Posts by Luke's Place
Join the Luke’s Place Team! We’re hiring a Staff Lawyer
Luke’s Place is seeking a Staff Lawyer with a minimum of 3+ years’ experience as a practising family law lawyer, to assist in expanding the organization’s capacity to deliver limited scope legal services to survivors of intimate partner violence, create resources and training content, and deliver training on intimate partner violence and family law as…
Read moreAfter She Leaves Tour: Reflecting on Training Across Ontario
Between 2024 and 2026, Luke’s Place traveled to communities across Ontario to deliver our flagship training program, After She Leaves. This two-day training supports frontline workers who assist survivors of intimate partner violence navigating the family law system. Over the past two years, we have delivered training to 231 frontline workers across Guelph, Parry Sound, Toronto, Kingston, London, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, and Brampton, connecting with frontline workers from across…
Read moreSurvivors of Intimate Partner Violence and the Ontario Family Law System
Understanding how survivors experience the family law system is essential to improving access to safety and justice. Over the past three years, Luke’s Place has partnered with Dr. Mavis Morton from the University of Guelph to conduct a province-wide research project exploring the family law experiences of women and gender-diverse survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with…
Read moreBuilding capacity to address gender-based violence
We are excited to announce the launch of a new resource called: Hosting Gender-Based Violence Trainings: A Train the Trainer Guide. Ending gender-based violence requires more than awareness. It requires knowledge, confidence, and the ability to support survivors in a safe and informed way. Across communities, many organizations want to host conversations, workshops, and training about gender-based violence but are…
Read moreStrengthening Legal Responses to Intimate Partner Violence: New Emergency Motions Module Added to Effective Lawyering Course
Lawyers representing survivors of intimate partner violence often face situations where time is critical. When safety is at risk, waiting weeks or months for a regular court date is simply not an option. That’s why Luke’s Place has added a new module on emergency motions to our Effective lawyering with clients leaving abusive relationships course. Emergency motions are one of…
Read moreLimited Scope Legal Services WAGE Promising Practices
Access to justice remains one of the most significant challenges facing women leaving abusive partners. Survivors navigating the family court system without legal representation often face overwhelming barriers, from safety risks to complex procedures that are difficult to manage alone. Recognizing these challenges, organizations across Canada have been exploring new approaches to legal support that are more responsive to…
Read moreSupporting Survivors Through Urgent Family Court Situations: Luke’s Place NEW Emergency Motions Course
When a woman and her children are facing an immediate safety concern, the legal system can feel overwhelming. In urgent situations, timely access to the right legal tools can make a critical difference. Our NEW Emergency Motions course is designed to help Ontario service providers understand how to support survivors of intimate partner violence when an urgent family court…
Read moreInternational Women’s Day – Love Shouldn’t Hurt – End IPV Today!
International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global day recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while advocating for gender equality. International Women’s Day is also a time to uplift organizations working on the front lines to advance women’s rights and safety. True equality cannot be achieved while women continue to experience violence…
Read moreNational Social Work Month
March marks National Social Work Month, a time to recognize the dedication, compassion, and expertise of social workers everywhere. At Luke’s Place, we are incredibly fortunate to work alongside talented and committed social workers who support women and children navigating the family court system after experiencing intimate partner violence. Their work is complex, emotionally demanding, and deeply impactful.…
Read moreCase Summary: R. v. M.S.A.
Written by Pamela Cross, LLB, LLD This is a criminal law case that intersects with a family law case in an interesting way. The accused and the complainant were married for a number of years, and had two children together. After they separated, and after initial family court proceedings had concluded, the husband was charged…
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