British Columbia is a national leader in accessibility of pro bono legal services for its individuals and non-profit organizations of limited means. Each year, more than 1000 lawyers and law students provide free legal advice to low-income and modest-income individuals at over 100 pro bono clinics throughout BC. Hundreds of other lawyers provide pro bono assistance and representation to individuals through roster programs and court-based projects.
There are several pro bono programs operating in BC, but the two main pro bono programs are the Access Pro Bono Society of BC and the Salvation Army Pro Bono Program.
Access Pro Bono was incorporated in February 2010 to carry on the work of the Western Canada Society to Access Justice and Pro Bono Law of BC, which formally merged as of April 1, 2010. Access Pro Bono carries on the services and programs formerly offered by the two organizations including:
• over 85 summary legal advice clinics in community centres, social agencies, churches and courthouses located throughout the province;
• a province-wide roster program providing representation services to individuals and non-profit organizations of limited means;
• a superior courts civil duty counsel project in Vancouver; and
• a Children's Lawyer project in Nanaimo.
www.www.accessprobono.ca
The main objective of the Salvation Army Pro Bono program is to bring volunteer lawyers together with the poor in order to eliminate barriers to justice. The Salvation Army operates dozens of pro bono summary legal advice clinics throughout BC, and supplements its pro bono services with a full range of social services.
www.probono.ca
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SUPREME COURT SPONSOR
APPEAL COURT SPONSORS
TRIAL COURT SPONSORS
VICTORIA
KELOWNA
VANCOUVER