University of Manitoba teams up with Legal Aid Manitoba to expand legal services offerings

The University of Manitoba Faculty of Law and Legal Aid Manitoba have signed an agreement to expand legal services currently offered within the U of M Community Law Centre.

“The continued and expanded relationship between LAM and the Faculty of Law will continue to give law students a clinical learning opportunity, connect with supervising lawyers, and provide the broader community with legal services that are held to the standards of the Law Society of Manitoba’s Code of Professional Conduct,” the faculty of law said.

In particular, the agreement will expand legal services provided by law students in the criminal justice system. They can now assist clients with their appeals before the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench and the Manitoba Court of Appeal.

“Up until this time, students from the UMCLC have been handling mainly criminal and a small number of civil and administrative law cases each year,” said Michael Walker, LAM supervising attorney.

Walker added that the agreement would authorize law students to provide family and prison law legal services.

With this, they can help clients deal with uncontested divorce hearings, cohabitation agreements, and custody arrangements, represent prisoners in institutional discipline hearings, and file applications under the Correctional Services Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and other related statutes and regulations.

The agreement will also allow law students to assist Indigenous clients seeking record suspension or applying for Indian status.

“The expansion is a step in increasing access to justice for all Manitobans,” said David Ireland, an assistant professor in the faculty of law. “By expanding our civil, administrative, and family law capabilities, the students, in conjunction with LAM, will provide more services to more people than ever before.”