Canada Without Poverty is pleased to announce that we have received funding for one 2020-21 articling student through the Law Foundation of Ontario Public Interest Articling Fellowship program.
Position details:
Canada Without Poverty (CWP) is a federally incorporated, non-partisan, not-for-profit and charitable organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty in Canada, which we believe is a human rights obligation. Since 1971, CWP (previously named the National Anti-Poverty Organization – NAPO) has been governed by a board of directors with a lived experience of poverty. CWP is committed to ending poverty, homelessness, and economic hardship by addressing systemic and structural causes of inequality through:
- Working at the international level with the United Nations;
- Bringing poverty and human rights into the legal justice system;
- Meeting with policymakers and presenting on Parliament Hill before various committees;
- Providing human rights education;
- Creating publications and reports to civil society and national and sub-national levels of government on poverty and human rights; and
- Educating people in Canada on poverty and human rights through seminars, presentations, and workshops.
CWP’s staff consists of an Executive Director, Policy Director and Human Rights Lawyer, Development and Outreach Coordinator, and 2019-20 Articling Student. CWP also relies on the assistance of volunteers and students to support our work throughout the year.
The 2020-21 student will be supervised by the Policy Director and Human Rights Lawyer.
Relevant areas of law include international human rights law, women’s human rights, constitutional law.
Description of Responsibilities
CWP engages in test case litigation that benefits and supports people living in poverty and experiencing homelessness in Canada. For example, CWP engages in litigation on issues pertaining to the criminalization of poverty, such as challenging anti-camping and panhandling bylaws and other laws by subnational governments that restrict life-sustaining activities for people who are street-involved. The type and number of cases will depend on timing.
There may also be work connected with CWP’s appearances before Parliamentary Committees and possibly submissions to UN level human rights bodies. The student’s work will include assisting CWP in seeking test cases, performing legal research and drafting, determining litigation techniques, and conducting legal education and outreach. The student may also have opportunities to work with practicing lawyers carrying out pro bono legal work for CWP. There will also be close collaboration with other nongovernmental organizations.
Skills Required:
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and feminism
- A strong understanding of poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity in Canada
- Keen knowledge of the intersection of poverty and international human rights, including some background on various United Nations bodies and mechanisms
- Strong legal research and writing skills
- Capacity to work under tight timelines as both part of a collaborative team and in a self-directed manner, particularly within a team that is frequently remote
- Flexibility in adapting to a wide variety of tasks and functions
- Prior work experience, or extensive volunteer experience, in the non-profit sector is considered an asset
- A positive outlook, sense of humour
Salary/benefits:
$51,000 and reimbursement of licensing fees.
Position is in Ottawa. Some travel may be required.
Application requirements:
- Resume
- Cover letter describing your interest and experience, and featuring answers to the following questions:
- How would you describe the intersection between poverty and international human rights law?
- Why does social justice work interest you?
- Undergraduate transcripts (sealed envelopes are not required)
- Graduate school transcripts (if applicable and sealed envelopes are not required)
- Law transcripts (sealed envelopes are not required)
- 3 Letters of reference (two academic and one professional or volunteer)
- Writing sample from law school that is no longer than 10 pages (excerpts from longer papers may be sent but sending writing samples longer than 10 pages will negate the application)
Please email your application to [email protected] or send a hard copy application by mail/courier service to:
Canada Without Poverty
Articling Program
251 Bank Street, 5th floor,
Ottawa ON K2P 1X3
Email applications must be sent in one pdf document and not as multiple attachments.
No fax.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews which will take place sometime in October. Short-listed candidates will have the option to conduct their interview over Skype or WebEx, as we acknowledge that travelling to Ottawa for an interview may be costly.
Applications must be received by 5:00 pm EDT on Friday, September 20, 2019.
Due to a high volume of applicants, we will not respond to calls or emails requesting confirmation of receipt. Please ensure you get a tracking number if you decide to send by mail.
This position has been made available through the Law Foundation of Ontario Public Interest Articling Fellowship program.
Canada Without Poverty is committed to employment equity, and actively seeks diversity in the workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified applicants including people with lived experience of poverty, women, members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities.
Accommodations are available to job applicants with disabilities upon request.
