Welcome to the African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC)
The African Canadian Legal Clinic (ACLC) is a not-for-profit organization established in October 1994 expressly to address anti-Black racism and other forms of systemic and institutional discrimination in Canadian society.
As a specialty clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario, the ACLC provides advice and represents African Canadians in all legal forums, particularly in the courts through race-based test cases that are likely to result in significant legal precedents. Besides participating in test cases, the ACLC consults on the African Canadian community's behalf and submits legislative and policy briefs, and makes oral submissions on several issues.
- employing a litigation strategy based on test cases
- effecting law reform by monitoring legislative changes, regulatory, administrative, and judicial developments
- engaging in advocacy on the part of African Canadians
- providing legal education aimed at eliminating racism in Canada, anti-Black racism in particular
Empowering the community at the local, provincial, and national levels, is one of the ACLC's most important functions. To accomplish this, the ACLC engages in the following activities:
- maintains a library and legal resource centre
- publishes a newsletter
- convenes conferences and seminars
- hosts public hearings
- facilitates coalition building, briefings, and consultations
- provides summary legal advice
- writes manuals and protocols
- holds educational workshops
- writes op-ed pieces for media publication
- holds press conferences on pertinent issues
Learn more about the ACLC.