Kensington Bellwoods Community Legal Services: Tenant Application Clinic (10 positions)

Area of Law: Housing Law -- Administrative Law -- Immigration Law -- Social Assistance -- Employment Law 

KBCLS is a non-profit community legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario. KBCLS gives people living on a low income in Kensington-Bellwoods neighbourhood free legal services for certain problems. To learn more about KBCLS, check out their website here: www.kbcls.org

In this project, students will be trained to help individuals in the KBCLS catchment fill out tenant applications. Tenant applications are document intensive, require extensive amounts of time, and can be confusing to tenants. Students will, with supervision from the supervising lawyer, develop a theory of the case and work with clients to complete applications and gather evidence for their eventual hearings. KBCLS does not represent individuals on these applications. The project exists to ensure tenants have clear and coherent tenant applications with adequate evidence that puts them in the best position to self-represent at the Landlord and Tenant Board. Note that students are not permitted to provide legal advice. 

Time Commitment

Students are expected to volunteer 3-5 hours per week. The placement is flexible - most of the work will involve client interaction but students can work on their own time for non-client interaction work. This is a hybrid project that requires students to be in-person for some portion of their work. 

Required Training

Students will need to participate in the mandatory PBSC training. 

Number of Students and Prerequisites

  • How many students? 
    • Ten students (students may be working with students from Lincoln Alexander School of Law)
  • Can first year law students volunteer? 
    • First year students are encouraged to apply!
  • Should you be bilingual?
    •  No - bilingualism is not an expectation but is always nice to have
  • Any other expectations for this project? 
    • None - KBCLS will provide a primer on housing law. Clinic/social justice experience is an asset but not required.