PBO: Intake/Triage Student for CERB/CRB Overpayment Pro Bono Program (2 positions)

Area of Law: Appeals -- Litigation -- Federal Court

Pro Bono Ontario is a registered charity with a mandate to improve access to justice by creating and facilitating opportunities for the legal profession to provide free legal services to low-income Ontarians. Further, Pro Bono Ontario provides short term legal services in civil law matters. To learn more about PBO, check out their website here: www.probonoontario.org

In this project, the student will assist primarily with the CERB/CRB Overpayment Pro Bono Program (COPP). COPP assists self represented individuals residing in Ontario that disagree with a covid overpayment decision and are considering requesting a second review with CRA or applying to the Federal Court for a judicial review. Clients apply to COPP and if eligible, PBO tries to find a volunteer lawyer willing to provide pro bono legal support and/or PBO provides summary legal advice. The student's work will include:

  • Reviewing court or other documentation submitted to PBO and ensuring the PBO applicant has submitted the required documents to confirm eligibility;
  • Communicating/Interviewing PBO applicants that have applied to COPP to obtain further information as needed;
  • Drafting a brief summary of the PBO's applicants' case/issues(s);
  • Assisting in organizing/preparing the electronic file to send to volunteers lawyers/law firm;
  • Providing research support and/or preparing initial drafts of documents, as needed; and
  • Communicating with potential PBO applicants information about COPP (as needed)

Time permitting, PBO may also have the student assist with Pro Bono Ontario's Supreme Court of Canada Leave to Appeal Assistance Project (SCCLAAP). SCCLAAP assists self represented individuals from across Canada with proposed applications for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada in all areas of law. The student's work will involve similar tasks as noted above but in relation to the SCCLAAP. 

Time Commitment

Students are expected to volunteer with PBO 3 hours per week. A regular shift is preferable and ideally the student would be available on Friday am (or Thursday am would be the next best option; and after that Mondays or Wednesdays with Tuesdays being the least ideal day of the week). This is a remote position. PBO does have an office space in Toronto that student(s) can use but this is not expected or mandatory. Most PBO staff are working remotely and office is only used on as needed basis and supervising lawyer is located in Ottawa. 

Required Training

In addition to the PBSC Mandatory Training, PBO will provide basic training re: salesforce and slack, and the areas of law and project(s) that the student(s) will be helping. 

Number of Students and Prerequisites 

  • How many students?
    • 1-2 students
  • Can fist year law students volunteer?
    • First year students are encouraged to apply!
  • Should you be bilingual?
    • No. However, Pro Bono Ontario does provide services in French and therefore, if student is bilingual and interested can likely assist in providing services in French.
  • Any other expectations for the project?
    • No prerequisites (but helpful if they have taken civil procedure or administrative law). It would be helpful if student had some prior law, research or clinic experience but it is not a requirement.