Student Advocacy Clinic
Rise hosts a year-round Student Advocacy Clinic, staffed by social work students from social work programs across Canada (Bachelor and Master), who are completing their practicum hours.
Our practicum placement is funded by the Law Foundation of BC, and is a unique opportunity to learn transferable skills to promote access to justice in all areas of social work. We accept up to four students a semester.
What should students know before applying?
A maximum of four students looking to complete their practicum hours are accepted each semester. Students work 4 days a week for 3 to 4 months at a time. We are unable to accommodate students on a part-time basis.
We welcome social work students from programs across Canada to apply. Students located outside of the Lower Mainland are required to have their own laptop and a private space to work. Students take about 4 to 8 files per semester, and complete 3 to 4 weeks of mandatory training before they begin taking clients. Students located within the Lower Mainland are able to work on a hybrid basis. Time in the office is heavily encouraged to make the most of the practicum experience.
How to apply…
To enquire about a placement, email Samantha Davis, Student Advocacy Clinic Supervisor:
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. We encourage all students who are interested in understanding how to do access to justice work focusing on the needs and experiences of women and gender diverse clients to apply to join us.
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All students at Rise do an introductory three to four week orientation to learn the basics of family law and targeted training opportunities based on their program. This training is interdisciplinary and both law students and social work students will have opportunities to be in training together by lawyers and social work staff.
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Yes. Closely supervised by your supervisors, you will work on client files.
You will work with your supervisor to come to an agreement about your learning goals and the kind of client work you will do.
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Rise’s main office is located at 510 Burrard St. in downtown Vancouver, where in-person practicum students will be assigned a desk.
The staff are approachable and work from a client-centered and trauma-informed lens. We believe deeply in improving access to justice and we recognize that many people, with diverse identities and voices, do not feel that they have a space in law. We work hard to ensure a culture of openness, a focus on challenging conventional ways of being, and a willingness to challenge our own assumptions – we think law can and must be done differently to improve access to justice.
Our work place does not have a strict dress code.
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Yes, students work 4 days a week for 3 to 4 months. We are unable to accept students on a part time basis.
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Students must be enrolled in a Bachelor or Master of Social Work in Canada. We are looking for persons who value the social justice lens and are working towards strengthening their knowledge, and skills.
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Yes, as long as you have your own laptop and access to a private space to work from. We welcome applicants from across Canada.
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This program is led by supervisors with masters and bachelors of social work, who are former family law advocates with years of hands-on frontline work.
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Students will take on approximately 4 to 8 client files during the practicum.