Michelle Cader March 31, 2015 Helping library users find good legal information: A webinar for library staff across Ontario

Outline: About CLEO Your role in providing legal information CLEO’s legal information Sources of legal information found through CLEO’s Your Legal Rights The process of finding legal information Case Scenarios

3 community legal clinic expertise in producing legal information in print, online, in multiple languages, free over 70 legal resources 8 main subject areas legally accurate clear language and design focus on needs of low-income and marginalized communities About CLEO

Areas of Law * Abuse & family violence* Health & Disability * Consumer protection* Housing * Employment * Immigration & refugee * Family* Social assistance

Why you have a key role in providing legal information Libraries are seen as safe places to go in the community for accurate information You are viewed as a helpful, trustworthy, knowledgeable person Library users feel safe to share their problems with you

You can help by: Breaking down information barriers Empowering people with knowledge Preventing referral fatigue Informing people of some options for next steps

CLEO’s legal Information

Homepage

Legal topics

Other ways to search

Keyword search

CLEO’s catalogue

Stay current

Order online

Keep in touch

CLEO’s additional legal information websites

Youth Criminal Law website

youth.cleo.on.ca

Refugee rights website

refugee.cleo.on.ca

Your refugee hearing website

refugeehearing.cleo.on.ca

Your Legal Rights website

What is Your Legal Rights? website of legal information for people in Ontario How is it different from CLEO? info produced by many different organizations (including CLEO) 4 additional areas of law (Education, Environmental, Human Rights, Wills and Estates) more languages additional features (services map, news, common Qs, webinars)

Homepage

Sub-topics

Resources

Common Questions

News & Events

Services

Homepage – Browse by language

The process of finding legal information

Steps: 1. Start by going to yourlegalrights.on.ca 2. Choose relevant legal topic and sub-topic or use keyword search if topic unknown. 3. Check “Common Questions” section to see if your question is there. 4. If Common Questions doesn’t have your question, browse resources (titles, descriptions)

(continued) 5. Find relevant resource(s) and read sections that apply. 6. If no resources found on yourlegalrights site, do broader internet research. (See note below). 7. After finding information, explain it to client. Note: When you find legal information on the internet, always check reliability of the sites you are using. (*I will send handouts with other reliable legal information sites and some tips about checking website reliability.)

Case Scenarios: Let’s find legal information together

Scenario #1: My ex-partner has not paid child support in several months. I’ve been paying all of the bills and it has been very stressful for me. I don’t think my ex-partner should get to see the kids unless child support is paid. Can I deny access? Let’s find legal information together by following the process. Start by going to yourlegalrights.on.ca

Homepage

Legal Topic

Specific topic

Scroll through to find relevant resource

Scenario # 2: My husband is sponsoring me to stay in Canada. But now he has become abusive and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to stay with him but if I leave, I’m afraid I’ll be sent back to my country. Let’s find legal information together. Start by going to yourlegalrights.on.ca

Scenario # 3: I want to move out of my apartment. My landlord is charging too much and she never does any of the repairs.

Scenario # 4: I work for my neighbour at his store. He keeps asking me to stay late but he’s not paying me overtime. He also said I need to work on Good Friday but he can’t pay me more than my regular wages. I don’t think this is fair but I’m not sure what to do.

Does it apply in my area? Is it up to date? Who produced it? Checking reliability of online legal information

Thank you for participating today! If you have any questions, please contact me at: Michelle Cader x 826