National (June 3, 2024) – BLG is proud to be named among the best pro bono law firms in the country as a Canadian Lawyer 5-Star Pro Bono Firm for 2024. This special recognition, in partnership with Pro Bono Ontario, celebrates Canadian law firms that provide important legal services to those who may not be able to afford it.
“Our firm’s commitment to pro bono work provides enriching opportunities for lawyers and important legal support for those in need,” said Anna Marrison, Chair of BLG’s National Pro Bono Committee. “Pro bono work is encouraged at BLG, seen as important professional development and our professional responsibility and recognized as billable work.”
In 2023, the value of BLG’s pro bono services was nearly $4M.
Here is some of what our lawyers have to say about their pro bono work
- “While working on this type of case certainly helps me expand existing skill sets and experience, I find that the element that makes my pro bono involvement the most rewarding is seeing the direct impact my work has on my clients. It gives me great satisfaction to see clients being empowered by the assistance I can provide." –Maude Lamoureux-Bisson, Senior Associate
- “I was fortunate to be part of the team that represented an intervenor, the Canadian Constitution Foundation, at the SCC in the Impact Assessment Act Reference. It was exciting to be involved in a constitutional case that may be taught in 1L constitutional law classes for [at least a few] years to come." – Aidan Paul, Associate
- “The best part of my 2023 pro bono work was being able to run an appeal from start to finish through the Access Pro Bono Court of Appeal Program. As a mid-level associate, this was an invaluable opportunity to gain first-chair experience at the appellate level." – Sean Gallagher, Associate
With a national committee that ensures pro bono efforts are made across Canada and regional pro bono committees that stay connected to local community needs, BLG contributes to initiatives and access to justice across our communities.
Some highlights from our pro bono initiatives in 2023 included:
- UBC’s ID Support Clinic, increasing our participation in 2023 with a second clinic opening which helps marginalized Vancouverites replace their lost and stolen identification
- Working with Calgary’s Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, a recognized centre of excellence in child abuse intervention and prevention.
- Toronto lawyers and students continued to support Pro Bono Ontario’s legal hotline providing summary legal advice to those who cannot afford a lawyer. We increased the numbers of new volunteers with training sessions and a week-long in-person hotline telethon.
- Represented Egale, Canada’s leading organization for 2SLGBTQI issues, in cases before the Québec Superior Court involving applications for declaratory judgment and for judicial review seeking full legal recognition of multi-parent families and before the Ontario Superior Court involving false allegations based on homophobic and transphobic myths and involving the right to lifesaving gender-affirming care for non-binary individuals in Ontario .
Relationships with provincial pro bono organizations allow us to contribute legal services and funding to a number of programs across Canada, including Pro Bono Ontario, Pro Bono Students Canada, Justice Pro Bono, Pro Bono Law Alberta and Access Pro Bono in B.C.
Read more about our pro bono work here.