Saskatchewan

  • March 10, 2014

Saskatchewan has a formal Pro Bono Organization, Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan, with a mandate similar to that of the other pro bono organizations in Canada. PBLS improves access to justice in Saskatchewan by creating, facilitating, and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide high-quality pro bono legal services to people and organizations of limited means.  PBLS currently operates/oversees 7 free legal clinics across the province. This includes clinics in Regina, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Estevan, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, and Meadow Lake. PBLS also provides policy and other assistance to the free legal clinic managed by Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City (CLASSIC). 

In addition to the free legal clinics, PBLS operates a number of panel programs that assist clients of limited means by matching them directly with lawyers for full representation pro bono assistance. These include; the Child & Youth Panel Program, Seniors Legal Assistance Panel Program, Immigration & Refugee Panel Program, Solicitors Panel Program, General Panel Program, and the Residential Tenancies Panel Program.

Currently PBLS has roughly 17% of Saskatchewan lawyers signed up to volunteer with PBLS.  In terms of policy and reform, PBLS has been providing submissions to the Law Society of Saskatchewan with respect to limited scope revisions to its code similar to what we have seen in other provinces as well as to the Law Reform Commission with respect to needy person certificates – there has been much progress as of late in both of these areas and we are hopeful to see the results in the near future.

CLASSIC also provides pro bono legal services to the Saskatoon area.  Its two major programs are the walk in advocacy program which is a student based program supervised by CLASSIC staff lawyers and the free legal clinic.

Saskatchewan Public Legal Education Association has recently been approved for funding from the Ontario Access to Justice Fund for a Family Law Website which we expect to be an excellent tool for organizations providing pro bono assistance.

Finally, a Saskatchewan A2J committee has recently been created and there have been discussions at that committee about how pro bono organizations can partner with the CBA Saskatchewan to celebrate pro bono.

PBSC Wills Project

PBSC student volunteers work with volunteer lawyers to draft wills and powers of attorney for low-income clients. Students conduct screening interviews, provide legal information to clients, receive instructions from clients and draft the documents. PBSC Saskatoon partnered with the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre, which, through its through its Volunteer Income Tax Program, provides PBSC with referrals to clients who are over the age of 65.

CLASSIC Legal Clinic

PBSC volunteers participate in several projects through CLASSIC. For the Low Income Families clinic, low income clients receive summary legal advice from volunteer practicing lawyers during half hour appointments. Students assist the lawyers by taking notes during the interviews.