Why we started LegalLanding
Most of the legal trouble we heard about did not start with bad intent. It started with a rule nobody had explained.
The gap
Canada welcomes hundreds of thousands of new residents every year: permanent residents, international students, refugees and workers. They arrive with plans for school, work and family. Very few arrive with a working knowledge of Canadian law, and no one is responsible for giving them one.
The information exists, but it is spread across government websites, clinic pamphlets and statutes. Most of it is in English or French, and most people find it only after something has already gone wrong.
LegalLanding is an attempt to move that information earlier, and to deliver it through people newcomers already trust.
What we believe
- Accuracy first
- Everything we publish is checked against current law and cites a source. When we are unsure, we say so.
- Led by communities
- The people teaching come from the communities they serve and speak their languages.
- Information, not advice
- We explain how the law works and refer people to lawyers and legal clinics for advice on their own case.
- Earlier is better
- Helping someone before a problem starts is kinder, and it costs less than helping afterwards.
Where things stand
LegalLanding is a nonprofit initiative, preparing to register as a nonprofit organization. Our first course is online now, and we are looking for funders and partners to run a first in-person pilot, and to test the model with the communities it is meant for before we grow it.
Get involved