New Pro Bono Award
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
- Organization: Release - University of Ottawa
Starting this June, The Derek Smith and Alain Roussy Pro Bono Award will be given to a graduating Common Law student who has a proven commitment to pro bono work. The amount of the award will be $1,000 per year for the next five years.
Taken from the phrase pro bono publico, meaning "for the public good", pro bono work involves the provision of legal services for free or at a substantially reduced rate to facilitate access to justice or otherwise promote the public interest. Pro bono work addresses a need beyond the one covered by provincial legal aid programs. It has received significant attention across Canada in recent years, including in Ontario where several large law firms have shown a growing interest in pro bono work.
The award was created by Derek Smith (LL.B. '01) and Alain Roussy (LL.B. '02), with financial support from their employers, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and Heenan Blaikie LLP.
"Each year, law students at the University of Ottawa demonstrate an exceptional commitment to improving access to justice and promoting the public interest," says Derek Smith. "This award will recognize the best of the best."
Alain Roussy goes a step further: "This award is part of the broader movement to promote pro bono work in Canada. We call on alumni of other Canadian law schools to create similar awards at their schools. Each new award will help foster a pro bono culture across Canada."
The Common Law Section is a leader in Canada for pro bono work. During the most recent academic year, more than 120 Common Law students took part in pro bono initiatives for more than 40 individuals and organizations in need. Each year, the University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic helps ensure access to justice within the Ottawa area. In 2003, the University created the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic, the first legal clinic in Canada to focus solely on legal issues surrounding the use of new technologies.
For more information, please contact:
Danielle Latreille
Manager, Events, Awards & Administrative Services
57 Louis Pasteur, room 105A
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
<!--
var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to';
var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '=';
var addy62008 = 'Danielle.Latreille' + '@' + 'uOttawa' + '.' + 'ca';
var addy_text62008 = 'Danielle.Latreille' + '@' + 'uOttawa' + '.' + 'ca';
document.write( '<a ' + path + '\'' + prefix + ':' + addy62008 + '\'>' + addy_text62008 + '<\/a>' );
//-->
Danielle.Latreille@uOttawa.caThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
(613) 562-5800 Ext. 3297
(613) 562-5124
