From January 17 to 19, a free clinic was organized in Kuujjuaq by Pro Bono Québec, a non-profit organization that initiates, coordinates and promotes professional legal services for people living in Québec who face difficulty accessing such services.
The legal clinic was the second one to be organized in Kuujjuaq. Private consultations were held again
for three days, and presentations were delivered at the Kattitavik Town Hall on
how to write a will, file a case in Small Claims Court, and prepare an
application for divorce. Workshops were also organized for secondary students
at Jaanimmarik School.
In March 2017, a pilot project involving a team of five legal
professionals offered legal
aid in the fields of family, youth protection, criminal and civil law. The project was a success and was even nominated
for the 2017 Imaginative Justice Award, which recognizes innovative projects contributing
to access to justice. The KRG Legal, Socio-Judicial and Municipal Management Department
is supporting these Pro Bono Québec initiatives.
In 2018, Pro Bono Québec plans to organize additional free clinics
in Nunavik to make legal services more accessible to residents in other
communities. At least two other communities will be visited before the end of
the year, most likely on the Hudson Bay coast.
