2009 News

MAY

Clicklaw Launched

Clicklaw was launched during Law Week 2009 and is now live at: www.clicklaw.bc.ca. This portal site, aimed at the public, features legal information and education resources from the 24 organizations in British Columbia that are associated with the Public Legal Education and Information Network (PLEI Network). The site is launching as a beta website, with additional features to come in the fall. The Clicklaw project is funded by the Law Foundation of BC, and is being led by Courthouse Libraries BC.

For details, visit the Clicklaw website at: www.clicklaw.bc.ca.

Public Libraries in BC Offer Residents Access to More Legal Information

LawMatters at Your Local Public Library, a special project of Courthouse Libraries BC, launched online during Law Week 2009.  LawMatters has enabled all public libraries in BC to add more legal resources to their collections. Residents will be able to obtain information on policies and procedure, receive updates in the law, or obtain information on a specific legal problem concerning topics such as divorce, housing and property issues, employment, immigration, or wills and estates. Much of the material is written in plain language and is available in several languages. Training and support is provided by Courthouse Library staff. The LawMatters project is funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia.

For more information on the LawMatters project, visit the website at: www.bclawmatters.ca.

Changes to LawLINE Advice Services

LawLINE advice services will continue until at least March 31, 2010. However, as a result of reductions to LawLINE staff, the scope of coverage for LawLINE has been redefined to tailor the service primarily to issues arising from the current economy.

As of mid-April 2009, LawLINE advice services are available for the following areas: debtors’ assistance issues; employment law issues; family law issues; health, estates law and seniors’ issues; housing law related issues; and income security law related issues.

For information on LawLINE Advice Services, visit the website at: www.lss.bc.ca/general/LawLINE.asp

Family Relations Act Review: Report of Public Consultations Available Online

British Columbia's Ministry of Attorney General has released its Family Relations Act Review: Report of Public Consultations. This report summarizes the responses the Ministry received during public consultations on reform of the Family Relations Act held in 2007 and 2008.

In 2007, the Ministry conducted public consultations on the Family Relations Act  by posting discussion papers that posed questions about possible areas of reform and sought feedback. Responses came from within government, e.g. from Family Justice Counsellors and Victim Services, and from outside government, e.g. from community groups, family advocates and support workers, academics, lawyers, mediators and individuals. As well, forums were hosted by the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C. and the Law Courts Education Society.

The report is available online at: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/family-relations-act/index.htm.

Advocacy Access Publications Updates

Advocacy Access of the BC Coalition of People With Disabilities has completed their annual Disability Benefits Help Sheets update. This year they have produced a new Help Sheet (#14) entitled Registered Disability Savings Plan and the Disability Tax Credit. Help Sheet 14 outlines the eligibility rules of the new Savings Plan and explains the application process.

Advocacy Access has also updated its series of Disability Benefits Application and Appeals Guides for advocates and their clients. This series of 10 Guides includes detailed information on applying for and appealing the denial of provincial disability benefits, Schedule C benefits and the MNS nutritional supplement.

The Help Sheets and Disability Benefits  Application and Appeal Guides are available through the new Clicklaw website. Visit the Clicklaw website at: www.clicklaw.bc.ca. They can also be accessed directly from the website of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities at: www.bccpd.bc.ca.

Victoria (City) v. Adams: Advancing the Right to Shelter

The Poverty and Human Rights Centre in Vancouver has produced a Law Sheet on homelessness: Victoria (City) v. Adams: Advancing the Right to Shelter. This Law Sheet discusses the role played by Canada’s international human rights obligations in the British Columbia Supreme Court decision in Victoria (City) v. Adams.

The Law Sheet notes that in Victoria (City) v. Adams, the Court recognizes that creating shelter to protect oneself from the harshness of the weather and the environment is critical to an individual’s dignity and independence. The Court also recognizes that there are constitutional limits on governments’ powers to stop people from trying to shelter themselves.

To view the Law Sheet visit the PovNet website at: www.povnet.org.

Community Justice Centres to Open in Quebec

Quebec Justice Minister Kathleen Weil has announced that three pilot Community Justice Centres will be created in Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Rimouski this year. Justice Minister Weil said that the intention is to have one “in every community across Quebec.”

The Minister said two-thirds of Quebecers consider the justice system a labyrinth and this is creating a “crisis of confidence” in the system.

The Community Justice Centres, which will offer “one stop” access to justice, will be open in the evenings as well as during office hours. They will be staffed by volunteer lawyers and notaries.

Based on an article by Kevin Dougherty, The Montreal Gazette, Tuesday April 21, 2009.

Pro Bono Law Ontario Award Win Will go to New Help Centre

The American College of Trial Lawyers has chosen Pro Bono Law Ontario as the recipient of the prestigious Emil Gumpert Award. This is the first time the award has been won by a Canadian organization or individual. The award recognizes programs, public or private, whose principal purpose is to maintain and improve the administration of justice.

Pro Bono Law Ontario will use the monetary part of the award – valued at $50,000 USD – to open a new walk-in, legal help centre in Ottawa. The centre will be modelled on the successful “Law Help Ontario” centre operating out of the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. Law Help Ontario is a project of Pro Bono Law Ontario that provides pro bono legal services to people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer and are unrepresented in a legal matter.

For information on the award and Law Help Ontario, see the online article at: www.pblo.org/about/item.1309-Gumpert_Award.

Pro Bono Net’s Pro Bono Manager

With the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Pro Bono Net in the United States has developed a customized, hosted web application to increase law firms' pro bono program management capacity. Operating as a secure, seamless extension of a law firm's intranet, the platform will integrate content from the public interest legal community regarding training events, volunteer opportunities and news with powerful reporting, knowledge management and lawyer matching tools that draw on data from the law firm's internal personnel, billing, time keeping and docketing systems.

For details about Pro Bono Manager, visit the Pro Bono Net website at: www.probono.net/probonomanager.

For details on how a large US law firm is using Pro Bono Manager, see the article, Software Helps Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Increase its Pro Bono Impact, at: www.probono.net/library/attachment.146107?print.

Promoting Remote Pro Bono

In the Australian state of Queensland, the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH) is conducting research into the provision of pro bono services in remote parts of the state. The research provides an assessment of that organization’s Rural, Regional and Remote (RRR) pilot program.

“The findings of the research indicated that there were a number of barriers that were preventing regional law firms from providing pro bono legal assistance in their communities,” says Aimee McVeigh, coordinator of the RRR project.

“We also identified a number of small regionally based firms that were interested in commencing or increasing their pro bono activities but were unable to do so due to capacity issues and lack of expertise. Through the RRR Project, QPILCH will partner small RRR law firms with big city firms for the purpose of increasing the capacity of the small firms to provide pro bono assistance. The partnership might involve the big firm being available to field enquiries or complete a discreet part of a matter.”

“One of the outcomes of this program will be the development of precedent documents and protocols that will enable regional firms to access the resources of city firms for the purpose of pro bono activities,” says McVeigh, adding that these resources will still be available as a tool for regional firms to broker partnerships with larger firms, regardless of whether the RRR project continues.

As well as assisting regional firms to offer pro bono services, QPILCH hopes to have an increased capacity to refer applications for legal assistance to a solicitor in the client’s local area.

For details, see the article, Remote Pro Bono in Queensland, on the National Pro Bono Resource Centre website at: www.nationalprobono.org.au/page.asp?from=4&id=234#5.

APRIL

New Features at Access Justice

Client Services Online is a new Access Justice service feature. Clients may register, receive a password, and use the Internet to connect with Access Justice for pro bono assistance.

Lawyers may now register to volunteer their services online. Lawyers wishing to volunteer are asked to visit the website at: www.accessjustice.ca, click on the link located on the left-hand side of the page called "Lawyers Wishing to Volunteer", and complete the Lawyer Application.

Access Justice has also added to their online resources and publications.

For details, visit the Access Justice website at: www.accessjustice.ca.

Rural Education and Access to Lawyers (REAL) Initiative Launched

The Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch (CBABC) has received three-year funding from the Law Foundation of British Columbia to implement the Rural Education and Access to Lawyers (REAL) initiative. The initiative will encourage law students to gain experience in smaller communities and witness first-hand the opportunities that exist outside the larger urban centres.

REAL is a coordinated set of programs that provide the framework for tackling the crisis of access to legal services in rural areas and small communities. Key to the initiative is the partnership and engagement of Local and County Bar Associations and local community leaders. While the targets for this project are selected communities as dictated by local Bar interest, it is intended that all components and educational opportunities of the Initiative be applicable to any community in the province.

For further information about the REAL initiative and regional summer opportunities, visit the website at: www.realbc.org, or contact Michael Litchfield, CBABC Regional Legal Careers Officer, at: mlitchfield@bccba.org.

Recent changes to Employment Insurance

PovNet has posted a summary of recent changes to Employment Insurance on the PovNet website. Two pilot projects have been extended to include all regions of Canada:

Employment Insurance (EI) Pilot Project to increase the allowable earnings: Working while on EI: From December 7, 2008 through December 4, 2010, this pilot project increases the amount recipients can earn while working part-time and receiving EI benefits by allowing them to earn the greater of $75 or 40% of weekly benefits.

The extended duration of Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits: Effective on March 1, 2009, recipients may be entitled to receive five more weeks of EI benefits.

Visit the PovNet website at: www.povnet.org/node/3250 for links to the relevant government webpages.

Despite Downturn, Law Firms Should Make the Right Choice for the Future

Law Firm Attorneys Displaced by the Economic Downturn: Best Practices and Guidance for Effective Pro Bono Engagement is an article by Esther Lardent, Executive Director of the Pro Bono Institute, based in Washington DC.

In this article Lardent comments on the current situation facing attorneys and law firms: more clients, more problems, and far fewer staff and resources-and pro bono resources are more essential than ever before. To read the article, go to: www.probonoinst.org/pdfs/DisplacedAttorneys.pdf.

MARCH

Call for Nominations: Harry Rankin QC Pro Bono Award

In recognition of the immense contribution of Harry Rankin, QC in supporting access to justice for the poor, the CBABC established an annual reward to recognize outstanding contributions by a member of CBABC in the area of pro bono work.

To be eligible for the Award, an individual must be a CBABC member who has demonstrated outstanding contribution in the area of pro bono work, including any or all of the following activities:
1. pro bono legal services to a client(s)
2. assisting community organizations in establishing pro bono clinics
3. co-ordinating pro bono services
4. education and advocacy work to promote pro bono culture

Special consideration is given to involvement in providing pro bono legal services directly to persons of limited means, consistent with the spirit and contribution of Harry Rankin, QC.

Nominations must be submitted by 4:30 pm on April 24, 2009. Details are available online at: www.cba.org/bc/Public_Media/pdf/harry_rankin_qc.pdf.

The CBA Pro Bono Committee Needs Your Help

The Canadian Bar Association's Pro Bono Mentorship Program was successfully launched at the 2008 CLC last August. The Program received an encouraging amount of applications required to launch the program. The Program is continuing to accept applications to be a Mentor and is now also accepting applications to be a Mentee.

For details, visit: www.cba.org/CBA/groups/probono.

Law Week 2009

Law Week 2009 takes place from April 16-26 this year, with events planned across the province. The theme of Law Week 2009 is Access to Justice: Public Confidence in the Justice System.

From Fort St. John's to Maple Ridge, communities across the province are hosting "Law Days" and providing British Columbians with the opportunity to learn about the law, the legal profession and some of the legal institutions that form the cornerstones of our Canadian democracy.

For details go to: www.cba.org/lawweek/events/main/default.aspx.

Dial-a-Lawyer

On Saturday, April 25, 2009, the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch will hold its province-wide "Dial-A-Lawyer" program between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. During that time, members of the public are invited to call and speak with a lawyer for up to 15 minutes. This event is part of Law Week activities.

Telephone:
Lower Mainland: 604.687.3221
Toll Free in British Columbia: 1.800.663.1919

VictimsInfo.ca: An Online Resource for Victims & Witnesses of Crime in BC

This new website includes information on reporting a crime, police investigation, preparing for trial and what happens after sentencing. Visit the website at: www.victimsinfo.ca.

Justice in Our Times

As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, the Law Courts Education Society is hosting Justice in Our Times - a lecture series focused on highlighting important, current justice issues. The opening event was Aboriginal Justice in Our Times on March 3, 2009. For details and to view the monthly newsletter, go to: www.justiceinourtimes.ca.

Access to Justice Online Blog

The Access to Justice website (separate from Access Justice) is an online blog devoted to the campaign to halt cuts to legal aid services that were announced in January 2009. The site contains media coverage, a petition, and other developments.

Visit the website at: www.accesstojustice.ca.

Law Foundation creates Legal Research Fund

The Law Foundation of British Columbia has established a fund of $100,000 per year to support legal research in British Columbia. The purpose of the initiative is to support legal research projects that "advance the knowledge of law, social policy, and the administration of justice."

Applications for this grant may be made by members of the Law Faculties at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria and others in the legal profession who can demonstrate that they have the background, interests and capacity to carry out a project which will meet the stated purpose of the initiative. For details, go to: www.lawfoundationbc.org.

Law Foundation's Civil Legal Needs Research Report Now Online

The Civil Legal Needs Research Report, written for the Law Foundation of B.C. by Carol McEown, and released December 1, 2008, is now available for download. To view the report, go to: www.lawfoundationbc.org.

Creative Support for National Pro Bono Day in Australia

Friday May 15, 2009 is National Pro Bono Day in Australia. Activities include Pro Bono Uncut, a competition with a $4000 prize for original short films that highlight pro bono legal work. The competition is sponsored by the National Pro Bono Resource Centre of Australia.

For information about National Pro Bono Day in Australia, visit the website at: www.nationalprobono.org.au/home.asp.

2009 Equal Justice Conference

The 2009 Equal Justice Conference will be held May 14 - 16, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The Equal Justice Conference brings together all components of the legal community to discuss equal justice issues as they relate to the delivery of legal services to the poor and low-income individuals in need of legal assistance.

The emphasis of this year's conference is on strengthening partnerships among the key players in the civil justice system.

For conference details visit the website at: www.abanet.org/legalservices/ejc.

FEBRUARY

Clearing the Path to Justice

More than 250 people came to the Law Society's latest public forum to hear top opinion leaders, including the Chief Justice of Canada and the Attorney General of BC, speak about barriers to accessing the justice system and creative solutions to break down those obstacles.

Speaking at Clearing the Path to Justice, held on January 28, the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, PC, told the audience that one of the issues that needs to be addressed is the increasing number of self-represented litigants.

"No doubt some litigants, armed with access to the internet and emboldened by watching Judge Judy, think they can do a good job on their own," said McLachlin. "Yet the largest factor in the rise of self-represented litigants, by far, is expense and delay in the system."

To read the Law Society's full report of the event, go to: www.lawsociety.bc.ca/utilities/whatsnew.html#forum.

AdminLawBC.ca

The new AdminLawBC.ca website is a guide to administrative law in BC, with information on how to navigate the administrative law system in BC. It provides multimedia presentations on topics including: what administrative law is; what types of tribunals exist and what they do; and how educators and community groups can obtain more information or contact a speaker.

The AdminLawBC.ca website site is located at: www.adminlawbc.ca.

New BC Superior Courts Website

The new website of the BC Superior Courts provides:

• Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judgment search by neutral citation, case name or advanced search
• Hearing lists for both Supreme Court and Court of Appeal matters
• Access to Supreme Court scheduling information
• Enhanced practice resources such as Practice Directions, court forms, information for self-represented litigants, and links to other useful websites

Current BC legislation Available Online for Free

Starting January 1, 2009, current provincial legislation and regulations are available to everyone on a new website, BC Laws. The website is managed by the Queen's Printer and is located at: www.bclaws.ca.

Legislation will also be available through the CanLII website beginning in March 2009.

Cutbacks at the Legal Services Society

A news release about service and staff changes at the Legal Services Society (LSS) was posted on the LSS website on January 13, 2009. Most of the changes take effect April 2009. The news release says, in part, that the Legal Services Society's board of directors instructed the society to prepare a budget that brings service costs more in line with government funding for criminal and family services.

"To achieve this, the society has made a number of changes to its staffing and operations, to the services it provides, and to the projects it was funding from non-government surplus revenues.... These decisions will have a significant impact on LSS, the tariff bar and LSS clients..."

To read the release, go to: www.lss.bc.ca/media/newsReleases.asp.

Canadian Bar Association BC Branch Calls for Urgent Review of Legal Aid Funding

The CBABC, responding to the recent announcement by the Legal Services Society of emergency cuts being made to their staffing levels and programs, has called upon the provincial government to review legal aid funding and ensure access to justice for all British Columbians.

Read the CBABC news release at: www.cba.org/bc/Public_Media/news_2009/news_01_16_09.aspx.

Connecting across Language and Distance

The Law Foundation of Ontario has released its report, Connecting Across Language and Distance: Linguistic and Rural Access to Legal Information. The report describes significant barriers to access to legal information and services for people who do not speak English or French and for people who live in rural and remote areas of Ontario. It reviews efforts in many jurisdictions to overcome these barriers and suggests possible ways forward in Ontario.

The report is available online at: www.lawfoundation.on.ca/pdf/linguistic_rural_report_dec2008_final.pdf.

Ontario to Conduct Civil Legal Needs Study

The Honourable R. Roy McMurtry, former Chief Justice of Ontario, is leading a new access to justice project that will look to the public for help in identifying viable solutions to overcome barriers to justice.

McMurtry is Chair of the Steering Committee of the Ontario Civil Legal Needs Project, a comprehensive study of unmet legal needs in Ontario. The project is the result of a partnership between the Law Society of Upper Canada, Legal Aid Ontario, and Pro Bono Law Ontario. Additional support for the initiative is provided by the Law Foundation of Ontario.

The goal is to improve access to justice by identifying innovative and cost-effective ways for legal service providers to better serve the public's civil legal needs - those not included in criminal law.

"Today, more people are appearing in courtrooms throughout the province without the support of a lawyer or licensed paralegal," says McMurtry. "The costs of legal services are rising, and it is taking longer to resolve legal problems. We, as a legal community, want to address these issues."

For details, visit the Law Society of Upper Canada at: www.lsuc.on.ca/media/jan1308_civil_legal_needs_en.pdf.

Alberta's Volunteer Lawyers Service Encourages Not-For-Profit Groups to Enrol in Free Legal Services Program

Alberta's Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS) program is actively seeking not-for-profit organizations to match with Alberta lawyers for free legal services and advice.

"We invite all registered Alberta charities and not-for-profit groups to enrol in this free legal services program," says L. Diane Young, president of the Canadian Bar Association Alberta. "Lawyers are available to assist in matters involving charities law, business law, administrative law, civil litigation, labour, and employment, human rights and tax law."

VLS assists registered charities and organizations qualified as such under the Income Tax Act who show a demonstrable need for free legal advice.

The VLS has increased the outreach of its services by 217 percent since November 2006. In addition to meeting increased awareness and efficiency goals, the program has also initiated workshops that are facilitated by lawyers for not-for-profit organizations.

Charitable organizations that have used the VLS program over the past few years offer high praise for the lawyers involved and the services they provided. "The VLS lawyer provides a highly professional and empathetic service which has been invaluable in helping us work through complex issues that arise through collaborative work," says Nancy Dutton, Strategic Lead, UpStart, Champions for Children and Youth.

The Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS) is a joint initiative of the Canadian Bar Association Alberta, the Law Society of Alberta, United Way of Calgary and Area, and the Association of General Counsel of Alberta.

Article excerpted from Marketwire - Jan. 13, 2009, on the Pro Bono Alberta website at: www.pbla.ca.

JANUARY

80 percent of Low-Income British Columbians Encounter Legal Problems

More than 80 per cent of low-income British Columbians experienced a legal problem in the past three years that was serious and difficult to resolve, says a poll commissioned by the Legal Services Society, released December 15, 2008.  Consumer, money, and housing issues topped the list of legal problems with employment and family relations following close behind.

"The high incidence of legal problems is troubling," said Mark Benton, QC, Executive Director of the Legal Services Society, the organization that provides legal aid in BC.  "This survey, along with other research in Canada and abroad, shows that legal problems have a serious impact on a person's physical and emotional health which, in turn, has a significant impact on health care and social service programs."

Benton added that the incidence of legal problems among low-income people is not likely to decrease given the recent economic downturn.   "In times of economic hardship, it is particularly important that people have access to reliable information and advice so they can address their legal problems quickly and effectively," Benton explained.  "Otherwise, their problems will quickly cascade into more serious issues that require other resources such as health care and social assistance."

Benton said the Legal Services Society commissioned the poll to "get a better understanding of the current legal needs of low-income people and to learn more about how best to meet those needs."

The Ipsos-Reid poll involved 1,189 online surveys of British Columbians 18 or older with a household income of less than $50,000 a year.  The results are considered accurate to within 2.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Survey results are posted on the Legal Services Society's website at: www.lss.bc.ca.

It’s No Joke: Lawyers Have Hearts

Ian Mulgrew’s Vancouver Sun article reports that the BC pro bono programs are responding to ever-increasing need, now exacerbated by the economic downturn.

Read the article at: www.accessjustice.ca/downloads/nojoke_lawyers_have_hearts_nov26'08.pdf.

Access Justice: Resources for Clients

Access Justice has updated its resources for clients.  The resources can be accessed by category as well as alphabetically at: www.accessjustice.ca/clients/resources.asp.

A Client’s Guide to Litigation

A new publication by David Roberts, QC offers an invaluable, easy-to-read resource for clients. 

Access the Guide at: www.cba.org/bc/CBA_Publications/Main/client_guide.aspx.

Criminal Justice Reform Secretariat Launches New Website

The Criminal Justice Reform Secretariat has launched a new website to highlight their activities, including community crime prevention pilot projects and Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court. 

Visit the site at: www.criminaljusticereform.gov.bc.ca/en/index.html.

Youth Crime Prevention Project Launched

In December 2008, the Ministry of Children and Family Development launched the first of six community-based crime prevention pilot projects.  The Inter-Regional At-Risk Youth Link (I-RAYL) brings together Pacific Community Resources Society and TransLink in the first program of its kind in Canada.  I-RAYL targets homeless and at-risk youth aged 10 to 15 who gather at SkyTrain (rapid transit) stations in the Lower Mainland.  Although these youth can intimidate transit riders and demand police resources, they are also at high risk of victimization and exploitation by drug dealers or gang members.

Read more about the Project at: www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2008CFD0057-001847.htm

Protecting RRSPs from Seizure

On November 27, 2008, the BC Legislative Assembly passed the Economic Incentive and Stabilization Statutes Amendment Act, 2008 (Bill 45), which included protection for retirement savings as recommended by Canadian Bar Association BC Branch (CBABC) in this Vancouver Sun article by CBABC President Miriam Maisonville: www.cba.org/bc/home/2008/president_11_25_08.aspx.

Parts of E-Health Act in Force

Parts of the E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act (Bill 24), which regulates electronic personal health information, came into force November 7, 2008 pursuant to B.C. Reg. 314/2008.  Additional parts are scheduled to come into force in June 30, 2009.  For details, go to the website of Continuing Legal Education BC (CLEBC) at: www.cle.bc.ca/News/November/08-ehealth.html.

The statute gives authorized health-care professionals secure access to patients’ information, but also allows individuals to block access to their own information from all health professionals unless they give their consent or are incapacitated in an emergency.

New Publications and Resources from the People’s Law School

New and revised publications from the People’s Law School include the following:

Learning About the Law 10th Edition;

Abuse of People with Disabilities 2nd Edition;

Abuse of People with Disabilities for Service Providers 2nd Edition; and

Animal Protection Law in BC in English, Chinese, Punjabi and Spanish.

To access the above publications, visit: www.publiclegaled.bc.ca. 

Pro Bono Institute’s Second Acts: Innovative Pilot Projects

In 2005, the Pro Bono Institute in Washington, D.C. developed Second Acts, an innovative initiative to support transitioning and retired lawyers who are interested in a second, volunteer career in public interest law.  Despite the ongoing social justice gap for low-income and underserved populations, this seasoned and knowledgeable talent pool has been largely overlooked.

The Pro Bono Institute is working with core constituencies – major law firms, corporate legal departments, and public interest organizations – to develop a bold new model of legal retirement and transition.

In August 2008 the Pro Bono Institute selected five public interest organizations to pilot four innovative demonstration projects.

Legal Aid Society, New York: The Second Acts pilot project at the Legal Aid Society will develop ways to enlarge the pro bono opportunities for transitioning and retired attorneys—as counsel, mentors and consultants in individual representation, law reform, transactional and legislative policy work.

Volunteer Lawyers Project, Boston Bar Association: The Second Acts pilot project at Volunteer Lawyers Project will collaborate with Boston’s largest law firms to provide their transitioning and retired attorneys with opportunities to engage in public interest practice and to institutionalize firm support for pro bono work as part of retirement planning.  Transitioning attorneys will be encouraged to try new areas of law through an array of opportunities, from individual representation in cases to signature projects that address far-reaching systemic issues.

The Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP) and Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal):  The Second Acts pilot project at VLSP and BayLegal will engage transitioning and retired attorneys in opportunities that include the creation of an expert litigation panel to expand much needed representation and provide mentorship to less experienced volunteer attorneys.  The project also plans to engage experienced attorneys in policy dialogue regarding redevelopment efforts in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunter’s Point community, and with City officials, the District Attorney, and the Police Department concerning the prosecution of homeless people for the “status crime” of being homeless.

Kids Matter, Inc. Milwaukee County, Wisconsin: Kids Matter Inc is a small grassroots organization that puts volunteer energy into improving the lives of the many Milwaukee County children involved in the child welfare system.  As part of the Pro Bono Institute's Second Acts pilot project at Kids Matter, transitioning and retired attorneys from law firms and corporations will have opportunities to advocate for special needs foster or kinship children in guardianship cases and complex special education matters, and will remove barriers to independence for foster children who will age out of care by, for example, creating a limited liability checking account system with local banks.

The project also seeks to engage transitioning and retired attorneys on significant law reform and policy issues over the three-year project period.

For more information about Second Acts, see the Pro Bono Institute website at: www.probonoinst.org/secondacts.php.