The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, in partnership with Pro Bono Law Ontario, have created this Toolkit to help people better understand the lawyer-client relationship, and to address three common problem areas:

• Expectations
• Communications
• Decision-Making

When going through the Family Law process, it is important for clients to have a trusting, productive relationship with their lawyer.  This can present a challenge for anyone who has not worked with a lawyer before or who has had little to no formal contact with the justice system. 

It can be even more frightening for survivors of domestic abuse, who may be dealing with the stress of leaving an abusive relationship and uprooting their lives and/or the lives of their children.

Frequently, one of the greatest challenges to people is understanding how the lawyer-client relationship works:  What is a lawyer’s job?  What are your rights as a client?  What can you do to improve or effectively manage your relationship with your lawyer?

What is in the Toolkit?

1. Information pamphlets on Expectations, Communications, and Decision-Making. Available in English, French, Chinese, Farsi, Spanish, Tamil and Vietnamese.  Each pamphlet can be easily downloaded and printed on legal size paper (8.5 x 14). These pamphlets are in .pdf format and can be both read and printed by using Adobe Reader, a free download.

2. A 20-minute educational video highlighting some of the problems that clients face.  This video features interviews with women who have been through the process as well as tips from Family Law lawyers.

3. A workshop template that can be administered by legal advocates, education programmers, transitional support workers or other frontline staff assisting survivors of domestic abuse.

Who Can Use This Resource?

The Toolkit was designed with the input of survivors of domestic abuse, front-line workers and Family Law lawyers, and can be used by:

• Survivors of domestic abuse entering the Family Law process;
• Frontline workers, friends or anyone supporting an abused women who is going through this process;
• Family Law lawyers with clients who could benefit from the Toolkit

Want More Information?

For more information, please contact Victoria Nhan at 416-323-9149 ext 262 or v.nhan@schliferclinic.com.

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