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PBSC - Lawyers

PBSC at the University of Ottawa (Common Law)

What are the goals of PBSC?

For organizations and lawyers: to provide under-represented and disadvantaged communities with pro bono legal services and to give public interest organizations and agencies access to highly skilled and committed volunteers.

For law students: to encourage students to volunteer in their communities, to provide students an opportunity to put their skills into practice, and to assist law students in assessing viable career options.

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What kind of projects can students undertake?

  • Client intake and interviewing
  • Contribute to advocacy work
  • Draft manuals for internal use at your organization
  • Perform public legal education, including presenting workshops and writing brochures
  • Produce policy or background papers
  • Provide legal information for clients
  • Provide litigation support to lawyers working pro bono on a particular case
  • Research legal issues relevant to your organization’s work
  • Update materials, including conducting by-law research

PBSC cannot provide legal advice and should not be used as a substitution for consultation with a lawyer.

Why does PBSC need you?

  • PBSC at the University of Ottawa (Common Law) is presently expanding its operations, due to an increase in demand from both students and community organizations.
  • We are seeking practicing lawyers to participate in our advisor program to help law student volunteers who are engaged in pro bono work for public interest organizations.
  • All student work must be supervised by a practicing lawyer. Many of the smaller community organizations with which we work do not have a lawyer on staff or on their board of directors. When an organization has no access to a mentor, PBSC must be in a position to recommend a member of the bar to act as mentor for the project.
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What are the benefits of your participation in the PBSC program?

  • Mentoring allows you to contribute to the development and well-being of our community as you will be providing pro bono services to those in need of them.
  • You will contribute to the development of our law students who will gain invaluable practical experience from this unique introduction to the legal profession.
  • It is a wonderful opportunity for you and/or your employer to create bonds with future bar members and community organizations.
  • PBSC can also help you with litigation support and background legal research for your pro bono cases.
  • In some cases, the hours you spend supervising a PBSC project may be used for CPD credits. Please consult the Law Society of Ontario for more information.

How you can become involved?

  • Lawyers can become involved with PBSC in two ways:
    1. If you are working pro bono on a particular case, our students can support you in your work by doing legal research and writing. We will match you with a dedicated student who matches your skill and interest requirements. Please contact our program coordinators to find out more about the ways in which a student volunteer can help you.
    2. Lawyers can volunteer to act as an advisor to a student doing a pro bono placement.
  • Contact the program coordinators ([email protected]) who will be happy to answer any questions, mail you an application, or visit your office to discuss your involvement.
  • Program coordinators will contact you to serve as an advisor on an "as needed" basis.
  • You will also be invited to participate in our events, which will give you an opportunity to meet the students, organizations and other lawyers involved in PBSC.
  • You will be asked to sign the Lawyer Supervisor Agreement Form (PDF, 227.73 KB)
  • Please let your colleagues and friends know about us as well!
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What are this year's PBSC important dates?

Important dates