The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta, also known as CPLEA, is a not-for-profit, non-government organization committed to making the law understandable for Albertans. We offer free legal information and learning resources in plain language.
Our resources increase awareness and understanding of the law and help empower Albertans to take action and, ultimately, gain better access to justice.
In addition to this website about family law in Alberta, CPLEA informs and educates on other areas of law that impact Albertans.
Our purpose
Our mission is to create resources that help people understand their rights and obligations under the law. We strive to improve both access to justice and the quality of justice available to Albertans.
Our vision is for Albertans to have the knowledge, skills and confidence to deal with legal issues and to contribute to a just society.
What we do
For almost 50 years, CPLEA has been providing Albertans with current, practical and plain language legal information and education about the law and legal processes. We provide information in multiple formats including web, print, videos, webinars and more.
Our process includes legal research, writing, review, design, publishing and evaluation.
Our multidisciplinary team has training and experience in the law, plain language writing, web and graphic design, search engine optimization and evaluation best practices.
Through our work, we aim to help people make informed decisions about important legal issues by:
- building awareness and understanding of the law and related skills that equip people to take meaningful action
- providing practical, useful information about how to navigate the justice system
- conveying essential practical guidance on how people interact with the law in their everyday lives
- monitoring and responding to the needs of groups in civil society, such as the needs faced by newcomers to Canada, those who are elderly or disabled, and those who cannot afford a lawyer
- providing training for frontline service providers
- serving as a bridge between the justice sector and the community, working closely with a range of community organizations and other “justice navigators”
“CPLEA is an invaluable information and referral resource for the ECLC, particularly for people experiencing family law or landlord-tenant issues. CPLEA is one of our Top 3 referral resources, along with Legal Aid and Student Legal Services. We refer people most often to CPLEA videos about rights and responsibilities, as well about going to docket court.”
Debbie Klein
Executive Director of the Edmonton Community Legal Centre
“We at Calgary Legal Guidance would like to express our appreciation for CPLEA as a valued legal resource in Alberta. We often refer our clients and self-represented litigants to CPLEA to supplement our advice, as CPLEA offers comprehensive, up to date, easy to understand legal information materials. Their library is a wonderful resource for community groups, social agencies, and others to find legal information relevant to diverse legal interests. CPLEA is a valuable contributor to accessible justice in our Province.”
Calgary Legal Guidance
“The law is complicated. CPLEA helps simplify it so that Albertans can protect themselves, resolve disputes, and if necessary, navigate legal processes like court. As a teacher and a lawyer, I often rely on CPLEA resources to help others – and myself – understand the law.”
Professor Anna Lund
University of Alberta Faculty of Law
FAQs
You might still have a few questions about our work. Below are some common ones we get.
What is PLE?
PLE stands for “public legal education”. PLE involves helping the public understand their rights and responsibilities under the law.
PLE organizations include government and non-government entities that offer resources on both provincial and federal laws. In Alberta, CPLEA is the longest-running, sole-purpose PLE organization that offers resources to Albertans about both provincial and federal laws that impact their everyday lives.
Does CPLEA give legal advice?
CPLEA offers free legal information to all Albertans. However, the CPLEA staff cannot provide legal advice.
To find legal help, visit CPLEA’s Get legal help in Alberta page.
How can I contact CPLEA?
You can contact us if you have questions about our resources or the law in Alberta. We can provide you with information about what the law is and where to go for help with your legal issues. We cannot give you legal advice about your specific situation or act as your lawyer.
The best way to contact us is by completing our contact form. One of our team members will be in touch!
We also welcome you to follow us on social media! Find us by clicking on the social icons in the footer below.
What other areas of the law does CPLEA provide information about?
In addition to family law, CPLEA provides free legal information on the following areas of law in Alberta:
- abuse and how the law can help
- condominium law
- consumer, money and debt issues
- landlord and tenant laws
- family law
- planning for future care
- recreation
- rights at work
- wills and estates
Learn more at www.cplea.ca.
Where does CPLEA get its funding?
CPLEA receives funding from various organizations directly or adjacently involved with the law.
We are grateful to receive generous funding from: