Roster Programs Overview
Introduced in November 2005, the Pro Bono Law of BC Roster Programs provide pro bono assistance and representation to individuals and non-profit organizations of limited means in specific areas of the law.How the Programs Came to Be
One of Pro Bono Law of BC’s guiding principles is to develop new ways of delivering pro bono legal services where the legal needs of people and non-profit organizations are unfulfilled.
Fortunately, in British Columbia, many legal needs are served by a strong network of free legal advice clinics operated by the Salvation Army BC Pro Bono Program, the Western Canada Society to Access Justice, the UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program and the University of Victoria Law Centre. Other legal needs are served by community organizations, legal aid and various programs operated by the Legal Services Society.
Unfortunately, the services provided by the above programs do not extend so far as to guarantee equal access to justice for all British Columbians. Over time, the law has become increasingly complex, legal fees have become increasingly costly, and budget cuts have reduced the availability of legal aid. Legal advice clinics are only able to help individuals outside of courtrooms and hearings. A glaring need has therefore emerged for the pro bono representation of individuals and non-profit organizations of limited means.
Pro Bono Law of BC developed the Roster Programs in response to the need for pro bono representation. The Roster Programs are designed to provide efficient, accessible and organized pro bono assistance and representation to individuals and organizations by supplementing the front-line work of advocates, lawyers and legal advice programs. The Roster Programs also answer a popular call among lawyers for better organized, better screened and more customized pro bono opportunities.
How the Programs Work
For each of the Roster Programs, Pro Bono Law of BC maintains a roster of lawyers who are prepared to consider pro bono opportunities within their areas of practice expertise and within their geographical region. We receive screened client referrals from lawyers, advocates, the Legal Services Society and front-line pro bono organizations such as those listed above. We then present the referred opportunities to each roster lawyer according to his or her location, stated interest and capacity. Roster lawyers choose how and when they are able to provide pro bono assistance—from basic help on single, discrete issues to full-service representation.
The Roster Programs provide a clear benefit to individual and organizational clients: they provide previously unavailable centralized access to pro bono legal services offered by specialized lawyers within defined geographic regions. If an individual or organization meets our financial eligibility requirements and has a case or request showing some legal merit, we advertise the request to a roster of willing lawyers. Our staff and volunteers do their best to find a match for each request within a short period of time.
The Roster Programs provide numerous benefits to volunteer lawyers. We screen each request so that only well-defined and meritorious claims are advertised to our roster. Each lawyer determines the scope and terms of his or her potential assistance. We then provide the support and resources so that each lawyer can focus on the discrete goal of his or her service agreement. Through the Lawyers Insurance Fund, we provide full insurance coverage with waived deductibles and surcharges to members in good standing with the Law Society of British Columbia for all pro bono services rendered to individuals. Also, for all poverty law-related full-representation cases matched through the Roster programs, the Law Foundation of British Columbia has provided a grant for coverage of disbursements incurred throughout the litigation process.
For further information on how the Roster Programs operate, please consult the Referral and Matching Protocols.
How to Get Involved
All lawyers in good standing with the Law Society of British Columbia are welcome to participate in the Roster Programs. Whether you are Crown Counsel, government counsel, in-house counsel, non-practicing or retired, we provide full insurance coverage for your pro bono services. So, if you would like to be included on one or more of our rosters, simply register on this website and specify how often you would like to hear about pro bono opportunities in your area.
If you are a non-lawyer legal professional (e.g. notary, advocate, paralegal, mediator, interpreter, articling student, law student) who would like to provide assistance in relation to one or more of the Roster Programs, register on this website and specify the type of pro bono opportunities that you seek.
If you are a lawyer, law student, articling student or advocate who knows of an individual or organization who likely qualifies for pro bono assistance through the Roster Programs, please complete our online Referral Form or downloadable Referral Form and submit, fax or mail it to us as soon as possible. We will do our best to find a match.