About the Commissioning Clinic
PCLS established its Commissioning Clinic in 2011 as a service geared towards low-income and marginalized folks. It is an ‘in-and-out’ clinic, where files are opened and closed in one day. The articling students serve as the Clinic’s supervisors and commissioners. We do not currently have a catchment area.
What Services Do We Provide?
- We write and commission statutory declarations and affidavits. Some common examples include:
- Statutory declaration in lieu of a Police Clearance Certificate for permanent residence and citizenship applications
- Affidavit for annual income and assets review
- Statutory declaration in lieu of guarantor for passport and travel document
- Permission to travel
We also make certified true copies.
Note: We DO NOT notarize. If you require notary services, we can provide you with a referral.
What to Bring With You
When you come to the commissioning clinic, be sure to bring ID with you. You will also have to provide additional documents and identification with you, depending on what you would like commissioned. Some examples include:
- Proof of immigration status (ie refugee, permanent residence or citizenship)
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Proof of income
What to Expect
Our commissioning clinic is very busy and wait times can be over one hour. You will meet with a law school student who will prepare your documents. Your document will be reviewed and commissioned by an articling student.
If you have accessibility needs or another restriction that impacts your ability to wait during the commissioning clinic hours, you can call ahead of time. In some exceptional circumstances we will make an appointment to see you.
Restrictions on Services
If your annual income is above a certain threshold we may not be able to see you.
The commissioning clinic does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, you will have to attend an intake for immigration, housing, workers’ rights, or SAVAH.
We do NOT Commission Documents Regarding:
- Property
- Bank Accounts
- Wills and Estates
- Custody or Divorce Documents
If you are unsure of whether we can commission your document, we encourage you to call in advance.
Commissioning services are on Tuesdays from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.