Training & Information Resources
Doing Well By Doing Good (The Advocate, Vol. 64, Part 6, November 2006)
By Kelly Doyle, Past Chair of the CBA National Pro Bono Standing Committee
For some lawyers, the structuring of their practices to accommodate the pursuit of the public interest is integral to their professional identities. The object of this article is to continue to encourage and facilitate pro bono work by lawyers.
Transforming Advocacy
By Kelly Doyle, Past Chair of the CBA National Pro Bono Standing Committee
This article published in the May 2007 edition of The Advocate provides a review of proposed initiatives for civil justice reform in British Columbia and observations on the implications for advocacy and practice.
Pro Bono Law — A Solution Is Community Partnership (MS Society of Canada, January 2005)
A Guide to Developing a Community-Based Pro Bono Program by Adrianne Louise Boothroyd, MA, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, BC Division for Pro Bono Law of British Columbia.
Best Practices for Pro Bono Delivery (Pro Bono Law of British Columbia)
A Guide to best practices for pro bono delivery programs and lawyers volunteering their services through a pro bono delivery program.
Practicing Pro Bono (Online CLE)
By Kelly Doyle, Past Chair of the CBA National Pro Bono Standing Committee
Rural and regional Pro Bono
Rural Pro Bono Delivery (American Bar Association, 2003)
A Guide to Pro Bono legal services in rural areas by the American Bar Association.
Law firms have the unique ability to take an active role and shape the way private lawyers practice pro bono work. Whether an articling student, associate, or partner with a large or small firm, the resources below provide sample policies and guides that be can tailored for any law firm. These publications are an invaluable resource that can help firms plan, develop and maintain active and successful pro bono practices.
CHECKLIST:
Policies & Manuals
A Guide for Pro Bono Services of Lex Mundi Member Firms
The ABCs of Creating a Pro Bono Policy for Your Law Firm (CBA PracticeLink, May 2004)
Besides making good business sense, a pro bono policy promotes a shared understanding of a law firm’s process and commitment to public interest law. As a service to members, the CBA’s Pro Bono Standing Committee has developed a sample pro bono policy that lawyers can take and adapt to their own practices.
Australian Pro Bono Manual: A practice guide and resource kit for law firms (Australian National Pro Bono Resource Centre, 2005)
This comprehensive guide for law firms is a must read. The manual provides practical information on establishing, managing and enhancing law firm pro bono programs. Topics covered include models of pro bono practice, promoting a pro bono culture, sourcing pro bono work, coordination, supervision, crediting time, letters of engagement, taxation, record keeping, risk management, disbursements, clients with particular needs ... and more. Sample policy and procedure documents and sample letters, forms and agreements are also included as well as information on legal aid, community legal services, useful contacts and referral services.
Community Partnerships & Programs
Lawyers in the public sector traditionally face restrictions in relation to pro bono work due to a number of barriers: lack of indemnity insurance coverage; issues of real or perceived conflict of interest; and in some cases restrictions related to law society membership status in their province of practice. The resources below address these barriers and offer solutions and example policies from across Canada.
Policies
Ontario
Ontario LawPRO Lawyer Policy
Insurance policies for government lawyers, educators, lawyers in legal aid clinics, and other lawyers not in active private practice.
British Columbia
Law Society of British Columbia Lawyer Policy
Since January, 2002, a compulsory policy has provided professional liability insurance, at no cost, to lawyers who are not otherwise insured (generally, retired and non-practicing lawyers, or in-house counsel), for pro bono services delivered to an individual through a pro bono legal services program provided both the program and the services are approved by the Law Society. Lawyers providing these services avoid the usual financial consequences of a paid claim, if one arises. See also: Law Society of British Columbia Bencher’s Bulletin.
See also: Pro Bono Law of British Columbia Insurance Information Sheet
Alberta
The Law Society of Alberta and the Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association (ALIA) have facilitated the extension of errors and omissions insurance coverage through ALIA for Pro Bono legal services delivered through an authorized pro bono provider. See pro bono services on the Law Society of Alberta's website.
Programs
Literature
Can public sector lawyers provide pro bono services? (National Public Sector Lawyers' Conference Newsletter, January 2004)
If there is a desire and commitment by law societies, public sector employers and the lawyers themselves, barriers to the provision of pro bono legal services can be overcome.
Government Lawyers and Pro Bono: Information Paper (Australian National Pro Bono Resource Centre, October 2004)
A resource for governments and government lawyers that addresses barriers to government lawyer pro bono activities and describes initiatives in USA, Canada and England and Wales.
Lawyers practicing as in-house counsel or within the corporate realm often find themselves removed from opportunities to participate in pro bono work or find that their organization does not have a policy in place to address performing pro bono work. The following resources provide guidance and best practices from around the globe.
Policies
Corporate Best Practices (Corporate Pro Bono)
View summaries by Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) of corporate pro bono models selected for their innovation, endurance, and accomplishment.
Programs
Pro Bono Program Development Guide: Ten Steps to Start a Pro Bono Program (Corporate Pro Bono, 2006)
This document presents a step-by-step guide on how to start a pro bono program in legal departments. It includes information on choosing the right type of pro bono work to re-evaluating the program once it is in place.
The Onsite Pro Bono Clinic Model (Corporate Pro Bono, 2006)
This document presents a detailed description of the unique Clinic in a Box program developed by Corporate Pro Bono.
The BAE SYSTEMS Six Step Guide to setting up an in-house Pro Bono Programme (BAE SYSTEMS, 2001)
This document provides an overview of the first UK in-house legal department to set up a formal pro bono program. The initiative began as a result of BAE SYSTEMS legal department’s desire to demonstrate it could make a unique and meaningful contribution to the Company’s established community involvement program.
Literature
Why Do Pro Bono (Corporate Pro Bono, 2006)
This article discusses why pro bono work benefits employees, the company, and the community.
Corporate Counsel (American Bar Association)
This site provides discussion on the benefits of corporate pro bono, essential elements of a pro bono policy, perceived barriers, examples of pro bono activities, and models of corporate pro bono programs.
Corporate Pro Bono (Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2004)
This document provides in-house counsel with information addressing issues related to pro bono service.
AustraliaIreland
South Africa
South America
United Kingdom
United States
Global
Justice Canada: Programs and Initiatives
This site provides information on programs and initiatives of the Department of Justice Canada.
Working Together: multi-tiered pro bono relationships between law firms and community legal organizations (Australian National Pro Bono Resource Centre, June 2003)
The growth of pro bono in the last decade has included the development of ‘multi-tiered relationships’ between law firms and pro bono partners in the community, particularly community legal centres. This Paper explains what multi-tiered relationships might involve and demonstrates their operation through a variety of case studies.
Literature
Making the Business Case for Pro Bono By Esther F. Lardent, Law Firm Pro Bono Project, 2000, The Pro Bono Institute.
This article discusses why performing pro bono work makes good business sense for law firms.
Regional, rural and remote pro bono: models and opportunities (Australian National Pro Bono Resource Centre, May 2006)
An information paper that ideas to encourage the creation, uptake and expansion of pro bono work across regional, rural and remote (RRR) Australia. In particular, it focuses on providing pro bono legal assistance to disadvantaged communities by working in partnerships with community legal organizations in RRR areas.
Literature
New York Law Journal Pro Bono Section
View current articles on pro bono from our neighbours to the South.
