National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts

 

BRITISH COLUMBIA

 

Artists Legal Outreach (ALO)

Established in 2005, the ALO is operated by the Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society (PLEO) and provides information, education and advice to artists and arts organizations in British Columbia.

ALO serves primarily individual artists.

Area of Focus
Copyright/ IP, contracts, incorporation, governance, defamation

Legal Services

• Bi-monthly legal clinic with a maximum of 12 clients/month; approximately 30 minutes per appointment.
• Art Law Happy Hour zoom legal information clinics for artists
• Legal Lunch and Learn webinars every Wednesday for nonprofit organizations
• Database of online resources: legal information organized by types of legal issues and types of creators
• Educational sessions; for which ALO partners with various organizations; including a podcast series “Yours, Mine & Ours”

Adapting to shifting needs of service delivery, the PLEO has recently held weekly online legal information clinics that have reached more than 600 organizations and individual artists – indicating significant untapped demand. This initiative will be continued in order to support artists during the impact of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future.

Website: http://artistslegaloutreach.com/

 

Pacific Legal Education & Outreach Society (PLEO)

The PLEO has been providing legal services to the non-profit and arts sector since 2005. Operating under the name “Artists’ Legal Outreach” (ALO), PLEO’s first project was the launch of a pilot legal clinic for artists originally run by law student Jamie Mellott and lawyer Martha Rans. The clinic still operates today. Based on positive reception of this service and popular demand, in 2010, the ALO changed its name to PLEO to reflect its extensive involvement with other non-profit societies. PLEO delivers its mission through its Law for Artists and and Law For Non-Profits initiatives, each providing educational programming, information, resources and advice.

The PLEO strives to empower artists and non-profits in Canada to access justice efficiently, effectively and equitably. PLEO works to shift the paradigm in how non-profits and artists experience the law, and to identify and fill gaps in legal services and supports for racialized, indigenous, and historically marginalized communities across Canada.

Today PLEO accomplishes this mission through virtual and in-person legal clinics, online events and webinars, and the creation and dissemination of accessible tools, education, and information needed to prevent a legal issue before it happens.

Law for Non-Profits

Legal resources available to non-profits tend to be piecemeal and rarely proactive or strategic, and most organizations are unable to access legal support in an effective way without concern about cost. LFNP was founded to address these challenges and enable British Columbia’s non-profit sector to access better legal information, education and advice. Law for Non-Profits resources include our Legal Self Assessment Tool, Ask a Law Student, and Legal Lunch & Learn Webinar Series.

Artists Legal Outreach

Artists’ Legal Outreach (ALO) works to support low income artists and arts organizations by offering resources, clinics, and workshops. Artists’ Legal Outreach resources include our ALO Clinic, National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts project, and Art Law Talks Webinar Series.

Website: https://www.pacificlegaloutreach.com/

 

MANITOBA

 

L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic

The L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic provides free legal assistance to entrepreneurs, small businesses, start-ups, innovators and family businesses, non-profits, charities, artists, art, culture, and community organizations who do not have a lawyer and cannot afford legal assistance.

This Clinic is proudly part of the National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts and is committed to helping grow the thriving Manitoba art community.

Website: https://business-law-clinic.sites.umanitoba.ca/

 

NOVA SCOTIA

 

Artists’ Legal Information Society (ALIS)

Established in 2010 by a group of Dalhousie Law students, the ALIS is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but provides its services throughout Atlantic Canada. The organization’s principal mandate is to provide artists and arts organizations with access to information on their legal rights and responsibilities. The ALIS is run by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of lawyers and law students. Originally received funding from the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia, the ALIS has in the last years depended on volunteers.

The ALIS serves artists and arts organizations.

Legal Services

• Provides referral service to volunteering (often junior) lawyers in the area for 30 to 60 mins of free advice. Should an artist require further legal assistance, the volunteer lawyer can choose to represent the artist outside of ALIS
• Information sessions and events for arts organizations, such as workshops, talks, speaker presentations and conferences
• Publications (Guides): The legal publications piece of the service is fulfilled by law students who provide case studies in an easy to read format, thus easily accessible to the public as well as an online legal information database

Website: http://www.nsalis.com

 

ONTARIO

 

Artists Legal Advice Services (ALAS)

Established in 1985, the ALAS is operated by Artists and Lawyers for the Advancement of Creativity (ALAC). The organization is based in Toronto and is run entirely by volunteer lawyers, artists and law students. The ALAS clinic is currently administered by a team of volunteer law students from the University of Toronto. ALAS’s pro bono clinic serves annually approximately 300-400 creators in Ontario and receives 10-15 inquiries per week.

ALAS serves primarily individual artists but also supports individuals inquiring on behalf of organizations whose interests are consistent with individual creators.

Area of Focus
Copyright/ IP, contracts, trademarks, royalties or other payments, defamation.

Legal Services Offered:

• Legal clinic legal clinics (by appointment): Offered twice a week for a maximum of 6 clients per week
• Database of online resources: legal information organized by types of legal issues and types of creators
• Educational sessions; for which ALAS partners with various organizations

Adapting to shifting needs of service delivery, the ALAS is currently running a pilot program to provide online appointments during the COVID pandemic.

Website: https://www.alasontario.ca/

 

Artists’ Legal Services Ottawa (ALSO)

Established in 2012, ALSO is dedicated to sharing legal information with artists living in the Capital region.

ALSO serves primarily individual artists.

Area of Focus
Contracts, trademarks, privacy (photography), image rights, social media, crowdfunding, taxes, wills and estates

Legal Services

• Referral service; refers clients to competent lawyers in the area for 30 minutes of free advice based on an email stating question as well as all available facts
• Primarily provides information/education through events (panel discussions, conferences): Hosts annual conference When Art Meets Law—attended by visual artists
• Online resource collection

Website: http://www.artslawottawa.ca/

 

Visual Artists Legal Clinic Ontario (VALCO)

CARFAC Ontario and Torys LLP have been collaborating since 2011 to provide summary advice to visual artists. VALCO currently reports approximately 4-5 new clients per month.

VALCO serves members of CARFAC Ontario only.

Focus
Copyright, contracts, labour law, disputes, commercial leases (e.g., studio or gallery spaces), tenants’ rights, and business incorporation

Service delivery
Legal advice: Approximately 60 minutes of free summary legal advice

Website: https://www.carfacontario.ca

 

QUEBEC

 

La Clinique Juridique des Artistes de Montréal (CJAM)

CJAM was established in 2008 by a group of McGill law students to provide free legal information in both English and French for artists living in Montreal.

The website indicates that they serve primarily designers, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, and visual artists.

Website: http://cjam.info/en/

 

CreatiUM — Intellectual property legal clinic

Under the supervision of experienced lawyers, Legal Clinic students offer free legal information services in Intellectual Property for Québec entrepreneurs, businesses, inventors, and creators. Beyond its educational mission, the Clinic’s objective is to facilitate access to justice and raise awareness about the importance of protecting and valuing innovations and creations of individuals.

Consultations may cover a range of topics, such as:

• Copyright
• Trademarks
• Patents
• Industrial Designs
• Trade Secrets

Do not hesitate to contact for free consultation services, offered remotely and by appointment.

Website: https://droit.umontreal.ca/en/programs/legal-clinic/intellectual-property/