Miscellaneous Projects
Partner Organization: Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society (CVIMS)
Description: CVIMS needs volunteers to research key areas ofCanadian and B.C. law relevant to newcomers, including consumer protection, family reunification, employment rights and discrimination, and interactions with police. Students will translate their research into clear, culturally sensitive, and visually engaging resources such as infographics, pamphlets, fact sheets, or presentations to help newcomers understand their rights, responsibilities, and available options.
Volunteer: Students who are bilingual, have lived experience or a background working with newcomers or refugees are preferred, but this is not required.
Partner Organization: Worker Solidarity Network
Description: Worker Solidarity Network needs volunteers to support workers by conducting research on employment and human rights issues, assisting with worker inquiries, and developing accessible legal information resources. Students will attend weekly advocacy meetings, assist with drafting and reviewing materials for workers pursuing complaints, and provide general information and referrals under lawyer supervision.
Volunteer: Prior experience with Employment Standards Complaints is an asset. An interest in labour and employment law is preferred.
Partner Organization: Saanich Volunteer Services Society (SVSS)
Description: SVSS needs students to research B.C. laws and policies surrounding Power of Attorney, Representation Agreements, and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) processes. Students will review relevant legislation and case law, and then create a plain-language resource for clients and present their findings to an SVSS group.
Volunteer: Strong legal research and writing skills are preferred. An interest in wills/estates, elder law, and access to justice are an asset.
Partner Organization: Amici Curiae (AC) Friends of Court
Description: This project involves students assisting British Columbians to complete their legal forms virtually, by phone, or in person. AC hosts different legal forms workshops that invite members of the community to receive legal assistance. Volunteers work in teams of two during these workshops, as Team Leader and Team Assistant. Tasks may include completing AC’s Client Session Records, taking notes for the client, looking up the correct form, researching authorities, calling the supervising lawyer to attend, and in many cases listening to clients while the Team Leader is drafting a form. Virtual clinics will take place weekly.
Volunteer: Students who are interested in litigation or civil procedure may find the placement to be a good fit. Fluency in another language is considered an asset. Training will be booked later.
Partner Organization: Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP (OKT)
Description: Students will conduct comparative legal research on how UNDRIP and Indigenous rights are interpreted and applied by international organizations and courts across different jurisdictions. They will review relevant legislation and case law to identify similarities and differences in approaches to Indigenous rights protection. The research will support future advocacy and legal research on UNDRIP.
Volunteer: A strong interest in international human rights and Indigenous law is preferred. Strong legal research and writing skills and the ability to work with legal sources from multiple jurisdictions is an asset.
Partner Organization: Justice Education Society
Description: Students will deliver legal education sessions to elementary and high school students, as well as adult learners and newcomers to Canada. Volunteers will pilot and improve lesson plans, deliver sessions in classrooms and online, and may also draft plain-language legal information articles for JESwebsites.
Volunteer: Strong communication and presentation skills, an interest in public legal education, and comfort working with youth are preferred. Experience in education, community engagement, or legal writing is an asset.
Partner Organization: BC Law Insitute
Description: This project involves students assisting the British Columbia Law Institute (BCLI) with preliminary legal and policy research relating to housing, land, and property law reform. Volunteers may research areas such as manufactured home communities, community land trusts, land registration systems, and emerging approaches to land ownership and property interests. Tasks may include reviewing legislation, case law, legal scholarship, policy reports, and public legal information; identifying key legal issues; preparing short research memoranda; and identifying relevant organizations, experts, and stakeholders.
Volunteer: Interest or experience in administrative law, human rights law, equality rights, or health law is an asset.
Partner Organization: Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition (VIHRC)
Description: The Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition needs volunteers to develop a practical, client-focused guide for individuals navigating workplace human rights complaints. Students will research human rights legislation, B.C. Human Rights Tribunal policies, and case law, and translate their findings into plain-language information on discrimination, the complaint process, evidence, timelines, remedies, and common barriers faced by complainants under lawyer supervision.
Volunteer: Preference will be given to students with an interest in human rights law, employment law, and access to justice.
Criminal Law
Partner Organization: Miscarriage of Justice Canada
Description: Miscarriage of Justice Canada needs volunteers to support the review of potential wrongful conviction cases and applications for exoneration. Students will assist with client and family interviews, preliminary case assessments, legal research and evidence review, and drafting materials for applications to the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission, with opportunities to contribute to community outreach and public legal education under lawyer supervision.
Volunteer: Strong legal research, interviewing, evidence-analysis, and writing skills are an asset.
Partner Organization: qathet Community Justice
Description: qathet Community Justice needs volunteers to research how municipal, provincial, and federal policies shape restorative justice practices within the RCMP, with a focus on how E-Division commitments are implemented in practice. Students will examine relevant legislation, policing standards, internal policies, strategic plans, and public statements to assess the legal authority and obligations surrounding restorative justice. Their findings will be synthesized into a legal research memo.
Volunteer: A background working with or studyingrestorative justice principles is an asset.
Partner Organization: The Bridge Youth and Family Services
Description: Students will research Canadian laws and policies relating to human trafficking, including exploitation, consent, and the rights and protections available to victims and survivors. Students will review legislation, case law, and support resources, and develop a plain-language brochure addressing trafficking, consent, legal rights, and available supports.
Volunteer: Interest or experience in criminal law, human rights law, or issues affecting vulnerable populations is an asset. Strong legal research and plain-language communication skills are preferred.
Partner Organization: Victoria Sexual Assualt Centre
Description: Victoria Sexual Assault Centre needs volunteers to develop a survivor-centred, plain-language resource explaining the B.C. criminal justice process for people affected by sexual assault. Students will conduct legal research on reporting, court proceedings, protection orders, peace bonds, publication bans, and privacy, and use their findings to create an accessible online resource for survivors and service providers under lawyer supervision.
Volunteer: A background working with or studying restorative justice principles is an asset.
Residental Tenancy Law
Partner Organization: Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS)
Description: TAPS needs volunteers to research B.C. legislation, regulations, and the Residential Tenancy Branch dispute resolution process relating to eviction notices for non-payment of rent. Students will use their research to develop a plain-language, visually accessible resource explaining the dispute resolution process, key deadlines, hearing procedures, and the potential benefits and drawbacks of disputing an eviction notice. Students will also create a template to help tenants organize and present relevant information about their circumstances during a hearing. The final resources will be designed for both online and print distribution.
Volunteer: A background in social services and poverty work is preferred. Student must commit to in-person shift weekly.
Environmental Law
Partner Organization: UVIC Environmental Law Club
Description: Student volunteers research climate change litigation and create case summaries for use on the climate change litigation website/database. Their work will involve drafting plain language summaries and defining key legal terminology found in the cases. Students may also assist with the development of the website and can provide input on how the material can best be presented.
Volunteer: Legal research experience, proficiency in a second language and comfort with web design are all considered assets.
Partner Organization: Pacific Wild
Description: This project aims to support legal and
policy reform related to forestry practices, wildlife protection, and sustainable land management in British Columbia (B.C.). In particular, the project will explore the intersection of forest policy, habitat conservation, and wildlife law. Students will conduct legal and policy research on the broader regulatory framework of the Wildlife Act, forestry legislation, relevant case law, and provincial transparency obligations.
Volunteer: Environment law and/or experience with the environmental industry is considered an asset.
Partner Organization: West Coast Environmental Law
Description: West Coast Environmental Law needs volunteers to support its Access to Justice program, helping individuals, community groups, and First Nations across BC navigate environmental legal issues. Students will assist with client intake under lawyer supervision, conduct legal research, and develop accessible legal resource sheets on environmental law and justice. Students will not provide legal advice; case-specific questions will be referred to the supervising lawyer.
Volunteer: Preference will be given to students with an interest in environmental law, Indigenous and Canadian legal relations, and access to justice. Strong communication, client-interaction, and legal research skills are an asset. Experience working with community organizations, First Nations, or environmental issues is an asset, as is a demonstrated commitment to environmental justice and public legal education.
Human Rights Law
Partner Organization: Greater Victoria Public Library
Description: Student volunteers will support trans and gender non-conforming clients through the legal name and gender change process with regularly scheduled clinics.
Volunteer: Preference will be given to LGBTQ2S+ students, particularly trans students. Experience with social work or professional interaction with BC Vital Statistics is an asset. A demonstrated commitment to allyship with trans communities is an asset. Project is fully in-person.
Partner Organization: Office of the Senior’s Advocate
Description: Students will research the legal framework governing Driver’s Medical Examination Reports (DMERs) for older drivers in British Columbia, including age-based requirements, human rights considerations, and access and cost barriers. Students will also compare approaches in other jurisdictions and develop a plain-language handout and summary of their findings for the Office of the Seniors Advocate.
Volunteer: Interest or experience in administrative law, human rights law, equality rights, or health law is an asset. Strong legal research and plain-language writing skills are preferred.
Partner Organization: TBD
Description: The Greater Victoria Public Library needs volunteers to support Trans ID Clinics, helping transgender community members navigate the process of updating government-issued identification to reflect their correct names and gender markers. Students will work directly with clients to complete the necessary forms and facilitate the ID-update process under lawyer supervision, while also conducting legal research and developing accessible public legal education materials as needed.
Volunteer: Preference will be given to LGBTQ2S+ students, particularly trans students. Experience with social work or professional interaction with BC Vital Statistics is an asset. A demonstrated commitment to allyship with trans communities is an asset. Project is fully in-person.
