Welcome to the fourth issue of the Access to Justice eBulletin. The aim of this eBulletin is to highlight access to justice issues within Alberta and promote awareness of key pro bono initiatives to the greater legal community. Access to justice is one of the central tenets of our 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. We hope to continue to promote the affordability and availability of legal services and remove regulatory barriers to access where reasonable and appropriate.

After a challenging 2020 altered the pro bono landscape in Alberta, the past few months have seen the slow return of more traditional practice, with the opening of courts, clinics and some firms returning to the office. It would be tempting to think that this return to “normal” would be a relief for the pro bono community and a chance to return to traditional models, but for Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA), this is not the case.

For Nonye Opara, Executive Director of PBLA, the changes wrought by the pandemic brought into sharp focus the mission and mandate of PBLA and its crucial role in facilitating pro bono engagement by members of the legal profession, no matter the circumstance. Armed with key learnings and new momentum, PBLA’s Board developed a new Strategic Plan to guide the organization through the next phase of its development.

Calgary Legal Guidance (CLG) is offering a new program inviting interested local firms to host a clinic night several times during the year. Hosting a clinic night is an easy way to promote your firm’s pro bono involvement and help vulnerable Albertans gain improved access to justice.

In this program, your firm agrees to a set number of clinics for the next year. These can occur monthly, every other month, or bi-annually (twice a year) and run for approximately two hours each. CLG will do all the intake and scheduling of clients, while your firm provides three to four lawyers who will volunteer during the clinic to provide legal advice either in person or by phone, depending on your firm's preference.

CLG can schedule clients with legal needs specific to what your firm does or can offer clients with a range of legal concerns. This range could include areas such as:

If your firm participates, CLG will promote your firm as a “Friend of Pro Bono” on their website and other publications, as well as provide all the necessary training and orientation.

If your firm is interested in participating or if you have any further questions about the program, please contact Kim Feodoroff and cc Marina Giacomin.

The Law Society offers a status known as active, pro bono. This status allows you to exclusively volunteer at an Approved Legal Services Provider (ALSP) and is the same annual cost as holding inactive status. You do not need to purchase indemnity coverage with an active, pro bono status. If you are considering making a status change or plan to retire, consider electing a pro bono status instead of an inactive status.

Read the volunteer needs below from ALSPs in Alberta. Under the Law Society’s ALSP program, these providers offer pro bono legal advice on various topics, allowing underserved individuals to receive the advice and support they need. If you are able, consider volunteering with an ALSP to promote access to justice and to alleviate some of the stress the pro bono legal community is facing due to the economic situation and pandemic.

Visit our website for more information about status options or more information on each ALSP and what they do.

The Alberta Prison Justice Society (APJS) is an organization devoted to addressing injustices in correctional institutions.

The BLG Business Venture Clinic is a student-run, pro bono legal clinic at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Law. Law students assist entrepreneurs in creating new businesses. Over the past five years, the clinic has worked with over 400 entrepreneurs.

Calgary Legal Guidance (CLG) provides legal assistance, information and support to people who would not otherwise have access to such services. Their free public legal advice and education, ID clinics and specialized legal programs help people navigate the legal system and understand their rights.

The Community Legal Clinic offers free legal advice to people who qualify for the service. Their head office is located in Red Deer, however they also provide legal services throughout Central Alberta, as well as in Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray and Lloydminster.

The Edmonton Community Legal Centre (ECLC) has been providing free legal advice to low-income individuals for 20 years, with the assistance of volunteer lawyers and articling students. It is supported by a multidisciplinary team including staff lawyers, articling students, legal assistants, social workers, students and professionals with a range of backgrounds and education.

Grande Prairie Legal Guidance (GPLG) has been providing free legal advice to low-income individuals in the Grande Prairie region for over 13 years. Many lawyers in the Grande Prairie area serve as volunteers, providing advice to clients in all practice areas.

Lethbridge Legal Guidance provides clinical legal services to vulnerable persons who cannot afford legal services and provides public legal information on a variety of law topics. They work to bridge the access to justice gap so individuals who are living in poverty are not further discriminated against and marginalized.

The Volunteer Lawyer Services Program is the umbrella program for PBLA’s pro bono programs and initiatives. It is comprised of three main sub-programs: the Volunteer Lawyer Services Roster (VLS Roster) Program, the Civil Claims Duty Counsel (CCDC) Project and the Queen’s Bench Court Assistance Program (QB Amicus). Read more about each program on their website.

Please note that the CCDC Project and QB Amicus Program are now running virtually, with services delivered using phone and videoconferencing platforms. Training and ongoing support is provided for volunteers.