Giving back and getting back

by Kenneth Armstrong

The ongoing success of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, B.C. Division’s Volunteer Legal Advocacy Program (VLAP) can be attributed to participating lawyers from twenty-six firms, as well as a successful partnership with Davis and Company. The goal of VLAP is to provide pro bono legal advice and representation to individuals living with multiple sclerosis in the Lower Mainland, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George with possible expansion into Nelson and Pentiction. The program supports individuals who are unable to afford legal assistance and are ineligible for any other legal aid programs. Since its inception, the program has been able to assist over 800 individuals gain access to justice. What motivates these dedicated lawyers to not only join, but also to continue to volunteer their time with VLAP?

Speaking with Kenneth Armstrong, a five-year volunteer with the program, one gets a sense of the pride he feels for the legal profession’s involvement in the community. Ken is aware of the difference his legal skill set and knowledge can make in the lives of people affected by MS. He explains that “Lawyers are able to help someone who might not otherwise be able to have access to justice.”

Ken is personally connected to the disease and understands first-hand the impact MS can have on a family, as his father was diagnosed with MS in 1995 at age 53. When he came across a VLAP advertisement in an issue of BarTalk it seemed like a “natural” way to help. Not only has this been an opportunity to learn more about how others deal with MS, but it also provided a way to “make the world better for people like my Dad.”

With financial assistance from the Law Foundation and Notary Foundation of B.C., the Division established VLAP in 2001 to try to respond to the overwhelming number of calls from people with MS seeking legal advice or representation and support. People with MS are often faced with legal challenges, such as human rights, employment equity, insurance, income security, estate planning, and family law issues. They are also often forced to leave the workforce prematurely, greatly diminishing their financial security. For many, income is procured solely from disability benefits; moreover, MS symptoms pose challenges to self-advocacy, self-care, and financial management.

Ken’s assessment that one of his VLAP files ranks as “one of the three most satisfying files of my career” serves as a poignant and telling testimonial. Taking on one pro bono file per year (commitment asked of VLAP volunteers), Ken views his participation as an “opportunity for me to help people with a disease that has personally affected me without significantly affecting my practice.” Finally, while Ken “can’t overstate the feel-good element of the work,” he recognizes there is a strong business case to be made for volunteering one’s time and is certain his work with VLAP has garnered excellent “word of mouth” support for his practice.

For more information on VLAP please contact Heather Armstrong at 604-689-3144, 1-800-268-7582 or heather.armstrong@mssociety.ca.

Kenneth Armstrong, Lawyer, Cassady & Company and volunteer for VLAP Program

This article was published in the August 2006 issue of BarTalk. © 2006 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.