If you are representing yourself in a family or civil case, consider sharing your experiences dealing with the legal system.

Julie Macfarlane, of the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, is conducting a research project that is collecting the personal stories of self represented litigants – how they came to represent themselves, what happened as they moved through the legal process, and how far their expectations of justice matched up to the results.

If you are representing yourself, this is a study that can allow you to be part of the collective voice driving this project. This project is the opportunity for you to share your experiences not only dealing with the logistical aspects of the legal system - such as navigating through forms, processes and procedures, translating the language of law, and dealing with justice system personnel – but also to share your personal story and emotional journey. This project sees you as a critical part of the legal system, and encourages you to let your voice be heard by policy makers, judges and justice system officers.

If you participate, your identity and private information will be kept confidential and an interview will be scheduled at your convenience. Personal interviews and focus groups will be held at the Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey or Nanaimo courthouse. Telephone interviews are also available. Interviews are conducted by Julie Macfarlane, and take between 30 minutes and 1 hour, depending on how long you want to talk for.

This project is funded by the Law Foundations of British Columbia and Alberta.

If you would like to participate and/or learn more about this project, you can  check out the project website or go to the Facebook page. 

You can also email Julie Macfarlane at: julie.macfarlane@uwindsor.ca or call toll free and leave a message at 1-888-775-8125.

Are you an advocate, paralegal or lawyer who uses the Consumer Law and Credit/Debt Law Manual? Are you interested in volunteering an hour of your time to help make sure this resource meets the needs of its intended audience (that’s you!)?

The Legal Services Society (LSS) is looking for volunteers to do “usability testing” on this important resource. Usability testing is a way to make sure that a product, in this case the manual, is working well and meets the needs of its audience. You’re not being tested – you’re helping to test the resource. (Makes sense?)

If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact LSS by emailing publications@lss.bc.ca.

The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities produces a range of self-help resources about provincial and federal disability programs. They have produced 2012 updates for their Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD) Benefits series which are now available on their website and through Clicklaw. The series includes these great resources:

• CPPD Benefits Application Guide
• CPPD Benefits Checklist
• CPPD Benefits Appeal Guide, Part 1: The Reconsideration Request
• CPPD Benefits Appeal Guide, Part 2: The Review Tribunal

 The 2012 updates reflect changes to policies and procedures that affect applications and appeals of CPP Disability programs. More information about these changes can be found on the BCCPD blog.

The proposal to expand “lawful access” is proving highly contentious in Canada. With the federal governments’ upcoming introduction of the “lawful access” bills – legislation that increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to lawfully conduct surveillance and intercept or collect individuals’ personal information – more and more people are debating where to draw the line between law enforcement and citizens’ rights to privacy.

Taking part in this debate is the BC Civil Liberties Association, whose latest report on this hot topic is now available on Clicklaw. In Moving Toward a Surveillance Society: Proposals to Expand “Lawful Access” in Canada, BCCLA argues that the “lawful access” proposals are an attack on personal privacy, and that there is a lack of real evidence to support the argument that they will ensure the security of Canadians.

Made possible by a research grant from the Law Foundation of British Columbia, this report explains each of the proposals and considers how the courts are likely to see the balance between enforcing the law and the rights of citizens.

For more information on individual privacy rights and access to information, get started with these great resources on Clicklaw.bc.ca.

You may recall that in 2010 West Coast LEAF  released Mapping the Gap, a report that provided a broad overview of the legal resources available to women in BC. The results of the surveys conducted during the preparation of that report indicated a significant gap in responses from Aboriginal organizations and centers. For West Coast LEAF, this gap highlighted a need to better engage with Aboriginal communities in order to learn what legal resources Aboriginal women are using and what needs remain unmet.

To this end, they initiated a new project in 2011 that specifically focused on community-based legal resources accessed by Aboriginal women and their advocates within the context of diminishing legal aid services.

Now available on Clicklaw, Mapping the Gap: Linking Aboriginal Women with Legal Resources and Services is a report that describes the results of their project and their findings that there are major gaps in service for Aboriginal women (including basic, face-to-face, legal support). The report also contains recommendations for the future.

More information about this project can be found on their website.

 Although 2012 is already in full swing, I’d like to think it’s never too late to commit to another resolution for the new year. And it’s possible that in the aftermath of this past holiday season, you may find yourself interested in learning a little about how you can become a more savvy consumer.

With this in mind, I can think of no better time to direct your attention to the Canadian Consumer Handbook from Industry Canada that is now on Clicklaw.

Also available in French, this convenient online resource is designed to help you become a better informed and more confident consumer of both goods and services. Read about everything from online shopping, gift cards, and purchasing a vehicle to managing personal debt, consumer privacy, and unfair business practices. Select topics you are interested in and make your own handbook that you can download on to your personal computer!

For more information on topics such as consumer rights, scams to avoid, and credit & loans, check out these excellent resources on Clicklaw. For information more specific to debt, start your search here.

Cheers to starting off the new year a more savvy and satisfied consumer!

The RCMP’s web resource Criminal Harassment: Stalking – It’s Not Love emphasizes the importance of understanding that stalking is a criminal offence. According to Statistics Canada, more than 1 in 10 women (15 years and older) have been victims of stalking in Canada. However, only little over one-third of those stalked have reported this to the police.

Both women and men can be victims of criminal harassment. If you are concerned that you – or someone you know – is being stalked, it is important to contact the police. Clicklaw also has excellent resources to help you understand how to recognize stalking, what your rights are, how to protect yourself, and where to go for further support and information.

A good place to start is with the Common Question,

I know someone who is being stalked and want to help her find information about protecting her safety

This Common Question also includes an introductory resource on peace bonds and restraining orders.

With 2012 just around the corner, many of us start to think about New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you’re thinking about contributing to your community by becoming a board member for a local charity or non-profit group. Or maybe you already sit on a volunteer board, but you want to learn more about your role and responsibilities.

Clicklaw can help! If you’re considering becoming a board member of a charity or non-profit group,  check out this video below called Welcome Aboard: The Role and Responsibilities of Board Members, produced by the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick.

Welcome Aboard from PLEIS NB on Vimeo.

This video provides an overview of the important role of a board of directors in a charity or non-profit organization. Julie is asked to consider joining the board of directors of the local animal shelter. Although she occasionally volunteers, she feels like she needs more information about the work of the board before she agrees to join. Julie turns to her father and others involved in charities and non-profit organizations to learn more about the commitment she would be making and the rewarding experiences that can come from being a board member.

There is also a Welcome Aboard handbook in pdf format that is a good companion piece for this video. This 36 page handbook provides worksheets that can help you decide if the board opportunity you’re exploring is the right fit for you. It also includes information for board members on your rights and duties, and worksheets that you can use to better understand your role in your organization.

The People’s Law School publishes a booklet called Volunteers and the Law: A Guide for Volunteers, Organizations and Boards. This booklet includes information on a wide range of topics, including a section on your responsibilities as a board member (see chapter 4).

Another really useful resource is the website Charity Central. Produced by the Legal Resource Centre in Alberta, Charity Central offers information in a modular format, so you can learn about the requirements of the Income Tax Act in the areas of receipting, fundraising, record keeping, and accountability and transparency practices. They also have checklists you can download, including Self-Diagnostic Packs that can help small to mid-sized charities to assess their current accountability and transparency practices.

Clicklaw has these and other resources that you can use to learn more about being a volunteer board member in your community. Have a look and use these to make your New Year’s resolution one you can keep!

Anne DeGrace is a librarian at Nelson Public Library, and writes a regular column for the local newspaper (as well as a number of popular novels).  As a result of a recent LawMatters training for public librarians, Anne heard about a new resource on Clicklaw that was a perfect fit for questions in her community concerning the Occupy movement and other protests:  Protesters’  Guide to the Law of Civil Disobedience in BC.  See her thoughtful November 11th column Know your rights and responsibilities.

As you may have heard, Jagrup Brar, MLA Surrey Fleetwood, will spend the first month of the new year living on welfare. Having accepted Raise the Rates Coalition’s MLA Welfare Challenge, Brar’s budget for Janurary 2012 will be $610 – the welfare rate set for a single person considered employable. According to Raise the Rates, the goal of the Challenge is to raise public awareness around welfare rates and poverty.

If you are applying for, or are living on welfare, it is important to know your rights and what to expect.

Clicklaw can help you get started by helping with these common questions:

I have to go on welfare. What do I need to know before I apply?

I’m going to the interview for welfare. What do I need to know?  

Also, if you live on a reserve, be sure to get started with:

How is welfare different on and off reserve?