Articling Student, Innocence Project
About The Position
The UBC Innocence Project (the Project) at the Peter A. Allard School of Law engages the talents and enthusiasm of a selected group of law students to review claims of wrongful conviction in British Columbia. This work is completed free of charge but students receive course credit for their work. The goals of the Project are to: investigate claims of wrongful conviction; identify potential miscarriages of justice; assist in securing the release of individuals who have been wrongly convicted; educate law students about the causes of wrongful conviction; educate law students about the proper roles of professionals in the criminal justice system; and provide skills training for law students conducting post-conviction review work. The Project is recruiting an Articling Student for 2027-28.
Requirements
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Nice To Haves
- Superior research and writing skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Ability to communicate and relate to different cultures and their communities
- Ability to work independently, handling multiple, simultaneous tasks, prioritizing and meeting deadlines effectively
- Ability to work in a team environment and to take instructions
- Ability to use own initiative and make independent decisions
- Ability to draft routine correspondence
- Ability to organize workload, identify urgent work items, and set priorities
- Ability to cope with a heavy workload
- Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality
- Ability to deal with distressed, demanding and/or hostile clients
- Ability to work effectively with people from a wide range of demographics including prisoners, those with low incomes, physical/emotional disabilities, limited literacy, or otherwise disadvantaged
- Ability to exercise empathy and to assist disadvantaged clients, including those with mental disabilities, those with low income, or those whose first language is not English
- Ability to exercise a high level of professionalism
Responsibilities
- Explain the function of the Project to people who contact the clinic by telephone or walk in
- Draft legal memoranda to support the casework
- Interview potential clients by phone or in person
- Review client application forms with the Director to assist in determining whether the Project can offer assistance and the scope of work that will be involved
- Research, review, and organize client information, disclosure documents and other file information
- Draft correspondence to Project applicants, experts and lawyers working on the file
- Compile legal research on Project files by researching appropriate case law and legislation
- Prepare draft submissions and research memoranda on cases and issues relating to wrongful conviction
- Review disclosure from police and crown when provided
- Prepare legal documents including, but not limited to affidavits and 696.1 Applications under the Criminal Code
- Prepare documents for court including, but not limited to, written submissions, trial books, books of authorities, and books of evidence
- Prepare and deliver correspondence on client matters
- Provide legal services for clients on all matters related to their post-conviction review application under the direct supervision of the Project’s director and supervising lawyers
Benefits
- course credit
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
