NEWS

Pro Bono Going Public 2011: An Occupation of Benevolence

This September, dozens of lawyers gathered in public squares in Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria as part of Pro Bono Going Public – an annual legal service, awareness and fundraising campaign organized by Access Pro Bono. Over the course of three days, 94 volunteer lawyers, supervised paralegals and law students provided free legal advice and assistance to 144 pre-booked and walk-up clients. 

Clients were overwhelmingly appreciative of the opportunity to receive free legal advice at a time and place where they did not necessarily expect it. Many of them expressed that the experience renewed their faith in the kindness of lawyers and alleviated stresses and fears that had accumulated over months and years.

One lawyer named Andrew Pilliar took the “street legal” concept to another level by helping a new immigrant from Africa to resolve a potentially crippling contract dispute with her mobile telephone service provider. Realizing that his client did not speak English and would not be able to negotiate or advocate for herself, Mr. Pilliar accompanied his client to the company’s nearest retail location and negotiated a settlement with its accounts department within a few hours.

The event also succeeded in raising considerable public awareness concerning the widespread availability of Access Pro Bono’s legal advice clinics, the traditional and substantial benevolence of B.C.’s pro bono lawyers, the growing access to justice crisis and the funding problems of the legal aid system. National newspapers, regional radio and local television media outlets covered the event and cast a bright light on the legal aid issue and lawyers’ considerable efforts to increase access to justice in B.C.

Last but certainly not least, participating lawyers raised $42,000 in support of Access Pro Bono’s direct pro bono services, surpassing last year’s total by several thousand dollars. That amount, coupled with $13,000 in corporate sponsorships (including title sponsorship from the CBABC Branch), will significantly help Access Pro Bono to continue the expansion of its pro bono programs as it forges ahead into 2012. The top fundraising lawyers were Greg Heywood, Roy Millen and Meika Lalonde, while the top fundraising law firms were Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Pushor Mitchell LLP and Lawson Lundell LLP.

L-R: Michelle Quigg (APB staff); Heidi Taylor (2011 Kelowna Bar Association President); and Annie Baric (APB staff).

Courthouse Library BC’s Survey Results

Ronald Smith, QC, won the Kindle™, but thanks to all 85 Courthouse Library BC survey respondents for revealing that live webinars, and in-person formats rank best among lawyers. Juniors prefer group learning; mid-year calls like online tutorials completed in their own time; senior calls prefer lunch or after-office learning sessions. The survey also revealed the rising popularity of CanLII for legal research, with lawyers more hungry for training in free tools than subscription-based ones. 

Final CPD Credits for 2011

Check www.courthouselibrary.ca/training for free CPD opportunities. Westlaw Wednesdays offer drop-in and webinar LawSource and CriminalSource training, and personalized sessions too. Soon, the Library will unveil a half-day program (covering Quicklaw, Westlaw, CanLII and more) where lawyers get CPD credit to amp up their research skills at no cost. Quesnel, Cranbrook and Courtenay lawyers will be first to receive this training session between now and early 2012. For training info, email mmaddigan@courthouselibrary.ca.

Guest Blogs

No longer “the refuge of compulsive exhibitionists,” blogs are joining conventional media as viable sources of legal information. The Library’s blog, The Stream, contains a growing number of guest posts from B.C. practitioners. Find out about joining your voice to The Stream; email nrussell@courthouselibrary.ca.