The information provided on this blog is to, the best of our knowledge, accurate and up-to-date as of the date of posting. However, please be aware that information can change rapidly and without notice. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented after the posting date. It is advised that readers exercise due diligence and independently verify the accuracy of information they find on this blog news feed. Here are links to the most current information available in relation to our Membership, Saskatchewan Case Law, and Saskatchewan Legislation.
The Law Foundation and PLEA Bring Legal Information to All
February 7, 2022From Law Foundation of Saskatchewan
Photo credit: Joel Janow, PLEA’s Executive Director
Most people hope they will never need a lawyer to deal with difficult legal issues, be they in a courtroom or to solve family matters in a lawyer’s office. Yet, time and time again, many find themselves in such a situation. In those circumstances, challenging questions arise: What does the law say in this matter? What are my rights? Are there resources available to me? What should I be aware of before navigating through my legal challenge?
Fortunately, there is a great source of free legal information available to all in Saskatchewan. The Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan (PLEA) was incorporated in 1980 as a non-profit, non-government organization to educate, inform and empower Saskatchewan residents through law-related education. From its very inception PLEA has received support from the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan (LFS). While not its only funder, LFS has provided the type of core financial support that has allowed PLEA to carry on and provide excellent legal information, as expressed by Joel Janow, its executive director, “If not for this core support, little would happen at PLEA, if it existed at all. It supports our cornerstone, core services and fuels our abilities.”
PLEA is not intended to act as a replacement for legal counsel, but it does provide reliable information for those trying to better understand various matters of law. And over the years, PLEA has grown to cover a comprehensive list of legal topics. From family law to consumer protection, from general courtroom information to financial matters such as estates, debt and credit, a wealth of information awaits the website visitors.
And PLEA hasn’t stopped there. In recent years, thanks to ongoing support from LFS and others, it has expanded its activities to develop additional online resources for specific audiences:
- Teachers and Schools
- Families facing divorce or other family-related issues
- Newcomers to Saskatchewan
A visit to these satellite websites will quickly demonstrate the depth, relevance and creativity of PLEA’s work. For example, the teachers’ portal offers dozens of teaching modules applicable to K-12 students. Extremely relevant to our day is the module about Albert Camus’ novel The Plague. While that plague was meant as an allegory of the rise of fascism in Europe, Camus also explores the role of the state and that of the citizen in a public health crisis. The story weaves through such topics as the functions of elected authorities and public officials, the impacts of restricted movement and more; what a creative way to draw today’s students into a study of government responses to the COVID pandemic!
For newcomers to Canada and our province, navigating legal matters comes with even more challenges. Laws and justice systems vary from nation to nation; hence it is easy to imagine how valuable PLEA’s resources for newcomers can be, especially considering a language barrier potentially complicating things further. In this satellite website, newcomers learn in easy-to-understand language how governments work, the components of our justice system, and are introduced to various laws that apply to family life, work, renting and driving.
And newcomers are not the only at-risk individuals receiving PLEA’s attention. Victims of family violence or workplace sexual harassment, as well as the visually impaired can also find legal information to help them face their own unique challenges.
Reaching a growing variety of Saskatchewan residents makes PLEA an outstanding resource; and it perfectly fits the Law Foundation’s mandate to advance the public interest through greater legal knowledge and improve access to justice for all. On the flip side of that coin, the long-lasting support by LFS further helps PLEA envision future developments that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. As Joel Janow concludes, thanks to LFS, PLEA can “continue providing the high-quality legal information and educational resources we have provided for over 40 years, and which the people of Saskatchewan have come to expect. More precisely, long-term goals for PLEA can include increasing our technological capacity, wider outreach for diverse or marginalized communities such as Indigenous and newcomer populations, and provision of further, practical resources on legal processes.”