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Law Student Involvement in Queen's Legal Aid

There are a number of ways for law students to become involved with Queen's Legal Aid. Some involve work as a volunteer, some work for academic credit and some work for remuneration. Students interested in clinic work should refer to the Faculty of Law calendar for J.D. students to obtain more detailed information.

Caseworker Handbook and Table of Contents

Mandatory training powerpoint

Work as a Volunteer:

During the academic year, approximately 60 students work at the clinic as volunteer caseworkers. Although they have fewer client service responsibilities than students who work at the clinic for academic credit, they are nonetheless able to interact with clients and opposing parties, research legal issues, prepare memoranda, letters and pleadings, negotiate solutions and otherwise offer legal assistance. Volunteer caseworkers can be in the first, second or third year of their law studies. They are selected through an application process in September and then receive training, mentoring and close supervision throughout the time that they participate with the clinic.

Work for Academic Credit:

LAW-590 (Clinical Litigation Practice):

This course is open through the course balloting process to students in the second and third year of their law studies. It spans the autumn and winter terms and students in it receive four credits each term for carrying significant client service responsibilities. They participate in weekly classes involving lectures, exercises and seminars. Class topics include: advocacy, interviewing and counselling, file management, legal ethics, legal research and writing, negotiation and settlement, office procedures, professional responsibility and solicitor/client relationships. Students in Clinical Litigation Practice routinely appear in trials before criminal and civil courts as well as hearings before administrative tribunals.

LAW-591 and LAW-592 (Queen's Legal Aid Student Leadership):

These courses are also open to students in the second or third year of their law studies respectively, but only in the academic year following a period of summer employment at the clinic. Students receive two credits for carrying significant training, mentoring and administrative responsibilities. The credits can either be attributed to one term or shared between the autumn and winter terms.

Work for Remuneration:

Summer Employment:

Each summer the clinic hires 10 students to do the work carried by approximately 80 caseworkers between September and April. Summer students are selected from volunteer caseworkers and caseworkers who participated in the clinic for academic credit during the previous year. They receive thorough training in all aspects of clinic work and, because of their workload, carry significant client service responsibilities. In addition, they carry significant administrative responsibilities during the academic year after their summer employment.

Articling Employment:

If funding allows, the clinic hires an articling student. The articling student, like students in Clinical Litigation Practice, carries significant client service responsibilities and routinely appears in trials before criminal and civil courts as well as hearings before administrative tribunals. In addition, the articling student performs in-depth research and writing and acts as a resource person for other caseworkers at the clinic.

Awards Available for Clinic Work:

McDougall-Watson Memorial Awards:

These awards were established in 1990 in memory of the contributions made by C. William McDougall (Law '77) and David Watson (Law '87). Mr. McDougall was a lawyer with QLA, who died in a car accident shortly after his retirement. Mr. Watson was a caseworker with QLA, who died suddenly in 1989. The awards are presented annually to caseworkers in the first year of their law studies to recognize excellence in file management, commitment to the objectives of QLA and sheer hard work. In acknowledging the contributions of Mr. McDougall and Mr. Watson, the awards also recognize and celebrate the spirit of cooperation that exists between lawyers and caseworkers at QLA, a spirit that is fundamental to the work and health of the organization.

Dan Soberman Awards:

These awards were established in 1994 to honour Professor Dan Soberman, the second Dean of Queen's Faculty of Law. While he was Dean, Professor Soberman made a successful application to the Law Society of Upper Canada to create QLA as a volunteer student organization, and thereafter offered strong support to the clinic. The awards are presented annually to caseworkers in the second year of their law studies who demonstrate excellent file work and generously give their time to assist other caseworkers.

Robinson-Ryan Award:

This award was established in 1975 to honour Professors Stuart Ryan and Lyman Robinson, both of whom contributed greatly to QLA through their time, energy and interest. The award is presented each year to graduating students who, through continued interest and participation during law school, have most significantly contributed to the achievement and development of the goals of the clinic.

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