Scarborough Community Legal Services (SCLS): Immigration Law Support Project

The Immigration Law Support Project aims to increase the clinic’s capacity to serve our community and increase our outreach and PLE activities.

Students are encouraged to make a two-year commitment to this project. A two year plan allows us to build on previous experience and responsibly increase the complexity of work done by our placement students. (In recognition of the volunteer nature of the commitment we acknowledge that this is a request and not a requirement). Tasks  anticipated in Year 2 may be available to interested and capable students in Year 1.

Please note that this project has been more research-focused during the past two years due to COVID-19 constraints. However, as public health guidelines permit, the SCLS intends to engage students with more file and community development work.

Year 1: Students will be trained in Immigration and Refugee law with a strong clinic-law emphasis. Students may conduct research at the clinic or off site once a week. Research will consist of country condition reports, case-law research, and other immigration topics depending on SCLS' case files. Students may help update the SCLS Immigration and Refugee Law Lawyer Referral List (up to 10% of the project time). Students may have the opportunity to observe client meetings and court/tribunal appearances, depending on our case files. Students will work with the Lawyer Supervisor to update existing PLE materials and assist with general outreach to the community. Students may be able to conduct a portion of at least one supervised PLE (which has been reviewed with a lawyer beforehand). Students may help coordinate PLEs and outreach activities. The students may conduct the PLE portions together with a SCLS legal worker.

Year 2: Students will conduct research and may assist with file work at the clinic or off-site once a week. (e.g., immigration form/document preparation.) Research will consist of country condition reports, case-law collection/summary/analysis, and other immigration topics depending on our case files. Students may help update SCLS Immigration and Refugee Law Lawyer Referral List (up to 10% of the project time). Students may have the opportunity to observe client meetings at the clinic or accompany clients to immigration meetings and interviews (e.g., a permanent residence interviews, CBSA check-ins at 6900 Airport Rd, appointments at embassies or consulates). We may require assistance with court or tribunal appearances. Students may conduct additional PLE presentations as described in Year 1.

Will the student(s) be expected to show up for regular shifts each week, or is the schedule flexible?

The schedule is flexible and subject to the activity breakdown set out above.