Founded in 1985, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic (Schlifer Clinic) supports women who have experienced violence. The clinic was established in honour of Barbra Teena Schlifer, a young lawyer who was assaulted and murdered on the day she was called to the bar of Ontario. Schlifer Clinic offers legal representation, counselling, and interpretation services to clients. Through legal advocacy, it works to change the conditions that threaten women’s safety, dignity, and equality.

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic provides free legal services to victims of violence and abuse. In F2020, 2,032 women received legal services related to family law, criminal law, immigration and refugee law, and family court support. Of those women, 13.5% (around 274 women) received support from more than one of the clinic's legal programs.

Schlifer Clinic offers individual and group counselling sessions to women who have experienced abuse and violence in childhood or adulthood. The clinic supports women who decide to remain in their current relationship or helps them find housing if they choose to leave. In F2020, the clinic provided counselling services to 2,678 women.

Through Interpreter Services Toronto, the clinic provides free interpretation services to women in counselling sessions and legal proceedings. In F2020, 2,631 clinic clients received interpretation services in over 170 languages. Interpreter Services Toronto also operates as a social enterprise. It offers interpretation services for a fee to other sectors and organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.

Schlifer Clinic runs a Special Projects program to inform the public on gender-based violence and other important issues. In F2020, 1,420 clients accessed the clinic’s services through projects, symposiums, consultations, forums and more.

The Schlifer Clinic works on broader legal issues and advocacy projects surrounding women's rights. Current projects include the #AndMeToo Project and the Criminalization of Women Project. The #AndMeToo Project increases access to legal representation for women who come from complex socio-economic backgrounds and are victims of harassment. The Criminalization of Women Project addresses the disproportionate number of women who face criminal charges after reporting violence against them.

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic received $1.2m in donations and special events revenue in F2020. The clinic received $3.0m in government funding, representing 65% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 9% of revenues less investment income, and fundraising costs are 24% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 33%. For every dollar donated, 67 cents go to the cause, which falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Schlifer Clinic has net funding reserves of $1.4m which could cover 35% or around four months of annual program costs.

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on May 27, 2021, by Shira Wine.