Matthew House: Refugee Hearing Preparation Program (8 positions)

Area of Law: Immigration and Refugee Law

Matthew House is a nationally recognized leader in welcoming, assisting, and resettling newly arrived refugee claimants who would otherwise be homeless. Since 2013, Matthew House Toronto has been offering "simulation" of Refugee Hearings, which completely mirror the process that takes places at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). To date, close to 1000 refugee claimants have participated in the program. To learn more about Matthew House, check out their website here: https://www.matthewhouserhp.com/

The student will be involved in the Refugee Hearing Preparation Program. The goal of the program is to support individuals preparation for the Refugee Hearing to increase the chances of successful outcome. The program is run by well trained volunteers many of whom are lawyers and even retired IRB members. These volunteers play the role of "Board Members" and question the claimants based on their actual Basis of Claim (BOC) narrative submitted several weeks earlier. While there is no "counsel" present, a Hearing Supervisor sits in the room during the simulation and serves as a liaison between the volunteer adjudicator and the claimant and facilitates the feedback and interaction. In 2022, the RHP conducted 204 hearings which impacted 421 claimants. Before covid-19, in 2019, the RHP conducted 330 hearings.

The student will observe mock hearings, liaise with the adjudicator, provide information to clients about the hearing process, and assist in the expansion of the mock hearing service offered by Matthew House across various Canadian cities. In particular their duties will include: being the voluntary supervisor at hearings, walking a claimant through the process step by step, providing information about the court process to clients, and expanding the project virtually to other cities and what that would involve for students. Students will act as volunteer supervisors at the beginning stages of the placement. Supervisors are asked to observe three sessions before leading a session of their own. Students are expected to transition into volunteer adjudicator for at least one session at the end of their placement. They will be responsible for facilitating the session. 

Time Commitment

Students are expected to volunteer 3-5 hours per week. There will be a set schedule for students to attend the mock hearings and it will be agreed upon by the students and the organization at the start of the placement. The project will likely take place virtually.

Required Training

In addition to the PBSC mandatory training, there are videos and an in-person Q&A session that the students are required to complete. The training involves an overview of refugee law, IRB Guidelines, and tips and protocol on providing neutral feedback. The students will also be required to familiarize themselves with the onboarding package provided to them at the beginning of the placement. 

Number of Students and Prerequisites

  • How many students? 
    • 6-8 students (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?
    •  No - bilingualism is not an expectation but is always nice to have
  • Any other expectations for this project? 
    • As this project allows students to work closely with clients, it is essential for student volunteers to be personable, engaging, and genuinely committed to the project. Strong communication skills are important to ensure the success of the placement.