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Ontario’s Fourth Annual Access to Justice Week Begins on Monday, October 28

Ontarians across the province require access to justice in different ways. Extraordinary developments in technology, access to legal information and the diverse society we live in all demand that we be open to changes in how communities engage with the justice system and exercise their rights.

While lawyers and paralegals play a critical role, they are not alone in facilitating access to justice. Professionals, academics, community workers, support staff and the public all play important roles in the system. Together, these justice stakeholders can create a more coordinated and collaborative approach to address challenges relating to access to justice.

From October 28-November 1, 2019, Ontario’s fourth annual Access to Justice Week (A2J Week) will highlight new initiatives, offer opportunities to connect with diverse collaborators and explore critical issues from different community-focused perspectives. Funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario with support from the Law Society of Ontario, A2J Week is an opportunity to engage in a week of panel discussions and workshops with experts who are leading the way in improving access to justice. Join the conversation by attending the programs below in-person or by live webcast. Certain sessions will contain Professionalism Content.

Indigenous Justice

This panel discussion will promote conversation and discourse about the justice journey of Indigenous people, highlighting an Indigenous perspective on the concept of innovation. Featuring legal advocates for First Nations, a Superior Court of Justice judge, a Cree lawyer and an academic, this panel will explore Indigenous justice from their various thought-provoking perspectives.

Justice Returns on Investments

The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice (CFCJ) will launch new research at this reception and networking event. In a keynote presentation, the CFCJ’s lead researchers will expand on their findings from around the world including Canada, looking at the positive returns on justice investments. The report and its impact are bound to inspire positive reforms.

Understanding and Supporting Litigants

What resources are available to professionals to assist them when interacting with self-represented litigants (SRLs)? This panel discussion aims to equip licensees, frontline officers and service providers with an understanding and tools to assist them when interacting with SRLs in court and beyond.

Data & Design Symposium

The Law Foundation of Ontario and the Law Society of Ontario are jointly hosting a symposium on data and design in the justice sector. The program will feature a panel discussion on building a better justice system through innovation and design, followed by a workshop exploring the current realities and opportunities surrounding data sharing across the justice sector.

PLE Conference

Community Legal Education Ontario, the Ontario Justice Education Network and the Law Society of Ontario are proud to present a day-long conference addressing public legal education and its role in access to justice. This event will explore current and emerging topics in public legal education and information (PLEI), including the role of community workers in helping clients with legal information, evaluating and measuring PLEI, providing real-time responses to the public, doing meaningful territorial acknowledgements and much more.

A2J Week will also see French language programs and workshops taking place across the province thanks to the support of partners including AJEFO and Ottawa University’s Programme pratique du droit (PPD).

Legal information pop-ups will also be held in local libraries across the province giving members of the public in Ontario an opportunity to connect and receive information from legal non-profit, government departments and community organizations.

For more information on Access to Justice Week or to register to participate visit:
https://theactiongroup.ca/access-to-justice-week/

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