The volunteer work of lawyers and other legal professionals is essential to Éducaloi’s mission of making the law accessible, easy to understand, and easy to use in everyday life.
Thank you for generously sharing your time and expertise. Your commitment reflects true solidarity and social responsibility.
This charter sets out the principles and values guiding volunteer conduct, as well as the mutual commitments between the volunteer and Éducaloi.
1. Core principles
1.1 Voluntary and free commitment
Volunteering is a free, voluntary, and unpaid activity. Volunteers choose to offer their skills to the community at no cost, while respecting their own limits and availability.
1.2 Integrity and professionalism
Volunteers act honestly, diligently, and impartially. They commit to maintaining professional conduct at all times, in accordance with the ethical standards of legal professions. Volunteers also commit to avoiding any promotion of their own law firm or services.
Volunteers are expected to uphold Éducaloi’s organizational values, including neutrality, rigour, and collaboration.
Specifically, volunteers must refrain from giving legal advice or soliciting clients in interactions with Éducaloi audiences.
1.3 Respect for others
Volunteers treat everyone they interact with during Éducaloi-related activities respectfully and equally. They ensure that their words and actions are inclusive, non-discriminatory, and cannot reasonably be interpreted otherwise. Inappropriate behaviour (harassment, discrimination, offensive remarks, etc.) is strictly prohibited.
1.4 Confidentiality
Volunteers must strictly maintain the confidentiality of any information they obtain during workshops or communications.
1.5 Eligibility
Eligible volunteers include:
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judges in Quebec,
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members of the Quebec bar,
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members of the Quebec notaries’ association,
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other Quebec legal professionals who are members of a professional association (for example, the Canadian Association of Paralegals).
Volunteers are expected to register only for workshops that they have the knowledge to lead.
2. Volunteer commitments
By agreeing to work with Éducaloi, volunteers commit to:
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Conduct workshops with professionalism, care, and respect for participants.
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Honour scheduled commitments and give at least 72 hours’ notice to the organization or school if they are unavailable.
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Follow the principles outlined above and act according to these guidelines.
3. Éducaloi’s commitments to volunteers
In return, Éducaloi commits to:
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Provide all necessary teaching materials (PowerPoint presentation and facilitator’s guide) and the information needed to prepare workshops.
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Listen to volunteers’ feedback, suggestions, and needs.
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Recognize and value volunteers’ contributions.
4. Ending the collaboration
Volunteers may end their collaboration with Éducaloi at any time but must inform Éducaloi at least one week before a scheduled activity.
Éducaloi may also end a volunteer’s involvement, particularly in the following cases:
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The volunteer misses two or more scheduled activities without timely notice.
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The volunteer fails to comply with the commitments outlined in this charter.
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The volunteer is no longer a member of a professional order or association.
