Calgary Legal Guidance Society

we serve these populations

  • aging population
  • homelessness
  • immigrant newcomers
  • indigenous communities
  • LGBTQ2S
  • women

we need help with:

  • domestic violence
  • education
  • employment
  • mental health
  • physical health

Requesting $45000

charity

Description of Need

Calgary Legal Guidance provides free legal assistance and advocacy to vulnerable Calgarians. Due to COVID-19, CLG has shifted services to telephone/virtual delivery. CLG is providing legal services to Calgarians impacted by COVID-19, including social benefits navigation, employment, and tenancy legislation, as well as advice and support for victims of domestic violence. CLG has cancelled three fundraising and promotional events due to COVID-19. Please make a donation. Every dollar helps ensure vulnerable Calgarians get the support they need during this difficult time

 

Our Story – Why We Exist

Calgary Legal Guidance is a non-profit organization that provides legal guidance and information to vulnerable Albertans, including those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence victims, have low-income, and those who do not have access to paid legal services.
 

Our Impact – What We Do

In 2020/2021, Calgary Legal Guidance received 14,742 calls to our intake team, providing 2,200 hours of free summary legal advice to clients. Our 182 volunteer lawyers offer 30 minute sessions on a variety of topics.

Forging ahead during the global pandemic, CLG remained open virtually and by phone to assist
clients, and conducted 39 public legal education sessions (in person and virtually) for more then 800
community members on topics such as divorce and separation, wills and estates, and fraud prevention.
 

Our Programs – How We Do It

CLG offers programs that fill the gaps in access to justice for the people of Alberta.  Our programs are tailored to specific areas of law, including:

  • Homeless Outreach Program
  • Domestic Violence/Family Law Program
  • Social Benefits Advocacy Program
  • Identification Clinics
  • Elder Law
  • Indigenous Services
  • Immigration Law

 

Our Requests – What You Can Do

Do you believe in access to justice for ALL people?  By donating to CLG, you are giving the gift of allowing a homeless person access to our ID Clinics (without identification, you cannot get a home, and without a home you cannot get a job, cannot vote, and cannot get access to basic services).

By donating, you are giving access to justice and empowerment to victims of domestic violence and their families, ensuring their legal safety and in turn, their emotional safety.

By donating you are delivering access to justice to the Indigenous community, who make up 42% of all inmates incarcerated.  CLG’s Indigenous Services – Sahwoo mohkaak tsi ma taas (“Before Being Judged”)  has recognized the barriers in the justice system for Indigenous peoples and is guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and Elders or Knowledge Keepers from surrounding communities.

Our Indigenous lawyer provides legal services in the following areas:

  • Aboriginal law issues such as membership, on-reserve housing, treaty, and day school
  • Small claims court
  • Employment law
  • Human rights law
  • Criminal law and tickets
  • Limitations, land claims and other legal questions

Sometimes we are able to give free legal representation to people who need lawyers. In other cases, we provide legal information and referrals. We hope to always provide our services in a culturally appropriate way that makes their legal problem easier to understand and deal with.
 

Are you a Calgary Foundation Fundholder?

Contact Info

Melissa McCarthy

4032181704

Email

More Info

Charity Number: #11882 3715 RR0001

Visit our Website

Financial Statements / Annual Reports

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