FAQ
ALO CLINIC AND LEGAL SERVICES
LEGAL RESOURCE LIBRARY
LEGAL REFERRALS
GET INVOLVED
ALO CLINIC AND LEGAL SERVICES
Q. Who can book an appointment at the clinic?
The Clinic is open to artists and arts organizations in all disciplines with legal questions related to art, entertainment, business, and intellectual property law issues.
Q. What questions can I ask at the clinic?
All issues discussed must be related to your artistic discipline.
• Contracts
• Incorporation
• Copyright
• Defamation
• Society Act and Society Act Regulations
Q. What questions can't the clinic answer?
We cannot answer questions about a family law issue, tax problem, criminal law or another question unrelated to the pursuit of your artistic practice. But the following agency can and will answer such questions: Access ProBono.
Q. My question can't be answered at a clinic. What do I do?
We will provide a referral to anyone who has questions in areas of law not handled at the clinic, or questions that are too complicated to be handled in a 30-minute, summary advice session.
Q. What information will I get at a clinic?
The lawyer will answer your questions based on the facts you describe and his or her knowledge in that particular area of law. The answer given will be summary legal advice.
Q. What is summary legal advice?
Summary legal advice is a legal answer that is general in nature and qualified. The lawyer cannot provide more specific advice because he or she has not done any lengthy background research on your particular situation.
Q. How do I book an appointment?
Complete an intake form with as many details about your legal issue as possible and send it to the ALO.
Q. I've sent in my intake form. Now what do I do?
You will be contacted when a lawyer has reviewed your intake form and scheduled the next clinic. Since the ALO is run entirely by volunteers, it may take 5-7 days before you hear from us.
Q. What should I bring to my appointment? Do I need to prepare for it?
Please bring any documents that relate to your legal question and writing materials if you want to take notes.
Q. When is the clinic held? When is my appointment?
The clinic is held on Wednesday nights, between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, by appointment only. A volunteer will contact you with your specific appointment date and time after your intake form has been reviewed.
Q. How long is my appointment?
Each appointment is 30 minutes long.
Q. Where is my appointment?
Each appointment is held at the meeting room at the Alliance for Arts and Culture, 100-938 Howe Street, on Howe Street between Smithe Street and Nelson Street. Please see the Contact page for a map.
Q. Who will be at my appointment?
Each appointment is private and confidential between you and a lawyer. One of the ALO volunteer law student coordinators might observe the session. All volunteers are bound by the same duties of privacy and confidentiality.
Q. How much does an appointment cost?
Appointments are booked by donation. The ALO is funded only by donation and any amount is encouraged and greatly appreciated.
Q. How is my donation used?
Donations are used to offset administrative costs and to develop workshops on legal issues in the arts.
Q. I attended an ALO clinic and now I have more questions. What do I do?
To book a follow-up session on the same, new or related legal issue, complete a new intake form, and submit it to the ALO.
Q. Why do you need the names of all the people involved in my legal issue?
The names of any people, organizations or businesses related to your legal issue are given to the lawyer scheduled to meet with you. Before your appointment takes place, the lawyer runs those names through a conflicts check.
Q. What is a conflicts check?
When a lawyer starts practicing law, he or she promises to give undivided loyalty to every client. This ensures that the lawyer gives unbiased legal advice.
LEGAL RESOURCES LIBRARY
Q. What resources do you have?
The Resource Library contains information sheets, articles, sample legal documents, and sample contracts for the following artistic disciplines: dance, theatre, music, film, television and visual arts.
It also contains resources on specific legal topics, including copyright; how to incorporate and maintain a society; employment; immigration; and wills and estate planning.
Q. How do I access the Resource library?
You can search an online catalogue of all the materials in the Resource Library. Click here. The physical materials are located at the Alliance for Arts, Suite 100-938 Howe Street (between Smithe and Nelson), in Vancouver. They are currently being reorganized but will soon be available during the Alliance for Arts' office hours.
Q. Can I borrow material from the Resource Library?
Materials cannot be removed from the Resource Library. However, documents can be photocopied for a small fee.
LEGAL REFERRALS
Q. I have a legal question that is not appropriate or too complicated for your clinic. I probably have to retain a lawyer. What do I do?
If you are advised that your legal problem is too complicated for a summary advice clinic, or that you need to retain a lawyer, the ALO can refer you to a listing of lawyers who have expertise working with artists and your legal issue. This referral list is distributed at the discretion of the ALO.
GET INVOLVED
Q. I want to help ALO. What can I do?
You can make a donation by clicking here. The ALO is run entirely by donations. Any amount helps, no matter how small.
If you are a law student or a practicing lawyer, you can also contribute your time. Please visit the Volunteer page for moe information.
Q. How is my donation used?
Donations are used to offset administrative costs and to develop workshops on legal issues in the arts.