PLEAC Conference 2026 | Plenary – What we can learn from community justice worker programs in the US
Many US states have established “community justice worker” programs to support people with housing, social assistance, and other problems that disproportionately affect people living on low incomes. These programs, delivered by trained workers at community organizations and set up with the permission of legal regulators, are growing in number. Panellists will share their experiences with these programs: how they emerged,
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PLEAC Conference 2026 | Plenary – Strategies for connecting with rural and remote, and Indigenous communities
Organizations that provide public legal education face unique challenges in reaching and supporting rural and remote communities. Connecting with and supporting Indigenous communities in non-urban areas also brings its own set of challenges. Three panellists who serve these communities – two in Canada, one in the US – will discuss strategies for connecting with and building the legal knowledge and skills of community members.
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PLEAC Conference 2026 | Keynote Address and Plenary – The role of public legal educators in building an understanding of the Rule of Law
Keynote Address: At the outset of 2026, “rule of law” continues to receive intense and deserved attention. People across Canada hear, talk and ask questions about the rule of law and its importance in our free and democratic society and throughout the world. As foundation and framework, rule of law attracts concern and curiosity;
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Virtual Fair – Learning as we go: what makes for effective PLEI evaluation
What have we done? What have we learned? Join Lois Gander, a leader in the field of public legal education (PLEI) practice and evaluation, as she shares her experience and perspectives on the state of evaluation in Canada. How has the evaluation of PLEI evolved in the last few decades? What have we learned?
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Virtual Fair – Learning from initiatives in other jurisdictions
Tara Mulqueen, associate professor at the School of Law at the University of Warwick (UK), will share findings from her recent research. In that study, she co-produced research with trusted intermediaries on the experiences of marginalized groups in dealing with law-related issues, particularly during and in the aftermath of the pandemic.
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Tips for Translating Legal Information Clearly and Accurately
Providing legal information in a variety of languages can help organizations reach marginalized communities and increase access to justice but translating legal information clearly and accurately can be a challenge, even for those who have a lot of experience creating it. This webinar is intended for organizations that would like to offer legal information and education content in multiple languages.
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A Learning Journey: Successes and lessons from building a legal support service from the ground up
Join The Journey Project to learn how they built their Legal Support Service from its inception to current day. Hear about the development and evolution of the project’s unique partnership along with research and statistics that have been gathered along the way.
This webinar will help inform attendees of how to realistically approach building and growing a unique program like The Journey Project and what to expect along the way.
Looking beyond Canada: the role of community workers and other trusted helpers in the justice ecosystem
This session is the second plenary presentation for PLEAC’s 2023 annual conference and participates in Access to Justice Week.
Programs in the US, England, and across the globe are supporting “trusted intermediaries” – front-line workers assisting community members with law-related problems – in their essential role in the justice ecosystem. We will hear from leaders,
Roles and Responsibilities of Public Legal Educators in Reconciliation
This session is the first plenary presentation for PLEAC’s 2023 annual conference and participates in Access to Justice Week.
Kimberly Murray will share her perspectives on the role – and the responsibilities – of community organizations whose work involves educating the public about the law, legal rights and the justice system in Canada.
Using Multiple Perspective Legal Needs Surveys to Improve Access to Legal Information: Reflections on Results from the Saskatchewan Legal Needs Assessment
Diverse perspectives are needed to solve complex issues. Recognizing this, the Centre for Research, Evaluation, and Action Towards Equal Justice and the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies partnered on a multi-faceted project to better understand unmet legal needs in Saskatchewan with funding from the Law Society of Saskatchewan and Law Foundation of Saskatchewan.
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