Events 2006

MAY

May 2006: Managing Partners Roundtable
On May 15, Pro Bono Law of BC facilitated a Managing Partners Roundtable which brought together partners from Vancouver’s largest law firms, the judiciary, and representatives from the University of British Columbia and University of Victoria law schools, the Law Society of BC and the Law Foundation of BC. 

Chief Justice Finch, Chief Judge Stansfield and Mr. Justice Williamson provided participants with some valuable insight on the increasing need for pro bono representation of otherwise self-represented litigants at all levels of the courts.  In addition to providing low-income British Columbians with access to justice, it was noted that pro bono service offers professional development and is a professional obligation.

Guest speaker Julia Parsons Clarke of Perkins Coie LLP (Seattle) described the many benefits of a formalized pro bono policy for her firm, including attracting and keeping good people, providing training at all levels of the firm, the positive relationship between lawyer productivity and pro bono work, and meeting the expectation on the part of corporate clients that the law firm give back to the community.


Lynn Burns, Executive Director of Pro Bono Law Ontario, speaks to the Roundtable audience.

Guest speaker Lynn Burns, Executive Director of Pro Bono Law Ontario described her experience working with major Toronto law firms to bring about successful pro bono policies.  She advised that two fundamental components are necessary: that time spent on pro bono files needs to be counted toward billable hours, and that associates need to know that there is buy-in from the firm partners.  Ms. Burns noted that it is better to roll out a program in phases, and that a workable goal in the first year or two is for each lawyer to have one pro bono file per year.  Toronto firms with pro bono policies are already starting to see the benefits, including the enhancement of firm culture.

The Roundtable discussion provided some innovative ideas on how to better engage large law firms in the provision of pro bono legal services in British Columbia, including firm-specific pro bono projects, partnerships between law firms and non-profit organizations, involvement of the law schools in research for large pro bono cases, and supporting existing pro bono programs including Pro Bono Law of BC’s Roster Programs, and clinical programs such as the Salvation Army BC Pro Bono Program and the Western Canada Society to Access Justice.

Pro Bono Law of BC wishes to thank all participants for their valuable input at the Roundtable, and looks forward to a continued dialogue with the law firms and other stakeholders.

MARCH

March 2006: 2006 HoopLaw Basketball Tournament
Pro Bono Law of BC assembled a crack squad of pro bono lawyers for its first entry in the Recreational Division of the annual HoopLaw Basketball Tournament, held at Kitsilano Secondary School in Vancouver on Saturday, March 4th. Playing in away-black as the Non-Profiteers, the 'Sanctimonious Six' included: Jamie Maclaren of PBLBC, David Plunkett of Whitelaw Twining, Dwight Stewart of Miller Thomson, Sukhi Nunrha of MMT Law, Meghann Hilder of Greiner Bethel, and Dejan Calija of Bell Spagnuolo.


L-R: Jamie Maclaren, David Plunkett, Dwight Stewart, Sukhi Nunrha, Meghann Hilder, Dejan Calija. Missing from photo: Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Yao Ming.

The Non-Profiteers roared to an early victory against a tired UBC Law squad. Buoyed by the pinpoint passing of Hilder and the board-crashing efforts of Calija, they then laid waste to the combo team of Lang Michener/Guild Yule. Hopes were high as PBLBC entered the semi-finals against Borden Ladner Gervais. In a hard-fought match, the Non-Profiteer one-man bench faltered and the player-rich BLG team ran away with the victory in the late stages of the second half. The Non-Profiteers professed to being happy to have been ousted before their joints collapsed, and they took solace in the fact that they raised a good amount of money for children's charities.

FEBRUARY

February 2006: First Annual PBLBC Appreciation Breakfast
On February 9th at the Law Courts Inn in Vancouver, Pro Bono Law of BC (PBLBC) hosted its first Appreciation Breakfast to thank the many volunteer lawyers who gave generously of their time in 2005 to assist low-income British Columbians in obtaining access to justice. The event drew over 80 lawyers-- from sole practitioners to associates and partners of large national firms. Attendees were treated to a buffet breakfast and the sage words of the keynote speaker, the Honourable Chief Justice Lance Finch.

PBLBC Director (and former Chair) Kelly Doyle provided the opening remarks and spoke to the relationship between the professional responsibility and pro bono. Mr. Doyle noted that "the profile of pro bono has increased profoundly over the last number of years. Summary advice clinics have sprung up in larger and larger numbers providing legal advice to thousands of British Columbians annually through the good work of the Salvation Army, Access Justice and other organizations". Mr. Doyle also recognized and encouraged "the continued good work of those who provide pro bono through the often invisible platform of their own practices despite all the pressures and demands of private, public or corporate counsel practice."

PBLBC Executive Director Jamie Maclaren then introduced John-Paul Boyd and Angus M. Gunn, Jr., the Program Coordinators of the PBLBC Roster programs launched in late 2005 - the Family Law Program, the Judicial Review Program and the Federal Court of Appeal Program respectively. Mr. Maclaren also encouraged solicitors to consider volunteering for the new Solicitors' Program which matches solicitors with community organizations of limited means seeking pro bono legal assistance.


The Honourable Chief Justice Finch delivers his speech

Chief Justice Lance Finch then delivered an eloquent and compelling speech on the Court of Appeal's appreciation for the services provided by pro bono organizations such as PBLBC, the Salvation Army and Access Justice, and on the perpetual need for lawyers to provide pro bono representation to otherwise unrepresented litigants in the Court of Appeal. The Chief Justice's entire speech can be read here.

PBLBC thanks all of the lawyers who took time out of their busy schedules to attend the breakfast. PBLBC also thanks Chief Justice Lance Finch, Chief Justice Donald Brenner, Madam Justice Anne Rowles, the Law Society of British Columbia, and the Law Foundation of British Columbia for lending their support to this event.