Top pro bono firms break down barriers and address the access to justice crisis
Canadian Lawyer has released the second edition of its 5-Star Pro Bono Law Firms report, which honours firms and legal departments committed to initiatives delivering free legal services to those most in need.
With the support of Pro Bono Ontario, Canadian Lawyer selected the standouts from a pool of over 50 nominees. The winner's have promoted pro bono work by implementing formal structures, supporting interested lawyers, and counting pro bono time toward lawyers’ targets, among other ways.
JFK Law LLP, one of this year’s awardees, drives a culture of pro bono service within its ranks. The Aboriginal law litigation boutique devotes time and effort to addressing the access to justice issues of Indigenous peoples, including in relation to employment law and human rights matters.
The firm, headquartered in B.C., has helped institutions meet the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action and conform to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“When you’re dealing with Indigenous Peoples and what issues come to bear when they’re trying to defend their rights, it gets complicated because of Canada’s history and the need for reconciliation, which is still very much an unfinished project,” says managing partner Sara Mainville.
JFK Law has also worked with universities on issues relating to Indigenous identity and Indigenous relationships with universities within Indigenous peoples’ territories.
The firm utilizes its pro bono budget, offers low bono and joint retainers on Indigenous legal issues that could potentially lead to progress, gives its junior lawyers opportunities to experience working efficiently on pro bono cases, and urges its young lawyers to accomplish a minimum of 50 pro bono hours per year.
JFK Law aims to make the best use of its pro bono resources to assist its clients in significant ways. “Our pro bono test is, generally, will it be helpful to our client group, will it have an impact, or set the pathway forward for other people,” Mainville tells Canadian Lawyer.
Apart from JFK Law LLP, the other regional/midsized firms named in the new report are Lenczner Slaght LLP, McKercher LLP, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP, Pink Larkin, and Lawson Lundell LLP.
The large/national firms recognized in the nationwide survey are Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP; Borden Ladner Gervais LLP; Gowling WLG (Canada); McMillan LLP; Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP / S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l.; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; DLA Piper (Canada) LLP; and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l.
Canadian Lawyer congratulates this year’s 5-Star Pro Bono Law Firms. See more information here on the awardees, which also include small firms and in-house legal departments.
