The law group participates in programs including PBO's legal advice hotline
As the season of good will is upon us, lawyers from RBC Law Group are ramping up their pro bono and volunteer efforts to give back and support communities around them.
Continuing a proud tradition of providing free legal advice and access to justice to clients in need through the Pro Bono Ontario Free Legal Advice Hotline Program, the team at RBC served more than 100 clients during a recent volunteer day organized by the law group on an annual basis. The legal department at RBC has a strong connection to the program through chief legal officer Maria Douvas, who is a member of the board of directors at Pro Bono Ontario.
“Maria is setting the tone from the top and showcasing the importance of lawyers and paralegals and other legal professionals giving back to the community,” says Lucille D’Souza, VP & associate general counsel, strategy & operations at RBC.
Participation in events such as the legal advice hotline brings together team members who may not normally work together, D’Souza says.
“There are many personal benefits like broadening perspectives and helping people to become better leaders,” says D’Dsouza. “It also connects us with the community and brings us together as a team. It’s not only part of living the RBC purpose, but really integral to the way we view employee and leadership development,” she adds.
James Catsburg, managing counsel at RBC Law Group is one of the team members to volunteer at the recent Pro Bono Ontario hotline initiative.
“As someone who primarily practices in IP and marketing, I was hesitant to participate as I didn’t think I had much to offer the Pro Bono Ontario hotline,” says Catsburg. “I decided to step outside my comfort zone because I recognized I could bring value to my community based on my profession, regardless of my expertise. This was such a rewarding experience and it continues to bring me joy and fulfillment as I reflect on the individuals I helped.”
The legal advice hotline is just one of many pro bono, volunteer and community initiatives in which the legal team at RBC participates.
Earlier this year, the law group participated in an Indigenous youth outreach program which involved helping First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth learn about the justice system. According to partner organization Level, Indigenous peoples are overrepresented at every stage of the criminal justice process, yet underrepresented in the administration of justice in Canada. RBC volunteers worked with Indigenous youth to increase their knowledge of Canada’s justice system and to provide insight into pursuing a career in law.
As a global bank, RBC also supports pro bono initiatives around the world including downtown Los Angeles, where there is a significant homeless population. RBC Law Group partners with the Legal Aid Foundation of LA to help clients with legal issues, including ones related to housing and other issues related to homelessness.
The team is also involved in a volunteer telephone reassurance program which started during the pandemic to offer support and friendship to isolated seniors and other vulnerable people.
D’Souza says that the law group’s commitment to community initiatives and pro bono work – and to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion – helps to attract and retain top talent.
“We want to be the organization that walks the walk,” says D’Souza. “We are very transparent about the fact that we have a responsibility to our communities, so our work is not just about what we do for the organization, but what we give back to the community as well. I think that really resonates with younger people coming into the organization as we recruit and attract and retain top talent.”
D’Souza’s team has gone one step further by holding quarterly team volunteer events at different locations including Covenant House, the North Toronto Cat Rescue, and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. The team is encouraged to pick different programs and causes that are close to their heart. RBC also donates to each organization in support of the employees.
“We are not only getting together and doing something good for the community, but we are also leveraging and harnessing the power of RBC,” says D’Souza. In 2024, she plans to encourage her team to continue identifying new causes and different ways to give back to the community.
