The 519 Community Centre: Trans ID Clinic

Project Type: Client services (court forms, shadowing, mock hearings, intake, legal clinic, etc.)   

Fields of Law: Identification (ID), Human Rights Law, Administrative Law

Positions Available: 3

About the 519 Legal Clinic:

The 519 is committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ2S communities in society. A City of Toronto agency with an innovative model of Service, Space and Leadership, the 519 strives to make a real difference in people’s lives, while working to promote inclusion, understanding and respect.

Project Details:

The Trans ID Clinic provides free legal information, form-filling services and referrals in a learning space that strives to be trans-positive, non-judgmental, anti-oppressive and inclusive. PBSC law student volunteers and lawyer supervisors work collaboratively to assist trans and gender diverse individuals with obtaining new pieces of identification.

Students will meet with clients virtually (Teams/Webex/Zoom). During the meeting, they will assist clients to fill in gender marker applications. Students are not permitted to give out their personal contact information to clinic clients. Student volunteers will be expected to meet with the partner organization three times per semester to provide and update and seek guidance as needed. Student volunteers should take the initiative to schedule pre-determined meeting times with the partner organization contact at the outset of their placement.

Supervising lawyers from McCarthy Tétrault LLP will be available by email or telephone to respond to students’ questions that might come up. Once a student completes a draft application with a client, the student will send the application electronically to their supervising lawyer. The supervising lawyer has final “sign-off” authority on applications drafted by clients with the assistance of PBSC law students.

Will the student(s) be expected to show up for regular shifts each week, or is the schedule flexible?

Student Volunteers will be expected to volunteer remotely on a schedule as agreed upon with the partner organization. Specifically, Student Volunteers will be expected to arrange meeting times with the clients and ensure they arrive promptly at the arranged meeting times.

Who can apply?

First-year students are eligible to apply.

However, experience with the following will be considered an asset: Administrative Law, Human Rights Law, Poverty Law, Clinical Placement experience, and a commitment to volunteering for two years with the project.

Given the background of clients being served, we welcome applications from trans and gender diverse, Black or POC students. Volunteers selected should be able to demonstrate ongoing and meaningful allyship with the Two-Spirited, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming and gender diverse communities. Volunteers must have strong organizational and time management skills, strong attention to detail, record-keeping and communication with supervisor skills, and experience with client relations or communications.

Assets include:

-        Personal or professional experience working with Two-Spirit, Trans, non-binary and non- gender conforming communities

-        Front-line/clinical experience

-        Social work backgrounds

-        A strong sense of anti-oppression principles.

Information about COVID-19

Work will be conducted remotely.