About CPLEA
About CPLEA
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. CPLEA informs and educates on several areas of law that impact Albertans.
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 over 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”
Did you know?
CPLEA has been educating community workers since our inception. Over the years, we’ve ran workshops, presented at events and hosted webinars.
Legal Foundations for Justice Navigators is CPLEA’s latest iteration of training for community workers. Learn more about the program on the About the Program page.
FAQs
You might still have a few questions about our work. Below are some common ones we get.
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.
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.
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.
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
- non-profit law
- planning for future care
- recreation
- rights at work
- wills and estates
Some of our resources are also available in French.
Learn more at www.cplea.ca.
CPLEA receives funding from various organizations directly or adjacently involved with the law.
We are grateful to receive generous funding from: