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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Journey to Housing Stability for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) launched their report, The Journey to Housing Stability for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence, which explores survivors’ journeys navigating the housing legal system in Ontario, identifies key barriers they face along their journey, and calls for urgently needed specialized services and policy changes to increase their access to justice and housing stability.
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Virtual Fair – Community justice work on the ground
Panelists from community-based organizations in Newfoundland, Ontario, and Nunavut will share their experiences in helping community members who come to them for support, including support with problems that may involve the law. The conversation will give the panelists a chance to talk about their work and is likely to touch on challenges in doing the work,
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Virtual Fair – Reflections on engaging with the digital divide
Legal information and support provided solely through online communication reach only those with online access, digital literacy skills, and opportunities to use technologies to get what they need. Many – including those who are most vulnerable – are left out. The speaker, Matthias Sturm, will talk about research on how the digital divide affects people on the “other side” of the divide,
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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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Working in Politics: Combatting Sexual Harassment with Legislatures
Legislatures are unique places of work. Elected officials, political staff, and nonpartisan employees work in precarious conditions with distinctive power dynamics. Like any workplace, workers regularly interact with one another, which means that sexual harassment can involve interactions between and within these different groups.
With funding from Justice Canada, Equal Voice conducted a three-year project to better understand and combat sexual harassment in our legislatures.
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.