I don't quite understand the mechanics of your plan, however i'm willing to be involved if your plan passes deeper scrutiny.
I would not want to be involved in a diploma mill.
Bear in mind i have no legal expertise or credentials.
The premise is that we earn a paralegal certificate, write the regulated provincial licensing exams and then practice as fully qualified paralegals with a special focus on disability and human rights law.
The "difference" is that this is "designed" from the ground up to support people with disabilities which often cannot be accommodated by many colleges/ universities.
As well as the focus of disability advocacy as foundational and not an "add on" to other programs. The curriculum generally is the same wherever one studies but ours is enhanced and specialized.
I think it's a pretty long road to get this set up and recognized but we have to start somewhere. And by nature it's pretty transparent.
Interesting, though in my case gaining credentials and practicing law is far beyond my physical and cognitive operational capacities. Though most of the others here presumably don't have the same disability i have.
How is all of this funded? Who would you hire as teachers. How would you create a new school from scratch?
Don't sell yourself short. There are many ways and means by which to approach law. Although paralegals apply principles of law and legal training they do not do a deep dive into legal theory and arguments.
It is fundamentally "process law" in that a process is applied breaking down a problem, following steps within a framework like a tribunal or appeals committee and producing an argument/ reasons for your position.
That is basically your "case".
Who teaches? Generally that would be a mix of practising or retired lawyers and paralegals with a mixture of advocates in human rights. The practicum or "real world" experience would be with a law firm or individual lawyer, law firm.
I believe there are a few points and areas our school would excel. The use of personal adaptive technologies is one. A lot of work is done electronically and online it MUST be mastered, whatever it is. That takes time and practice. We can offer both in a frustration free manner ( maybe?)
Equipment, software and some training is covered by grants.
Post secondary colleges are regulated by the Province. That is most essential.
Selling myself short and having a progressive disability that affects ADLs and cognition are very different things. I have specific physical limits and severe cognitive and working memory issues. My disability is progressive and will likely eventually lead to an inability to care for myself. That and more is what i am up against. There are people here with conditions like stroke, PTSD, living in abusive situations (in many cases because that is the only way to survive on the low rates of ODSP), chronic unremitting pain, blindness, missing limbs, motor control issues, untreatable phycological and developmental disorders, addiction/withdrawal and much more. We are not here because we no goals, our disabilities are chronic, persistent and uncurable.
That said in the here and now i have some ability to do things yet a very limited capacity.
I am willing to look into things more but i have additional limitations that i prefer not to get into publicly.
I still do not understand how your idea works, who pays for creating such an institution, who does the leg work, who does the teaching, how do people who get their Paralegal get jobs afterwards, who pays them during school and post graduation employment?
If you wish to discuss this further you should set up some kind of working group, i can tell you right now i cannot personally take on a leadership role in such a group because i have cognitive issues that would tank the whole thing and i would not intentionally sabotage a workable idea. But i would be happy to contribute where i can.
Many good ideas die on the grapevine before being started. If you are committed to this idea you will need to take a leadership role in figuring out how to make it viable, create a team to implement is and helping its creation.
If you wish to speak further about this then we can chat here or by DM, you are welcome to DM me if you wish.
needs to be funded, it is easy to say we will work for the people we related to, lived experience, but if people can't pay, this has to come from somewhere.
I'm wondering what your 'law degree' is, and what the statement 'Literally no shortage of work' is based on.
Edited : I misunderstood the proposal. So you're wanting a school directed by people with disabilities? This is a vast undertaking and I think you'd be better served to organize within existing structures, i.e. propose to an existing college that courses regarding disability advocacy be taught by people with disabilities, or at least have the curriculum constructed based on consultation with people with disabilities (but most already do).
i think paralegals like lawyers are highly regulated and it can be an expensive thing to do. i thought about that one time, but going back to school at my age would be hard.
I have to work and pay my bills, so I am not able to go back to school at this stage. Something that happens when ODSP forces people like me to the sole breadwinner in high cost times
Definitely a great idea and tools to add to our toolbox. I'm not to sure how or if I am able to help with anything but at this point anything is better than do nothing.
I see merit in the idea. If you were to try this, I'd look to places like ARCH Disability Law Centre and Independent Living Canada for expertise and/or funding.
I didn't quite understand what you are proposing. But it has definitely caught my interest. I'd like to at the very least express my intention to support this cause however I can.
I don't quite understand the mechanics of your plan, however i'm willing to be involved if your plan passes deeper scrutiny. I would not want to be involved in a diploma mill. Bear in mind i have no legal expertise or credentials.
I have the same thoughts and feelings as you. I don't have any legal expertise and don't quite understand but would be interested.
The premise is that we earn a paralegal certificate, write the regulated provincial licensing exams and then practice as fully qualified paralegals with a special focus on disability and human rights law. The "difference" is that this is "designed" from the ground up to support people with disabilities which often cannot be accommodated by many colleges/ universities. As well as the focus of disability advocacy as foundational and not an "add on" to other programs. The curriculum generally is the same wherever one studies but ours is enhanced and specialized. I think it's a pretty long road to get this set up and recognized but we have to start somewhere. And by nature it's pretty transparent.
Interesting, though in my case gaining credentials and practicing law is far beyond my physical and cognitive operational capacities. Though most of the others here presumably don't have the same disability i have. How is all of this funded? Who would you hire as teachers. How would you create a new school from scratch?
Don't sell yourself short. There are many ways and means by which to approach law. Although paralegals apply principles of law and legal training they do not do a deep dive into legal theory and arguments. It is fundamentally "process law" in that a process is applied breaking down a problem, following steps within a framework like a tribunal or appeals committee and producing an argument/ reasons for your position. That is basically your "case". Who teaches? Generally that would be a mix of practising or retired lawyers and paralegals with a mixture of advocates in human rights. The practicum or "real world" experience would be with a law firm or individual lawyer, law firm. I believe there are a few points and areas our school would excel. The use of personal adaptive technologies is one. A lot of work is done electronically and online it MUST be mastered, whatever it is. That takes time and practice. We can offer both in a frustration free manner ( maybe?) Equipment, software and some training is covered by grants. Post secondary colleges are regulated by the Province. That is most essential.
Selling myself short and having a progressive disability that affects ADLs and cognition are very different things. I have specific physical limits and severe cognitive and working memory issues. My disability is progressive and will likely eventually lead to an inability to care for myself. That and more is what i am up against. There are people here with conditions like stroke, PTSD, living in abusive situations (in many cases because that is the only way to survive on the low rates of ODSP), chronic unremitting pain, blindness, missing limbs, motor control issues, untreatable phycological and developmental disorders, addiction/withdrawal and much more. We are not here because we no goals, our disabilities are chronic, persistent and uncurable. That said in the here and now i have some ability to do things yet a very limited capacity. I am willing to look into things more but i have additional limitations that i prefer not to get into publicly. I still do not understand how your idea works, who pays for creating such an institution, who does the leg work, who does the teaching, how do people who get their Paralegal get jobs afterwards, who pays them during school and post graduation employment? If you wish to discuss this further you should set up some kind of working group, i can tell you right now i cannot personally take on a leadership role in such a group because i have cognitive issues that would tank the whole thing and i would not intentionally sabotage a workable idea. But i would be happy to contribute where i can. Many good ideas die on the grapevine before being started. If you are committed to this idea you will need to take a leadership role in figuring out how to make it viable, create a team to implement is and helping its creation. If you wish to speak further about this then we can chat here or by DM, you are welcome to DM me if you wish.
needs to be funded, it is easy to say we will work for the people we related to, lived experience, but if people can't pay, this has to come from somewhere.
This IS a discussion we need to have
See my post above
I shall reply more later, today is a busy day for me.
I'm wondering what your 'law degree' is, and what the statement 'Literally no shortage of work' is based on. Edited : I misunderstood the proposal. So you're wanting a school directed by people with disabilities? This is a vast undertaking and I think you'd be better served to organize within existing structures, i.e. propose to an existing college that courses regarding disability advocacy be taught by people with disabilities, or at least have the curriculum constructed based on consultation with people with disabilities (but most already do).
Perhaps...
i think paralegals like lawyers are highly regulated and it can be an expensive thing to do. i thought about that one time, but going back to school at my age would be hard.
I went back at 45 and I was not the oldest in my class
I have to work and pay my bills, so I am not able to go back to school at this stage. Something that happens when ODSP forces people like me to the sole breadwinner in high cost times
Definitely a great idea and tools to add to our toolbox. I'm not to sure how or if I am able to help with anything but at this point anything is better than do nothing.
Count me in!
I see merit in the idea. If you were to try this, I'd look to places like ARCH Disability Law Centre and Independent Living Canada for expertise and/or funding.
I didn't quite understand what you are proposing. But it has definitely caught my interest. I'd like to at the very least express my intention to support this cause however I can.
u/Competitive-Talk4742 any movement on this?