Program Overview

Pro Bono Students Canada

Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is a national pro bono organization with chapters at 22 law schools across the country. Each year, about 1,500 law students provide approximately 120,000 hours of free legal information and services to nearly 400 organizations, courts, and tribunals across the country.

Who We Are

PBSC is a national pro bono organization that provides law students with opportunities to gain practical legal experience while making a positive impact in their communities.

Why We Do This

Through our program, PBSC law student volunteers are given an opportunity to enhance their legal skills by providing free legal services to individuals and communities facing barriers to justice in Canada. We envision a society with accessible legal systems, where the dignity and rights of every person are upheld.

The Benefits of Volunteering with PBSC

PBSC offers a range of practical experiences in a wide array of legal settings. PBSC law students are matched with public interest organizations, community groups, legal clinics, or other legal service organizations, government agencies, pro bono lawyers, and courts, and tribunals. PBSC supports projects that interest students from all backgrounds, creating projects in many areas of the law, including administrative, civil, constitutional, corporate non-profit, criminal, environmental, family, human rights, immigration, and refugee, and all areas of poverty law. PBSC serves a range of diverse Canadian populations, with student volunteers having an opportunity to work with and serve diverse groups of Canadians.

Projects

The following projects are available:

• Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario: Legal Research and Public Legal Education (3 Positions)
  • Hybrid Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, & 3Ls
  • Project Description: The law student volunteers will support the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario by conducting tasks related to developing a comprehensive understanding of the legal processes from arrest to sentencing and beyond, and by participating in public legal education presentations.
• Environment North: Legal Research and Public Legal Education (3 Positions)
  • Remote Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
  • Project Description: This project in collaboration with Environment North will be a legal research and public legal education (PLE) project, focusing on Bill 5 and Bill C-5.
• Kind Space Virtual Trans-ID Clinic: Client Assistance (1 Position)
  • Remote Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 2Ls
  • Project Description: This project has two components—a clinic and a public legal education component, involving the operation of a Trans ID Clinic and developing public legal education content.
• Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic: Client Assistance and Legal Research (2 Positions)
  • In-Person Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
  • Project Description: Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic provides Tenant Duty Counsel services daily and regularly provides intake and case representation to community members in various areas of poverty law.
• Lakehead University Community Legal Services (LUCLS): Client Assistance (1 Position)
  • In-Person Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
  • Project Description: This project will have the student volunteer reviewing birth certificate registrations from ID clinics hosted by the clinic during the summer months.
• Legal Advocates for Nature's Defence (LAND): Legal Research and Public Legal Education (3 Positions)
  • Remote Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls & 3Ls
  • Project Description: This project is a response to Bill C-73, the Nature Accountability Act, and will involve conducting research and drafting accessible public legal education briefing notes.
• John Howard Society of Thunder Bay & District: Legal Research and Public Legal Education (4 Positions)
  • Hybrid Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls & 3Ls
  • Project Description: This legal research and public legal education project will focus on developing PLE materials outlining the court system and bail processes for the organization's clients.
• Newcomer Legal Clinic: Legal Research and Public Legal Education (2 Positions)
  • Hybrid Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 2Ls & 3Ls
  • Project Description: This legal research and public legal education (PLE) project will focus on undertaking research questions provided by the Clinic with a goal of informing the Clinic on current legislative information or legal issues related to immigration and refugee law in Northern Ontario.
• Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation (NAN-Legal): Legal Research and Public Legal Education (4 Positions)
  • Hybrid Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, & 3Ls
  • Project Description: Student volunteers will support the Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation across two key areas: Public Legal Education (PLE) and the Gladue Program.
• Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre (NWOWC): Client Assistance and Public Legal Education (1 Position)
  • In-Person Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
  • Project Description: The student volunteer will be responsible for helping support and orient clients regarding their legal issues, including those individuals using NWOWC's Gender-Based Violence (GBV) High-Risk Protocol.
• Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers' Support Group (TBDIWSG): Legal Research and Public Legal Education (3 Positions)
  • Hybrid Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
  • Project Description: This project is a returning research partnership focused on the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
• United Native Friendship Centre: Legal Research and Public Legal Education (3 Positions)
  • Remote Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
  • Project Description: This project in collaboration with the United Native Friendship Centre in Fort Frances will be a legal research and public legal education (PLE) project, with students assigned to one research topic and developing PLE materials.
• Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre Human Rights Clinic: Client Assistance (4-6 Positions)
  • Hybrid Placement
  • Who Can Apply: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
  • Project Description: This project in collaboration with the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, based out of the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, will be a client-intake and assistance project with some public legal education components.