Referring to Article 33 of Quebec’s Civil Code, the project aims to offer legal and psychosocial resources, focusing on the child’s best interests, to families experiencing a separation. The project’s objective is twofold: to improve access to family justice and to mitigate the impact of separation on the child’s life.

Gate 33 has three components:

1. A mobile legal clinic  

Volunteer lawyers are providing legal information in family law, on an individual basis, as well as useful information to understand how to accompany a child through a separation. These clinics were offered in various Family organizations in the Laurentians region in the fall 2018 and winter 2019 and more will be available in fall 2019. Information to come.

To make an appointment call: 514-904-1076 ext. 603

2.  Training for lawyers (in French)

On October 16, 2018, The Socio-Legal Partnership during a Separation: Ally in the Best Interests of the Child training course was held. This training was aiming at preparing the lawyers who will participate in the itinerant clinic. In return for six (6) hours of continuing education, the lawyers committed to offering three (3) hours of pro bono work in the mobile clinic.

On May 1, 2019, the Dynamics of Separation and Children’s Needs training was held to equip the lawyers and notaries participating in the clinic and offer them strategies to implement promising social-legal partnerships. The state of psychosocial research on the needs of children of separated parents and their families was discussed.

For more details (in French) 

For information: ebrien@justiceprobono.ca

3.  A website

Details to come

This project is made possible thanks to the financial contribution of the Law Foundation of Ontario and the support of our valuable partners: Regroupement des organismes communautaires Famille autonomes des Laurentides and the Laurentides-Lanaudière legal community center.