carriage of client files, Civil Division caseworkers have to perform several Clinic duties on a rotating basis. These are:
- Desk, screen or interview during Intake Clinics held at 17, Copernicus Street;
- Remand court appearances on behalf of the Criminal Division; and
- Participation in Community Legal Education and Outreach Division workshops.
Community Legal Education and Outreach Division
The Community Legal Education and Outreach Division is the primary point of contact between the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic and the community and the undergraduate student body at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. The division performs the essential function of taking the community’s pulse and communicating the needs of the community to the Clinic. Caseworkers in this division deal with community organizations and the general public. Their mission: popularize the law and render the justice system more accessible. In collaboration with community organizations such as The Mission, Le Carrefour and the AIDS Committee of Ottawa, caseworkers lead workshops on a variety of legal topics such as human rights, tenant rights, Small Claims Court actions and police powers. In view of these workshops, caseworkers conduct rigorous research on topics assigned to them, develop popularization publications such as brochures, pamphlets and posters, and assemble presentations. Caseworkers also participate in Outreach activities such as community breakfasts and other events. The CLE/O Division provides students with the invaluable opportunity to gain a solid knowledge of various areas of the law, to acquire both written and spoken communication skills, to develop a talent for public-speaking and to sharpen networking skills.
Students have carriage of a portfolio of community organizations and have to lead workshops on topics agreed upon, and on the dates agreed upon, with these organizations.
In addition to managing their respective portfolio, students in the CLE/O Division have to perform several Clinic duties on a rotating basis. These are:
- Desk or screen during Intake Clinics held at 17, Copernicus Street;
- Remand court appearances on behalf of the Criminal Division; and
- Staffing, once a week and on a rotating basis, the Intake Clinic held at the satellite location at Carleton University.
Criminal Division
The Criminal Division represents accused persons at the Ontario Court of Justice in regards to summary conviction offences under the Criminal Code of Canada (including hybrid offences where the Crown has elected to proceed by way of summary conviction) such as theft under $5000, assault, mischief under $5000, fraud under $5000, and communication for the purposes of obtaining the sexual services of a prostitute. The Criminal Division may also represent those charged with significant provincial offences such as driving without insurance and careless driving.
The Criminal Division does not provide representation where the offence is indictable, or the penalty upon conviction for the offence might involve imprisonment. Additionally, the Criminal Division does not provide representation in matters for drinking and driving offences, or when a man has been charged with a violent crime against a woman he has been in a relationship with.
Caseworkers in the Criminal Division review evidence, meet with prosecutors to discuss resolutions, and conduct trials and argue motions under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms where appropriate and where so instructed by the accused. Students wishing to work in the Criminal Division should have successfully completed the evidence course or, in exceptional circumstances, be taking the evidence course concurrently.
In addition to having carriage of client files, Criminal Division caseworkers have to perform several Clinic duties on a rotating basis. These are:
- Desk, screen or interview during Intake Clinics held at 17, Copernicus Street;
- Remand court appearances at the Elgin Courthouse and at Constellation Court; and
- Participation in Community Legal Education and Outreach Division workshops.
Tenant Division
Tenants often do not know their rights and landlords can use this to their advantage. Accordingly, the Tenant Division provides legal services to tenants alone in regards to such disputes with landlords as evictions, outstanding repair issues, and arrears or abatements in rent. Caseworkers in the Tenant Division may represent tenants in both Small Claims Court and the Landlord and Tenant Board, and also provide duty counsel services at the Landlord and Tenant Board. Duty counsel services ensure that tenants who appear at the Board unrepresented can receive free legal information and assistance.
The Tenant Division does not provide representation to landlords, or act in tenant against tenant matters. Caseworkers in the Tenant Division assess the evidence of their clients and the opposing landlord, attempt to negotiate resolutions to disputes, and conduct hearings at the Landlord and Tenant Board where appropriate and where so instructed by clients.
In addition to having carriage of client files, Tenant Division caseworkers have to perform several Clinic duties on a rotating basis. These are:
- Desk, screen or interview during Intake Clinics held at 17, Copernicus Street;
- Duty counsel hours at the Landlord and Tenant Board;
- Remand court appearances on behalf of the Criminal Division; and
- Participation in Community Legal Education and Outreach Division workshops.
Women's Division
The Women’s Division assists women who have experienced, or are experiencing violence, with an emphasis on making applications on their behalf to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB). The CICB is an administrative tribunal that provides financial compensation to victims of violent crime, their caretakers, and the spouse or dependents of a victim who has died. The maximum lump sum award is $25,000 per violent act that is separate in time and place. The Women’s Division also assists clients in obtaining a peace bond against an abuser, obtaining information from the Victim Information Service of the National Parole Board and, where a woman must change her identity and relocate to stay safe from her abuser, obtaining a confidential name change. Students also participate with many local women’s agencies such as the Sexual Assault Network.
All caseworkers in the Women’s Division are female, and work with clients and gather evidence in preparation of writing a book of submissions to the CICB to support an application for compensation. They may also assist women in obtaining information about when a convicted abuser will be released from prison, relocating to a women’s shelter, and provide referrals to social support agencies and counselors. As with all our divisions, all information provided to caseworkers in the Women’s Division is kept strictly confidential.
In addition to having carriage of client files, Women’s division caseworkers have to perform several Clinic duties on a rotating basis. These are:
- Desk, screen or interview during Intake Clinics held at 17, Copernicus Street;
- On-call hours to conduct telephone intakes for Women’s Division clients in crisis situations;
- Remand court appearances on behalf of the Criminal Division;
- Staffing, once a week and on a rotating basis, the Intake Clinic held at the satellite location at Carleton University; and
- Participation in Community Legal Education and Outreach Division workshops
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