As of December 2013, the Department of Justice Canada has adopted a policy for pro bono legal services by departmental lawyers. The policy enables Justice lawyers to pursue their personal goals and professional obligation to give back directly to their communities by volunteering in pro bono legal activities.
Beginning in May 2012, Justice and its lawyers participated in a one-year pilot initiative where lawyers could volunteer at selected pro bono clinics. The pilot clinics were located in Vancouver, Edmonton and Ottawa. During the pilot period, more than 115 Justice lawyers volunteered over 900 pro bono legal service hours, working with over 360 Canadians who might not otherwise have had access to legal advice.
Pro bono legal services that took place during the pilot period continue as approved activities under the new policy. The Department will be seeking out new activities to add to the roster. Current projects include:
- The Wills Clinic operated by Access Pro Bono B.C. and located at the Justice Access Centre located at the Vancouver, British Columbia, Courthouse. Trained pro bono lawyers and articling students draft and execute simple wills, representation agreements, and powers of attorney for seniors living with low incomes and people who have terminal illnesses.
- The Edmonton Community Legal Centre, which provides a variety of pro bono legal information and advice to people living with low incomes. Justice lawyers volunteering at the centre are limited to providing pro bono legal advice on landlord and tenant matters.
- The Law Help Ontario Ottawa Court House, which provides pro bono legal help to unrepresented people living with limited means and suing or being sued in civil court. Department of Justice lawyers volunteering at the clinic are limited to providing pro bono legal advice to non-family civil litigants in Small Claims Court and the Ontario Superior Court.
Additional information on the projects can be found at:
Until recently, many challenges prevented the Department from adopting a pro bono policy. For one, pro bono practice insurance was unavailable to Crown lawyers. For another, it was impossible for Justice lawyers to carry out conflict-of-interests searches on all the legal cases involving the Government of Canada. During the pilot projects, the areas of law in which federal lawyers could volunteer were carefully selected in order to minimize the risk of conflict of interests with the work of the Department and its lawyers.
This policy will enable Justice lawyers to make a valuable contribution to their communities. The Department extends thanks to the law societies and the pro bono clinic operators who participated in the pilot initiative for nurturing Justice lawyers in the delivery of pro bono legal services to Canadians.
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February 2014
Department of Justice Canada
