Volunteering
Pro Bono Law Ontario is mandated to improve access to justice in Ontario by providing strategic guidance, training, and technical assistance to law firms, law associations, and other groups that are dedicated to addressing the unmet legal needs of low-income and disadvantaged individuals, as well as the communities and charitable organizations that serve them.
PBLO engages all areas of the legal profession to encourage support for this mandate as well as to address barriers to pro bono participation and increase the capacity of the private bar to engage in organized pro bono programming.
PBLO has developed pro bono projects that take into account lawyers' areas of expertise and their busy schedules. Moreover, LawPRO has extended added insurance coverage benefits to lawyers volunteering through PBLO. Click here for more information about LawPRO's pro bono coverage.
The Law Society's Rules of Professional Conduct provide incentives that facilitate the practice of pro bono for lawyers who are retired, work part time, or work as corporate counsel if designated in the 25% or 50% (non-practising) fee categories or emeritus category. These lawyers can apply to the Law Society to be exempt from the requirement to pay 100% of the Law Society's annual fee (mirroring the LAWPRO insurance levy exemption for non-practising lawyers who provide LAWPRO-approved PBLO pro bono legal services.)
Pro bono opportunities are available for all segments of the legal profession:
- private practice
- law firms
- law associations
- government
- in-house counsel
- retired lawyers
- law students
Pro Bono Law Ontario can connect you with a number of interesting pro bono volunteer opportunities, such as:
- The Child Advocacy Project
- Volunteer Lawyers Service for charities and nonprofits
- Law Help Ontario for Lawyers and Law Students
- Federal Court Judicial Reviews
- ...and many others
For detailed information on current pro bono projects in Ontario, see the Pro Bono Directory.
