Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers: Community Outreach Project (3 positions)

Area of Law: various areas of law depending on the needs of the partner organizations 

FACL is a diverse coalition of Asian Canadian legal professionals who promote equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian Canadian legal professionals and the broader community. FACL fosters advocacy, community involvement, legal scholarship and professional development. To learn more about FACL, check out their website here: http://on.facl.ca/

In this project, student volunteers will play a crucial role in the success of the Community Outreach Program, gaining invaluable experience in community involvement, advocacy, legal scholarship, and professional development. They will conduct in-depth legal research on assigned areas of law to create public legal information tools, including podcasts, presentations, and pamphlets. Volunteers will develop innovative strategies to deliver public legal education materials effectively to community members and will be responsible for compiling a list of organizations within the GTA that need access to legal education. This will involve reaching out to existing partner organizations to assess their needs and identifying new potential organizations through research and outreach efforts. Volunteers will explain FACL's mission and the types of public legal education offered, adding interested organizations to a comprehensive list of the supervising lawyer. 

Additionally, student volunteers will participate in the podcast initiative by contributing to topic selection, research, and production, integrating these efforts into the overall public legal education strategy. Volunteers will further support the study on Asian Canadians in the legal industry by assisting in data collection, analysis, and report writing, ensuring that our public advocacy efforts are data-driven and impactful. This works will further be used by students to assist with FACL's public advocacy initiatives. Students will also continue to build on FACL's collaboration with the Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network by hosting further events and preparing legal information in collaboration with Butterfly.

Description of Community Outreach Project

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) has developed a comprehensive community outreach program aimed at advancing the rights and interests of Asian Canadians with the legal profession and addressing knowledge gaps within the broader Asian community. The program is designed to create a cohesive and multi-dimensional approach to public legal education, advocacy, and professional development within the Asian legal community. The primary goal is to partner with community organizations and leading members within the Asian legal community to create and disseminate public legal education through presentations, workshops, webinars, social media/blog posts, and plain language resources, as well as podcasts.

The program involves developing materials for presentations, including PowerPoint presentations and pamphlets on various legal topics. Public legal education will be delivered in accessible formats such as webinars, videos and blog posts. Outreach activities will identify and collaborate with new organizations within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), ensuring that these organizations receive tailored legal education tools, such as wills and estates webinars, to address the specific legal needs of their communities. By working closely with these organizations, the program will create targeted presentations and projects that effectively address community legal needs.

In addition, the program will include a podcast series discussing diverse topics affecting the Asian legal community, providing a platform for dialogue and information sharing. The program will also include assisting with a comprehensive study on statistics related to Asian Canadians in the legal industry, examining aspects such as law school admissions, hiring practices, and career progression within large firms. This research, and other aspects of the program will in turn be used to inform and develop public advocacy positions and help shape future initiatives. Furthermore, the program will build on existing legal information programs relating to access to justice issues and the unique vulnerabilities faced by Asian and migrant sex workers. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to ensure the inclusivity and comprehensive of FACL's legal education and advocacy work. 

Time Commitment

Students are expected to volunteer 3-5 hours per week. The schedule is flexible, but depending on the task assigned, the students will be expected to consult with the lawyer supervisor/partner organization to establish a due date. The project tasks are completed remotely. 

Required Training

In addition to the PBSC mandatory training, FACL will provide a general orientation and on-demand training depending on the deliverables assigned. 

Number of Students and Prerequisites

  • How many students? 
    • 3 volunteers (students may be volunteering with students from Osgoode Hall Law School and Lincoln Alexander School of Law)
  • Can first year law students volunteer? 
    • First year students are encouraged to apply!
  • Should you be bilingual?
    •  Given the population served by FACL, there is a preference for students who speak Asian languages (Mandarin, Korean, Japanese or Cantonese) 
  • Any other expectations for this project? 
    • None!