FAQs

LEAF litigates, advocates, and educates. Our focus is to act whenever the substantive equality rights guaranteed under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms need to be protected or strengthened to bring about real change.

LEAF intervenes in court cases, most often at the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) or in provincial Appeal Courts. Our staff lawyers, branch representatives, Law Program Committee, and volunteer law students watch for cases that are determined to have a significant impact on gender equality rights. LEAF’s Executive Director & General Counsel, staff lawyers, and a team of pro bono lawyers work to prepare arguments, often based on sections 15 and 28 of the Charter.

Our limited resources allow us to intervene in only a small number of cases per year.  However, since LEAF was founded in 1985, LEAF has intervened in over one hundred cases.

LEAF also engages in law reform projects and advocacy campaigns that advance gender equality. We speak with government, support community organizing efforts, and produce high-quality research on gender equality issues, all to ensure that the rights of women and gender-diverse people are being protected and enhanced.

LEAF hosts educational events, trainings, and webinars on issues critical to gender equality. Our fact sheets and infographics provide important information about law, feminism, and gender justice in an engaging and easy-to-understand format. In addition, LEAF branches run education programs.

LEAF does not provide funding for individual cases. LEAF does not take clients or represent people directly. If you need assistance with your individual case, please visit our legal resources page.

Unfortunately, LEAF is not a legal clinic and we do not represent individuals. LEAF intervenes in cases, typically at the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) or provincial Appeals Courts. We do not represent or act for people directly. If you need a lawyer, or help finding one, please visit our legal resources page.

LEAF’s work is only possible with the generous support of our donors and funding partners. LEAF relies on donations from individual donors, foundations – including the LEAF Foundation – and corporations to fund its general operating expenses. Many of LEAF’s projects are generously funded by foundation and government grants. For a list of funding partners and financial statements, view our 2023-2024 Annual Report. Audited Financial Statements are available upon request.

To learn more about how to make a donation, please see below.

First of all, thank you! Our work is only possible with the generous support of donors like you! You can visit our donations page to make a gift online, or you can send a cheque to 180 Dundas Street West, Suite 1420, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8. For more information, please contact Sharon George, Senior Development Officer, at [email protected].

Yes! Individual donations to LEAF are tax-deductible. If you make a donation online, a tax receipt will be automatically sent to you via email. If you’ve mailed a cheque to us, you should receive your tax receipt by mail or email within one month of your donation. If you are a monthly donor, your tax receipt will be consolidated and sent to you in January for the previous calendar year.

This legal term means that LEAF has not brought a case to court, or had a court case brought against it. Instead, a court has made a formal decision to grant LEAF the right to provide comment on the legal issues under consideration.

Interveners are helpful to courts when a particular case raises legal questions that will have an impact beyond the two sides arguing the case. For instance, a couple might be in court for the purpose of deciding custody and access in their family, but the court’s decision could affect future custody decisions. That is when LEAF might seek to intervene and make legal arguments helping the court understand how its judgment could affect the gender equality rights of others.

Our goal is to ensure that substantive equality rights are protected and where possible expanded. It is exciting and important work that can make a lasting contribution to the substantive equality of women, girls, and gender-diverse people.

Information about our court cases (including our factums and arguments) and our law reform submissions are available here.

You can access information about our past and upcoming educational events, trainings, and webinars here. We also have fact sheets and infographics which provide information about law, feminism, and gender justice in an engaging and easy-to-understand format.

Finally, you can learn more about our current projects here, or take a look at our recent publications here.

If you have questions or can’t find what you are looking for, please contact us.

Take a look at our Employment Opportunities page for open positions.

If you are a student, please see our Student Positions page.

There are many ways for members and friends of LEAF to get involved, including:

• Donating to LEAF
• Becoming a branch member
• Becoming a volunteer
• Becoming a pro bono lawyer
• Becoming a community partner

Please note that as a small organization, we do not always have the capacity to take on volunteers, and it may take up to 1 week to respond to your inquiry.

If you are a student looking to get involved with LEAF, please see our Student Positions page.

LEAF branches run public education programs for youth, hold events on gender equality in their communities, and engage in law reform initiatives at the local level. Branches are largely volunteer run and are always happy to welcome new volunteers.

If you want to join a branch but there isn’t one in your city, you can join the branch closest to you. You can also set up a new branch where you live! If you want to set up a new branch, contact us with information about yourself, your location, and why you are interested in starting a branch.