CALGARY LEGAL GUIDANCE SOCIETY

THE CALGARY LEGAL GUIDANCE SOCIETY (CLG) PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME CLIENTS THROUGH FREE COMMUNITY CLINICS THAT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE ON TOPICS SUCH AS CRIMINAL CIVIL LANDLORD/TENANT EMPLOYMENT FAMILY ELDER & IMMIGRATION LAW. OUR LEGAL SERVICES TEAM IN OUR FAMILY LAW HOMELESS OUTREACH IMMIGRATION LAW ELDER LAW SOCIAL BENEFITS ADVOCACY & SAHWOO MOHKAAK TSIMA TAAS (BLACKFOOT: BEFORE BEING JUDGED) PROGRAMS PROVIDES REPRESENTATION TO MODEST INCOME CLIENTS WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD LEGAL REPRESENTATION. THE FAMILY LAW PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVCIES FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE INCLUDING THE ACCESSING OF COURT ORDERED PROTECTION COURT PREPARATION FOR VICTIMS SAFETY PLANNING CUSTODY & SUPPORT ORDERS. THE HOMLESSOUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH POVERTY LAW ISSUES INCLUDING CRIMINAL CHARGES BYLAW INFRACTIONS LAND/TENANT MATTERS & CIVIL SUITS. THE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM ADDRESSES SHORTFALLS IN LEGAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY ARRIVED IN CANDA. THEELDER LAW PROGRAM ASSISTS IN ELDER ABUSE MATTERS AS WELL AS WILLS & PERSONAL DIRECTIVES. THE SOCIAL BENEFITS ADVOCACY PROGRAM HELPS CLIENTS OBTAIN BENEFITS SUCH AS ALBERTA INCOME FOR THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED CANADA PENSION PLAN OLD AGE SECURITY & SOCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THE LAW PROFESSION & THE LEGAL SYSTEM CLG EMPLOYS AN INDIGENOUS STUDENT-AT-LAW TO ASSIST INDIGENOUS CLIENTS IN THEIR MATTERS ACROSS ALL PROGRAM AREAS. CLG ALSO PROVIDES LEGAL INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH OUR PUBLIC LEGAL EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS AND OUR WEBSITE.

FOR FY23-24 CALGARY LEGAL GUIDANCE CONTINUED THE 3 NEW PROJECTS FROM FY22-23: 1)THE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM: THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WITH THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH LEGAL SYSTEMS. ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SEXUAL ASSAULT OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE SUPPORT AND REFERRALS. 2)THE CHILD WELFARE PRE-APPREHENSION PROGRAM: THE FIRST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND CLG'S CHILD WELFARE PRE-APPREHENSION PROGRAM PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH CHILDREN'S SERVICES PRIOR TO THEIR CHILD(REN) BEING APPREHENDED. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OR EVEN EXPECTING PARENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CHILDREN'S SERVICES BECOING INVOLVED WITH THEIR FAMILY. 3) THE AT HOME WITH LAW PROGRAM: CLG'S AT HOME WITH LAW PROJECT IS THE FIRST LEGAL PROGRAM IN ALBERTA FOCUSED ON BUILDING LASTING CAPACITY FOR TENANTS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND ASSIST OTHERS IN HOUSING. THE PROJECT PROVIDES HOLISTIC TENANCY EDUCATION TO DIVERSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A SERIES OF EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND INDIVIDUAL COACHING.