{"id":183,"date":"2013-03-18T20:37:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-18T20:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/aidslaw\/?page_id=183"},"modified":"2022-10-28T16:14:28","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T20:14:28","slug":"join-the-lawyers-referral-database","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/get-involved\/join-the-lawyers-referral-database\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Join the Lawyers’ Referral Database"},"content":{"rendered":"

National Lawyers\u2019 Referral Database<\/h2>\n

Overview<\/h3>\n

\u201cI want a lawyer who understands the complexity of the challenges I face. When there\u2019s so much ignorance about HIV out there, and so many prejudices about people like me, it helps to have someone who \u2018gets it\u2019 when I need to deal with legal issues on top of everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Member, AIDS Committee of Toronto\u2019s Positive Youth Outreach<\/p>\n

Each year, the HIV Legal Network receives hundreds of inquiries from people living with HIV or AIDS (PHAs) and from front-line workers in community agencies about a range of legal issues.\u00a0 Often, people need not only basic information but also legal advice or services specific to their particular situation.<\/p>\n

The Legal Network does community legal education and provides information when we can, but we are unable to provide direct legal services to individual clients. In response to the need for these services, the Legal Network is building a\u00a0national referral list of lawyers<\/strong>\u00a0who are able and willing to handle HIV-related cases.\u00a0 This will help AIDS service organizations and people living with HIV\/AIDS find the right lawyers in their communities when they need help.<\/p>\n

How it works<\/h3>\n

The database connects lawyers with potential clients; in some cases, it also connects lawyers with other experts in the field who can assist in handling a client\u2019s case. We use this list when we receive a call from an individual or organization seeking legal advice or services that we can\u2019t provide.<\/p>\n

Our policy analysts determine the nature of the legal inquiry and the type of lawyer needed, then provide the contact information for the lawyer(s) from the appropriate area(s) of practice who have signed up for the referral list. It\u2019s up to the lawyer and the client to make arrangements about the services needed and any fees involved. We can often also assist lawyers providing these services by equipping them with additional information and resources about HIV and specific legal issues related to HIV.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a lawyer in Canada<\/b> who is supportive of people living with HIV and would like to be of assistance, including sometimes providing help pro bono <\/i>or for reduced fees, please register here to be included in the National Lawyers\u2019 Referral Database:<\/p>\n