Trans ID Clinic Project

Organization: SKETCH Working Arts & The 519 Community Centre

Project Type: client assistance

Fields of Law: government ID, name change, gender marker change; child and youth services; poverty law

Positions Available: 1-2

SKETCH is a Toronto-based organization that engages young people through the arts who are navigating poverty, homelessness, and living on the margins. 

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

What is the “Trans ID Clinic” Project?

Project Background

  • The Trans ID Clinic is one of PBSC’s nation-wide initiatives. The program was piloted in Toronto with SKETCH Working Arts and Blakes and now runs in partnership with other local organizations in Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Windsor and Fredericton.

  • 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 lawyers from Blakes work collaboratively to assist trans and gender diverse individuals with obtaining new pieces of identification. SKETCH and The 519 have dedicated funds to provide financial assistance to clients in order to cover the cost of application fees.

  • During our inaugural year (2017-18), we received overwhelmingly positive client feedback, with 94% of clients describing the experience as helpful. PBSC also received exciting news coverage that brought much-needed attention to the project. HuffPost Canada published an article spotlighting the Clinic and highlighting the systemic barriers that trans individuals face when they seek to obtain accurate ID. Xtra produced a video focusing on the journey of one of the Clinic’s clients, Octavius, a 20-year-old artist from Toronto. The video follows Octavius as they navigate life, art, and the process for obtaining ID that correctly reflects their name. Octavius explains that, “being able to take control of how my name makes me feel is really empowering.”

  • In the fall of 2018, the Trans ID Clinic was nominated for the prestigious Canadian Pro Bono Award.

How the Clinic Runs

  • The students and lawyers arrive at 5:30pm to set up clinic and take part in a “pre-brief” meeting with SKETCH / The 519 staff.

  • When clients arrive, they are greeted by SKETCH/The 519 staff/volunteers who act as “hosts” during clinic hours. The hosts ensure that clients are warmly welcomed into the space and offer to connect clients with other resources/programs (ex. SKETCH sometimes offers tours of the art studios on the lower level during client wait time; The 519 operates “Meal Trans” offering free meals the same evening as Clinic). 

  • Clients are asked to sign in and complete the first page of the Client Intake Form (mandatory) and the Demographics Form (optional).

  • The students and lawyers divide into two teams (one student and one lawyer per team, each team in one private room). 

  • At 6pm the first two clients are called in to be seen by the respective teams:

    • The students and lawyers introduce themselves (name and pronoun) and wear a nametag with this information;

    • The student explains the Clinic’s mandate, asks the client to sign the waiver form;

    • The student conducts intake and together with the lawyer identifies all issues that need to be addressed;

    • The student and lawyer assist the client with issues identified;

    • The student asks the client to fill out the feedback form and financial assistance form before leaving.

  • Meanwhile, the third student—the Volunteer Coordinator (VC)—reviews the Client Intake Forms that the remaining clients have filled out.

    • The VC will conduct a brief intake with each client, asking the client to sign the waiver form and identifying all issues that need to be addressed. The VC will print the necessary applications/forms. 

    • Once each client has been seen by the VC for the brief initial intake, the VC will return to the third person on the sign-in sheet and begin assisting the client with issues identified in order to prepare them to see the lawyer / student teams. 

  • Once the students and lawyers have met with their first clients, the VC will bring in the third and fourth clients (and so on).

    • At times, there are clients who only require a brief meeting with the lawyer (to have their application commissioned, for example). The VC will determine whether or not there is time for these clients to be seen earlier in the evening for a brief meeting with the lawyer, moving them ahead on the sign-in sheet. This is up to the discretion of the VC. 

  • During the last 15-20 minutes, the students, lawyers and staff debrief and file away paperwork.

  • Students upload statistics using the SurveyMonkey link provided.

What are the Deliverables?

Student Tasks / Deliverables

  • Students will have an opportunity to carry out the following legal/advocacy work:

    • Client intake / interviewing

    • Issue spotting

    • Form-filling

    • Legal information & referrals

    • Legal drafting and written advocacy (affidavits)

  • Students are also expected to manage several administrative tasks, including but not limited to:

    • File management

    • Recording statistics and collecting client feedback

    • Updating the project manual as needed (ex. researching new trans-friendly referrals)

    • Reflection meetings (ex. pre-brief and debrief meetings)

  • Students may also have the opportunity to conduct a PLE workshop / information session relating to the name change and gender marker change process.

A mandatory training will take place at the Blakes office on October 3rd from 5:30 to 8:30pm. The training, delivered by SKETCH and Justice for Children and Youth, will cover:

  1. Introduction to SKETCH, The 519 and the Trans ID Clinic;

  2. How the Trans ID Clinic runs, including the roles & responsibilities of the Volunteer Coordinator (VC);

  3. Overview of substantive law and procedure related to name/gender marker change applications;

  4. Anti-oppression principles, with a focus on working with trans folks / youth navigating poverty and homelessness.

The students must attend each of the clinic sessions from 5:30 to 9:30pm at the following dates/locations:

FALL TERM:

  • Wed, Oct 9 at SKETCH

  • Wed, Oct 23 at SKETCH

  • Mon, Oct 28 at The 519

  • Wed, Nov 13 at SKETCH

  • Mon, Nov 18 at The 519

  • Wed, Nov 27 at SKETCH

WINTER TERM:

  • Wed, Jan 15 at SKETCH

  • Wed, Jan 29 at SKETCH

  • Wed, Feb 12 at SKETCH

  • Mon, Feb 24 at The 519

  • Wed, March 4 at SKETCH

  • Mon, March 16 at The 519

Who can apply?

This project is open to all JD students at U of T Law, but upper year students are strongly preferred.

At least two of the following would be considered an asset: Administrative law, domestic human rights law, poverty law, clinical placements.

Languages other than English are considered an asset.

Priority to trans and gender diverse students. Volunteers selected should be able to demonstrate ongoing and meaningful allyship with the trans community.

Assets include:

  • Experience working with trans folks, youth, LGBTQ+ communities

  • Front-line / clinical experience

  • Social work background

  • A strong sense of anti-oppression principles

If you are interested in applying for this project, please submit a General PBSC Application Form.