ACCESS TO JUSTICE (A2J)
A2J WEEK 2022
PRO BONO SERVICES IN ONTARIO
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & A2J
The seventh annual Access to Justice Week took place from October 24 to 28, 2022. A2J Week 2022 featured a diverse series of virtual programming on the theme “Access to Justice Counts: Using data to address the legal needs of Canadians.”
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & A2J
PRO BONO SERVICES IN ONTARIO
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & A2J
The Department of Justice Canada considers access to justice to be a fundamental value of the Canadian justice system, flowing from our country’s respect for the rule of law. Justice Canada is working to advance a people-centered approach to justice that puts consideration of the individual at the heart of justice responses by providing access to information, programs and policies.
PRO BONO SERVICES IN ONTARIO
PRO BONO SERVICES IN ONTARIO
PRO BONO SERVICES IN ONTARIO
There are a variety of services available to residents of Ontario. See FOLA's comprehensive list below. If you notice that we are missing any, please let Katie know at Katie.Robinette@fola.ca.
LEGAL AID IN ONTARIO
ISSUES AND SUBMISSIONS
PRO BONO SERVICES IN ONTARIO
FOLA has long believed that a sustainable, appropriately and adequately funded legal aid system is critical to the efficient, effective and just functioning of Ontario's justice system.
Ontario has one of the best legal aid systems in the world, but it is far from perfect and FOLA is actively involved in a number of initiatives to make the system better for both low-income clients who use the system and the lawyers who utilize funding from Legal Aid.
ISSUES AND SUBMISSIONS
ISSUES AND SUBMISSIONS
ISSUES AND SUBMISSIONS
On May 30th 2019, FOLA submitted our formal response to the Law Society's Access to Justice Committee's review of the LSO’s Access to Justice Approach. You can read background on the LSO's Committee Review, FOLA's submission, and submissions from other Law Associations by clicking on the blue button below
ACCESS TO JUSTICE WEEK 2022
OCTOBER 24-28 2022
The Law Society of Ontario hosted its seventh Access to Justice Week, from October 24 to 28, 2022. The program was held virtually with two events hosted in person: The Sunrise Ceremony and the panel discussion, Recent developments in access to justice for Indigenous Peoples.
Sessions centered on exploring the qualitative and quantitative data currently available to the justice sector, what data should be collected, and how data can be effectively used to understand and address the legal needs of Canadians.
Other highlights included career pathways for paralegals, dangerous workplaces and low pay, barriers to accessing justice for Indigenous, trans people, women, ethnic minorities and low income populations in Canada, as well as the role of technology in the legal system.
Access to Justice Week brings together a range of justice sector stakeholders locally and from across Canada to develop meaningful, public-centred solutions that advance systemic change in the justice system. This Week is an opportunity to learn about new initiatives, connect with diverse partners and explore critical access to justice issues from different perspectives.
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ISSUES & SUBMISSIONS - a2J
On May 30th 2019, FOLA submitted our formal response to the Law Society's Access to Justice Committee's review of the LSO’s Access to Justice Approach.
You can read our submission here.
Background
From Feb to May 31st 2019, the Law Society’s Access to Justice Committee sought input from lawyers, paralegals, legal and community organizations, and the public to assist in its ongoing review of the Law Society’s approach to access to justice.
The initiatives are described in a Consultation Paper
The Committee's conclusions stated that:
"Legal needs have a profound negative impact on individuals and society in Ontario. To address these needs with finite resources and a defined regulatory mandate, the Law Society should ensure its access to justice initiatives are effective and consistent with its statutory functions. To that end, the Committee is analyzing the initiatives, which generally fall into four categories:
1) Facilitating access to legal services
2) Promoting accurate and clear legal information for the public
3) Supporting an accessible, fair and effective justice system
4) Providing assistance to external organizations
As part of its analysis the Committee sought responses to the following questions:
1. What do you think of the Law Society’s current access to justice initiatives?
2. Should some of these initiatives be enhanced? If so, which ones and why?
3. Should some of these initiatives be reduced? If so, which ones and why?
4. Should the Law Society launch new access to justice initiatives? If so, which ones and why?
5. What do you or your organization do to facilitate access to justice? Could the Law Society collaborate with you on your initiatives? If so, how?
6. Should the Law Society institute a levy on lawyers and paralegals to support additional
access to justice initiatives?
7. Do you have additional comments on the Law Society’s approach to access to justice?
SUBMISSIONS: Access to Justice Committee’s Request for Input, May 2019
Read the Toronto Law Association's Submission here
Read the County of Carleton Law Association’s Submission here
A2J FEDERAL INITIATIVES
ACCESS TO JUSTICE
LET'S TALK OPEN GOVERNMENT
LET'S TALK OPEN GOVERNMENT
The Department of Justice Canada considers access to justice to be a fundamental value of the Canadian justice system, flowing from our country’s respect for the rule of law. Justice Canada is working to advance a people-centered approach to justice that puts consideration of the individual at the heart of justice responses by providing access to information, programs and policies.
Justice Canada is guided in its efforts to promote access to justice by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose overarching principle is to “leave no one behind.” Sustainable Development Goal 16, or SDG 16, commits the global community to work together to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.” Justice Canada is the lead department within the Government of Canada for achieving SDG 16.
LET'S TALK OPEN GOVERNMENT
LET'S TALK OPEN GOVERNMENT
LET'S TALK OPEN GOVERNMENT
Consultations are currently being conducted by the Government of Canada (through the Treasury Board) in an effort to establish an access to justice commitment in the open government plan.
Access to justice means that people have access to the information, resources and mechanisms necessary to effectively resolve their legal problems – issues that can impact many areas of their lives, such as housing, employment, education, health, and public safety.