Retired Lawyers
As a means to increase access to justice, the Law Society of Upper Canada has a membership category called "Emeritus Lawyer." This category permits retired lawyers to provide legal services pro bono through Pro Bono Law Ontario without paying the Law Society annual fee.
In addition, retired lawyers in the 25% and 50% (non-practising) fee categories who wish to provide pro bono legal services through Pro Bono Law Ontario may also 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.)
Senior Lawyers and Pro Bono
Few endeavors are better suited to the unique skills of senior lawyers than pro bono legal work on behalf of persons of limited economic means. Lawyers whose careers have ranged from solo to large firm practice, from corporate to government work, and from the judiciary to the academic world are poised to contribute their talents to the provision of legal services to low income persons in their communities.
Senior lawyers choose to do pro bono work for a variety of different reasons. Some of these reasons include a desire to continue using legal skills after retirement, to learn about new areas of the law, to continue interacting with the legal community on a regular basis, or a commitment to public service.
While the reasons for doing pro bono work vary, however, the crushing need for legal representation at no cost does not. Experts estimate that as much as 80% of the legal needs of low income citizens go unmet. After spending many years perfecting their craft, senior lawyers are in a perfect position to help contribute to the unmet legal needs of low-income persons throughout Ontario.
PBLO has a number of interesting pro bono projects in need of volunteers to provide help in these service areas:
- direct representation and summary advice
- procedural advice
- mentoring younger lawyers
- speakers for volunteer lawyer training
- speakers for public legal education seminars
- drafting online or print guidebooks and tip sheets
For more information, review some of our current projects then contact the project coordinator when you are ready to get started.
