National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts - NATIONAL NETWORK OF LEGAL CLINICS FOR THE ARTS

About Us

The National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts is a connected set of proposed regional legal clinics for Canadian artists and arts organizations.

The network, informed by a needs assessment undertaken in early 2020 by Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society (PLEO), will provide low-barrier summary legal advice across the Canadian arts sector.

Generously supported by

ABOUT THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF LEGAL CLINICS FOR THE ARTS

In early 2020, PLEO spearheaded the creation of the The National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts, completing the first national legal needs assessment of the arts & culture sector.

Surveying 1,150 Canadian artists, arts organizations and legal experts working in the sector, we found that 94% of artists feel strongly they have unique legal needs and lack information and training on legal issues.

The National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts is a proposed system of connected regional legal hubs for artists and arts organizations that includes existing Canadian pro-bono legal clinics.

In our report entitled Now More Than Ever: Towards a National Network of Legal Clinics for the Arts, significant new research on the multitude of legal challenges facing individuals working in the Canadian arts sector – accelerated to critical levels due to the devastating impact of COVID-19, is revealed.

This report highlights gaps in legal needs, legal literacy and education, and protections that are taking dramatic tolls on a sector whose earnings were already near poverty levels prior to the pandemic.