Written by Eric Epp The most commonly discussed barrier to access to justice in Canada is the unaffordability of the legal system. It is well documented that many Canadians will not contact a legal professional when faced with a legal problem and are thus unable to benefit from specific legal expertise.[1] The recently passed Bill 24 […]
The Legal Profession Amendment Act and Its Implications Read More »
Written by Eric Epp For self-representing litigants (SRL), the prospect of going to court alone can be extremely daunting. SRL are able to access various types of information that may assist them, such as obtaining legal information from community organizations or by receiving legal coaching through a lawyer who might offer unbundled services. In these
Support for Self-Representing Litigants in Canada: The McKenzie Friend Read More »
Written by Eric Epp The goal of legal aid in Canada is to ensure the interests of justice are served, protect the legal rights of those with limited income, and provide fair and equal justice.[1] Legal aid, however, far from captures all those who need representation and, when underfunded for family cases, the impacts are detrimental.
“The Impact of the Lack of Legal Aid in Family Law Cases” Read More »
Written by Erin Wilcott In early 2021, the Manitoba Law Foundation (MLF) released a literature review titled “Literature Review on Access to Justice for Family and Civil Matters”. It was prepared to provide a broad background on family and civil access to justice issues in Canada. It also created an inventory of surveys and access
Written by Eric Epp The University of Manitoba Community Law Centre (UMCLC) provides clinical learning opportunity for Robson Hall law students. The students primarily handle less complex criminal files and in some instances, provide assistance with civil and administrative law files.[1] For most of its near 50 year existence, the UMCLC was located in the
Relocation of the UofM Community Law Centre Promotes More Accessible Legal Service Read More »
Written by Noah Lesiuk Following the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) in Guerin v The Queen, precedent has solidified that limitation periods apply to Indigenous claims against the Crown.[1] In fact, the operation of such a doctrine in the Indigenous context is not only immortalized in the jurisprudence, but expressly conveyed through statutory authority.
Written by Eric Epp Access to justice can be used to describe not just financial barriers to the justice system, but also social and psychological barriers. For those who identify as transgender, a particularly pervasive barrier comes in the form of being misgendered in court. Since 2021, all levels of Manitoba courts have issued Practice
