Bite Size Pieces New Board Member Orientation Module #1 Slides Better Clinic Board Better Volunteer Base BSWG Building Better Boards Better Governed Clinic Better Community Better Community Service
Learning Outcomes of Today s Session Gain a better understanding of: The history of legal aid in Ontario How the clinic system came into being How the clinics relate to their key funder - LAO The clinic system today 2
3 A Short History of Legal Aid in Ontario (1) 1951: First legal aid plan for criminal cases where lawyers provided legal assistance on a volunteer basis 1967: The Ontario Legal Aid Plan (OLAP) was created with a focus on criminal law - financed by the provincial government and managed by LSUC 1970: Community legal clinics were first established 1980 1990: OLAP expanded its clinic, family, refugee, mental health, and Aboriginal services considerably 3
4 A Short History of Legal Aid in Ontario (2) In 1998, the Ontario government enacted the Legal Aid Services Act in which the province renewed and strengthened its commitment to legal aid The Act established Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), an independent but publicly funded and publicly accountable non-profit corporation, to administer the province s legal aid program. A new Chair and board of directors was named to govern LAO 4
5 Clinic Law Community legal clinics were established in the early 1970's to help meet the legal needs of low-income and disadvantaged individuals and communities Clinics address the unique legal needs of lowincome people who need help with the essentials of life, such as subsistence income and safe housing, and access to the most basic social services, such as education for children 5
6 Key Clinic Documents The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) The Funding Application The Business Plan 6
7 The Memorandum of Understanding The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is an ongoing agreement, with a standard term of five years, between Legal Aid Ontario and each Clinic which defines their respective roles and responsibilities, and establishes a framework for their ongoing relationship, within the context of the Legal Aid Services Act, 1998 7
The Funding Application 8
The Business Plan Executive Summary Mandate Organization Chart Strategic Objectives of the Clinic Environmental Scan Performance Measures & Targets Resource Requirements Initiatives Involving Third Parties (Partnerships) 9
10 Clinic Services Ontario s community legal clinics offer a range of services Each clinic determines the local need and responds accordingly The range of services offered include: legal representation summary advice referrals law reform public legal education community development advocacy 10
The Clinic System Today There are now approximately 60 community legal clinics serving every area of the Province There are 17 specialty clinics which focus on particular areas of the law or particular communities of interest and the general public interest: Advocacy for the Elderly Advocacy Centre for Tenants ARCH Disability Law Centre African Canadian Legal Clinic Canadian Environmental Law Association Centre for Spanish-Speaking Peoples Community Legal Education Ontario Correctional Law Project HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic (Ontario) Income Security Advocacy Centre Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario Injured Workers Consultants Justice for Children and Youth Landlords Self-Help Centre Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto Metro Toronto Chinese and South East Legal Clinic South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario Toronto Workers Health & Safety Legal Clinic 11
Clinic System Acronyms ODSP ACLCO PLAC CLW BSWG Website BSWG MOU MCSS HRSDC LTB 12
Upcoming Modules #2 & #3 Module #2: Typical board governance models Key aspects of good governance Expectations of a clinic board member Module #3: Legal responsibilities Strategic, Operational & Personal responsibilities You can download Modules #2 & #3 at: www.onboardlegalclinics.org 13