Building Bridges to Justice, the 1st National Pro Bono Conference takes place on November 16 and 17 in Toronto with a special awards dinner on the evening of November 16 honouring a committed pro bono individual, law firm, and community program.

This is the first time in Canada that members of the private bar, legal aid providers, court staff, and community groups from across the country will gather to discuss ways that pro bono can be used to address the unmet legal needs of low-income Canadians.

Keynote speakers at the conference and dinner include Hon. Roy McMurtry, Chief Justice of Ontario, Hon. Michael Bryant, Attorney General of Ontario, and noted Ottawa lawyer David Scott, Q.C.

Access to justice for all Canadians requires both a strong government commitment to legal aid and complementary supports like pro bono legal services and self-help tools. These measures are drastically under-funded and fragmented in Canada, with the impact felt most by low-income Canadians--including women and children, people with disabilities, and immigrants. Further, challenges exist for citizens residing in remote or rural communities across Canada.

Recently, Canadian judges have been raising alarm bells at the increasing number of people forced to represent themselves in court due to rising legal costs. The conference will look at models aimed at trying to assist self-represented litigants through new and innovative services like self-help centres in court houses and user-friendly online tools that generate legal forms.

Drawing on successful models and innovations from Ontario and other provinces, this conference will address ways lawyers and legal groups can link themselves with individuals and communities in need. A live "marketplace" will be held at the conference to introduce participants to community organizations that serve low-income Canadians, providing concrete examples of how the legal sector can help.

XXX

PLACEMENTS & INTERVIEWS:

PBLO: Carol Austin

416-302-7699

carol@pblo.org

PBLBC: Jamie Maclaren

604-893-8932

jmaclaren@probononet.bc.ca

MORE INFO:

www.pblo.org

www.probononet.bc.ca

______________________________________________________

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Plenary 1: Building Bridges to Justice: Partnerships and Community Development

Plenary 2: Pro Bono in the Canadian Context

Workshops:

Using Technology to Address Rural and Remote Needs

Government Pro Bono: Opportunities and Best Practices

Engaging Corporate Lawyers for the Public Good: Models for a Business Law Practice

Global Pro Bono Opportunities

Pro Bono Policy Development and Best Practices for Large and Mid-Sized Firms

Discrete Service Pro Bono Programs

Pro Bono Children's Projects

Friday, November 17, 2006

Plenary 3: Pro Bono and Legal Aid: Why We Need Each Other

Workshops:

Court-Based Pro Bono Models

Law Association Partnerships with Legal Clinics and Community Groups

Law Student Pro Bono

Pro Bono Marketplace