Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC): Filing a Human Rights Application

Project Type: Public Legal Education (presentations, workshops, podcasts, brochures, blogs, etc.), Client Services (court forms, shadowing, mock hearings, intake, legal clinic, etc.)

Fields of Law: Human Rights Law

Positions Available: 1

 

About the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC):

Established in 2017, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is an independent not-for-profit community legal clinic that combats individual and systemic anti-Black racism by providing free legal services, conducting research, developing public legal education materials, and engaging in test case litigation and law reform.

   

Project Details:

BLAC regularly receives more requests for assistance with Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) applications than the clinic can fulfill. The goal of this project will be to allow clients to help themselves, even if BLAC does not have the capacity to represent them.

The student will create a resource which will help clients complete applications regarding discrimination, specifically anti-Black racism, in services, accommodation (i.e. housing, occupancy), contracts, and employment. The resource should allow clients to answer relatively straightforward/plain language questions and receive a completed form which is ready to be reviewed by BLAC and/or filed at the HRTO.

The student will investigate potential tech solutions for this resource, such as a more simple pdf/fillable form or more complex AI/wizard. The student can look at other examples of similar tools (Steps to Justice, Human Rights Legal Support Centre, etc.) or see if there is a software engineer/tech company willing to volunteer to help.

Additionally, the student will research how the HRTO may be using administrative processes (notice of intent to dismiss) to unjustly dismiss applications on the basis that they “fall outside their mandate,” and try to address this through the resource. For example, the resource should ask specific questions to try and find the nexus between the ‘unfairness’ the person is experiencing and the related ground of discrimination

 

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

The schedule is flexible.

 

Requirements and Expectations:

  • Understanding of provincial human rights system
  • Ability to translate complex legal processes and issues into plain language
  • Background in adult education is an asset
  • Familiarity with technology is an asset