Rights Clinic at Robson Hall

“The institution of rights is…crucial, because it represents the majority’s promise to the minorities that their dignity and equality will be respected.”

Ronald Dworkin, Taking Rights Seriously (London: Gerald Duckworth & Co, 1978) at 205.

The Rights Clinic was founded in July 2022 to expand the clinical offerings at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law and to advocate for the protection and advancement of rights. It has a specific focus on assisting Manitobans with rights-advancing issues and cases in the areas of environmental rights, Charter rights, Indigenous rights, disability rights, and privacy rights, amongst others.

The Rights Clinic is intended to play an important role in providing pro bono legal services to marginalized and under-served individuals, communities, groups, and organizations while also acting to increase public awareness about rights-related topics and concerns.

There are four main components to the Rights Clinic:

1. case-focused advocacy through tribunals and courts;
2. non-litigation advocacy, raising public awareness about vital rights issues;
3. rights-related academic research, in the form of a mini “think tank”; and
4. informational presentations and seminars so that members of the public can be better informed about their rights and the rights of others.

Vision

Working for Manitobans to advance rights through effective pro bono advocacy, community engagement, and experiential learning.

Mission

The Rights Clinic is based on four pillars to meet our vision: Research, Representation, Raising Awareness, and Advocacy.

Purpose

The Rights Clinic is committed to advancing rights through advocacy, pro bono legal support, and community engagement.

Motto

“To question is to discover”

An Introduction to the Charter, Charterpedia, The Ontario Justice Education Network, the Canadian Rights Commission, the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), and Tribunals.

Tribunals

a list of noteworthy tribunals in Manitoba including a brief description of their roles, links to relevant legislation, concise procedural requirements, and information about fees.

The Rights Clinic at Robson Hall gratefully acknowledges funding that has been provided by the Manitoba Law Foundation.

The Rights Clinic will soon be announcing its partner organizations. Should your organization be interested in learning more about potential partnership opportunities, please contact Prof. Brandon Trask via email at brandon.trask@umanitoba.ca.

Contacting us in no way creates a solicitor-client relationship. Unless we have explicitly confirmed in writing that we will take on your matter, we are not your lawyer. Additionally, unless we have agreed in writing to take on your matter, nothing discussed is protected by solicitor-client privilege.

At this point, please do not send messages about cases and please do not include any case-related and/or confidential information in any communications.

Contacting us in no way creates a solicitor-client relationship. Unless we have explicitly confirmed in writing that we will take on your matter, we are not your lawyer. Additionally, unless we have agreed in writing to take on your matter, nothing discussed is protected by solicitor-client privilege.

Nothing included on this website is intended to constitute legal advice. Links, comments, and other content included on this website are provided for informational purposes only.

Unless we have explicitly confirmed in writing that we will take on your matter, we are not your lawyer. Additionally, unless we have agreed in writing to take on your matter, nothing discussed is protected by solicitor-client privilege, so please do not send us any confidential information at this point.