Legal Information Workshop Topics
Workshop Fees
Three-Day Legal Information Training
Upcoming Legal Information Training

METRAC has been a leader in the development of legal information relating to the issue of violence against women. METRAC's Community Justice Program has become well-known and respected for its legal materials and trainings.

We are now offering this expertise to agencies and organizations across Ontario in the form of legal information workshops. Workshops are intended for frontline service providers who deal with women experiencing violence, whether or not that is the primary mandate of the organization. They are two hours in length and highly interactive. Workshops can be bundled together to meet the needs of your agency.

• Child Custody and Access: discusses what it is, the application process, and common issues related to custody and access
• Child Support: discusses what it is and how it is calculated, the application process, the payment process, and how it is enforced
• Child Protection: discusses the Children's Aid Society (CAS), the Child and Family Services Act, when CAS can get involved with a family, who reports child abuse, and common child protection issues
• Stalking and Other Criminal Offences: discusses what is stalking/criminal harassment, other criminal charges that can be laid, how the criminal law works and how well it works, being a witness, family court and safety issues, and risk assessment and the police
• No Contact Orders: discusses what they are, the application process, their effectiveness, and the difference between different kinds of no contact orders
• Sexual Assault: discusses what it is, legal options, the criminal law system, and other legal options
• General Family Law: discusses how property is divided in different relationships, issues of family law and same-sex relationships, and how a person can get support for themselves
• Working with a Lawyer: discusses when a lawyer is needed, how to find and pay for a lawyer, what to look for in a lawyer, client responsibilities, what to do if there is a problem with a lawyer
• Recordkeeping and Confidentiality: discusses what the legal terms mean, how private records really are, and women's privacy can be protected, recordkeeping tips, and how to handle a request or court application for records
• Family Law and Women with Disabilites/Deaf Women: discusses the particular challenges and barriers faced by women with disabilities and Deaf Women when accessing the legal system
• Immigrant/ Refugee/ Non-Status Women: discusses the particular challenges and barriers faced by immigrant, refugee, and non-status women experiencing violence and explores the barriers of immigration law (note: this focus can be added to any of the above workshops – please contact us for details)

For a two-hour workshop, the fee is $300. For a half-day combination, the fee is $500. For a full-day session, the fee is $900. Please note: for trainings and workshops outside Toronto, travel and accommodation (if necessary) are in addition to the standard fees.

Fees provide training tailored to the needs of your organization, training materials (one package per participant), workshop delivery, and access to follow-up assistance after the workshop(s). Fees do not include space or refreshments, which can be provided at cost if required.

METRAC hosts a three-day Legal Information Training Series on every fall. It is designed to support frontline workers whose women clients seek information and support in dealing with legal issues relating to their experiences of intimate violence. While such training does not replace access to legal representation, it supports workers in assisting women understand basic legal concepts, their rights and responsibilities, where they can turn for assistance, and some of the barriers and challenges that they can expect to encounter as they deal with the criminal and/or family legal systems. It also included a formal time for networking and strategy sharing among participants.

Participants are given extensive Legal Information materials developed by METRAC, which address legal issues from the perspective of women experiencing violence.

Attention is paid to the accessibility of the three-day training. It is held in a wheelchair accessible site, materials are printed in large-font format, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and other accommodations are provided upon request.

Please stay tuned to this site or contact the Community Justice Program Coordinator at justice@metrac.org or 416-392-3138 for information about and registration for upcoming Legal Information Trainings.