We partner with lawyers across Canada who work in the public interest to advance environmental justice and sustainability. Our partners include environmental law non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and legal aid clinics; in-house or external counsel to environmental or human rights groups, municipal governments, First Nations, or social enterprises; and lawyers in private practice who engage in public interest-oriented legal work on a pro-bono or reduced-fee basis. A list of our current and previous partners can be found here.
As a legal organization partner, you have the opportunity to develop a tailored project that aligns with your organization’s anticipated needs for the year. You will be supported by placement students who will dedicate 15–20 hours per week, from September to March (excluding the month of December), to contribute to this initiative. The assigned work must be of a sufficiently legal nature and focus on environmental law. Students must be directly supervised by a licensed Canadian lawyer.
FAQs
What type of work can I expect from students?
Students are able to complete work directly related to an environmental law topic. The files we work on can be local, provincial, national or even international in scope. Within this broad scope, we choose files for their likely lasting positive impact on environmental justice and sustainability. Students can do a variety of legal work including litigation before courts and tribunals, complaints to environmental watchdogs, law reform proposals, legislative drafting, freedom of information requests, community legal organizing, legal advice regarding sustainable or social enterprise, public legal education, and legal research.
Will I get the chance to pick the students I get placed with?
You will submit short project descriptions for each project you intend to have a student(s) work on which will be passed on to the EJSC students. There will be a matching process conducted early in the Fall term (late August-early September) where you will have the opportunity to mingle with students at a reception. After the reception, students will submit their placement choices and the clinic Director will share these choices with you along with student CVs. You will be indicate which student(s) you would like on board for the term.
Who are the students involved in this Clinic?
Second and third year JD students at Osgoode Hall who have shown a demonstrated interest in the environment, environmental justice, and sustainability. Our students are motivated and highly capable and we have had many years of positive placement experiences.
What is the timeline of the student's commitment?
Students will be dedicating 15-20 hours to their placement work with you. This will begin in early September until the end of November pausing for the month of December. When the academic term resumes in January, students will return to their placements until the end of March. There is no expectation of work for students on holidays and Reading Weeks.
Can I only have students work on one project?
No. If you are able to identify multiple projects that require the work of a law student(s) please propose them to the clinic Director. Please ensure that the projects are sufficient in work to the degree that a student(s) will have enough work to complete for the entire school year. One student can work on multiple projects as identified so long as they do not exceed the maximum capacity of 20 hours of clinical work/per week for the student. Alternatively, multiple projects may also require multiple student placements.
Can I only have one placement student for the year?
No. If there is a need for multiple students (recommended up to a maximum of 3 student placements with one organization) on one large project or multiple projects you are encouraged to share that with the clinic Director to see how many spots can be allocated to your project(s).
Will students be expected to reveal confidential information (i.e. details relating to case files) during the weekly Seminars?
No. Confidentiality agreements will be signed by all students (as provided by your organization). Students will be advised to not share any confidential details of their placements but speak more generally about the work that they are doing in the seminar. Confidentiality guidelines are discussed in the seminar at the beginning of the term.
Does the student work in person, virtually, or hybrid?
If there is an office space available in Toronto, you may coordinate in person sessions with your student(s). If it is desired that the student put in some in person time at the placement, this should be indicated on the initial project description that is provided to all students at the beginning of the term before they rank their placements. Generally, majority of placements are conducted remotely.
What is the role of the Lawyer Supervisor(s)?
The role of the Lawyer Supervisor(s) is to assign work to the student(s), follow up on the work, provide timely feedback, provide guidance to the student(s), and provide the clinic Director with feedback about the student(s) progress. The Lawyer Supervisor is to sign off on all work done by the student(s).
Can a student have a non-Lawyer Supervisor?
Yes, but only if there is also a Lawyer Supervisor as well - totalling two (or more) supervisors for the student.
How and when do I get in touch to develop a student placement with the Clinic?
Contact the clinic Director! Information on how to contact us can be found here. Student placements are typically developed in the summer term for the next academic year. It is recommended that interested organizations reach out anywhere from April - July.
