The University of New Brunswick’s faculty of law is making it easier for transgender and non-binary people to update legal names and gender markers in government-issued documents.
Five UNB law students and five lawyers from McInnes Cooper, an Atlantic Canadian law firm, held a virtual clinic, in partnership with Imprint Youth Association, on Oct. 21 to help people with their legal transition.
Frances Borgmann, a law student and program coordinator, said updating legal documents is complicated, but the clinic helps break down the process into “manageable steps.”
“When [transgender people] need to update their legal name and their gender marker oftentimes they don’t know where to start and it’s [a] confusing process,” she said.
“The main role of the clinic is to simplify the process for the clients.”
At the clinic, clients talked to law students and lawyers who explained all of the necessary steps and procedures. Borgmann said the first step is filling out the birth certificate form, which can vary depending on the province.
She said the clinic saw cases from all over Atlantic Canada.
“The [birth certificate] form could ask for the approval of the medical professionals. The form could ask for all consent from a parental guardian. All forms require a notarization from a lawyer,” said Borgmann.
Other documents such as driver’s licenses and passports are tackled as well.
The clinic also mentioned to clients that, after legally changing their names, the Government of New Brunswick requires the change to be published in The Royal Gazette.
Borgmann said there are loopholes to get around that, but said the clinic goes into further detail.
She emphasized that changes to name and gender markers are a “real legal need” within the trans community that needs to be addressed in a positive and inclusive way.
Borgmann said people who could not book an appointment with the clinic on Oct. 21 will have another opportunity on Nov. 4.
“There’s no other clinic that has transformed space in the Atlantic region … so it is a unique opportunity,” said Borgmann.
