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The Public Legal Education Network of Alberta, PLENA, is a grassroots network of members and partners, united by a shared interest in law, justice and democracy. PLENA Network is committed to improving all Albertans access to legal education and justice resources.
PLENA’s objective is to create an informed citizenry that is knowledgeable about the rule of law, able to recognize and exercise their rights, fulfill their legal obligations, and live fully in democratic society. The work of PLENA and its growing network of members and partners contribute to ensuring that Alberta has an accessible and responsive justice system that meets the needs of its citizenry and arms them with the tools they need to make informed decisions and participate effectively in Canada’s constitutional democracy.
Connect With Key People - Access Information - Optimize Resources
- The PLENA Network -
Educating Albertans About Law - Building Community Capacity - Improving Access to Justice |
The PLENA sites are currently undergoing complete re-builds to accommodate new communication and collaboration technologies. While this work is being undertaken, regular updates to this site are not being made. The new PLENA sites will be launched in a few weeks. Thank you for your patience while we build new and improved web services for our members and partners.
Congratulations! PLENA Pyramid Award Winner 2009
E. Paul Gerhart - Lethbridge College
- Excellence in public legal education in the Province of Alberta -
The Annual PLENA Networking Convention and Exposition
June 4th & 5th, 2009
Pocaterra Inn
Canmore, AB
This year PLENA is thinking 'Great Ideas'.
What Is Disabilities and Law?
Disabilities and Law refers to ways in which law and the legal system may interact with disabilities and how that might affect people who experience those disabilities. Disabilities may be physical, mental, developmental, intellectual, learning, emotional, or multiple for example. They may exist from birth or be caused by various life events including illness, aging or trauma. Depending on circumstances, legal issues involving disabilities may arise in any area of law. However, more specifically disabilities and law may address any of the following topics:
- Mental disability
- Physical disability
- Legal capacity
- Human rights and discrimination
- Personal directives, living wills, etc.
- Enduring powers of attorney
- Guardianship
- Trusteeship
- Government support programs (i.e. Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped or AISH)
Another feature of disabilities and law is the impact of disabilities on communication with the legal system, and legal system personnel, and the ability of people with disabilities to utilize legal information in various formats.
For Public Legal Information Resources: Disabilities and Law Pathfinder
PLENA Network Addresses Poverty Law Concerns
Poverty Law, and public legal education (PLE) on related issues, is a fast growing area of need in Alberta and across the country. PLENA has been addressing this at conferences and symposia, through the development of practice communities, focus groups, PLE materials, and support to agencies struggling to meet the needs of low income and marginalized clientele.
While many organizations have been involved in providing public legal education to lower wealth and disadvantaged clientele for many years, it is only within the last few years that the provision of pro bono legal services has become available outside of Edmonton and Calgary. This is an exciting development that promises to reach a larger number of those in need, and creates a different focus for networking and public legal education.
If you are interested in participating in PLENA’s Poverty Law Practice Community, please contact the PLENA Office at 403.343.3712 or info@plena.org .
The Alberta Public Legal Education Symposium
It has long been known that the effectiveness of the Canadian legal system requires the fullest public understanding of its purposes and functions. To achieve an understanding of the rule of law in our constitutional democracy, educational efforts must be broad based and far reaching, taking in a multitude of approaches and perspectives.
THE PLENA PUBLIC LEGAL EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM BROUGHT together players from a multitude of constituencies - both within the justice system and from the broader community, to engage in dialogue that built upon this ‘working together to improve access to justice’ strategy.
PLE Symposium Backgrounder and Research Summary: Public Legal Education Needs Assessment
PLE Symposium Report: Poverty Law Initiative
PLE Practice Community Workshops: Poverty Law Initiative
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This Site Made Possible By:
PLENA is a member of the Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC) 
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