Pro Bono Students Canada | Étudiant(e)s pro bono du Canada

PBSC mourns the passing of Murray Sinclair, former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, judge, and senator. His work, advocacy, and commitment to justice will not be forgotten.  EPBC regrette le décès de Murray Sinclair, ancien président de la Commission Vérité et Réconciliation, juge et sénateur. Son travail, sa plaidoirie et son engagement en faveur de la justice ne seront pas oubliés.

PBSC National is thrilled to participate in Access to Justice Week 2024! Look for us in this year's sessions - we hope to see you there! * Le Bureau national de EPBC est ravi de participer à la Semaine d’accès à la justice 2024 ! Retrouvez-nous lors des sessions de cette année - nous espérons vous y voir !

🧡 Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honor the Survivors of residential schools, their families, and Indigenous communities across Canada. At Pro Bono Students Canada, we are committed to advancing access to justice and supporting Indigenous peoples. We acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonialism and the systemic barriers Indigenous peoples experience within the justice system. Today, we reflect on our role in reconciliation and reaffirm our commitment to being part of the solution. Let’s use today to educate ourselves, listen deeply, and take meaningful steps toward reconciliation. #TruthAndReconciliation #OrangeShirtDay #AccessToJustice #PBSC 🧡 Aujourd'hui, à l'occasion de la Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation, nous rendons hommage aux survivantes et survivants des pensionnats, à leurs familles et aux communautés autochtones d’un bout à l’autre du Canada. Chez Étudiant(e)s pro bono du Canada, nous sommes résolus à faire avancer l'accès à la justice et à soutenir les peuples et les personnes autochtones. Nous reconnaissons les répercussions persistantes du colonialisme et que les personnes autochtones se heurtent à des obstacles systémiques au sein du  système de justice. Aujourd'hui, nous réfléchissons à notre contribution aux efforts de réconciliation et nous réaffirmons notre détermination à faire partie de la solution. Profitons de cette journée pour s’informer, pour écouter véritablement et pour prendre des mesures signifiantes envers la réconciliation. #VéritéEtRéconciliation #JournéeDuChandailOrange #AccèsàlaJustice #EPBC 

Our PBSC Launch Event was incredible. The Honourable Chief Justice Marc Richard of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal came and inspired us with stories from his career and the hope we have here in Canada in making access to justice possible. Heather Black of the New Brunswick Law Foundation spoke about the amazing things the Foundation does to promote initiatives to improve A2J, and expressed how PBSC is seen as such a great program to support. I am grateful for all the wonderful students, partner organizations, and lawyer supervisors who celebrated our PBSC Launch for the 2024-25 academic year. From all the smiles, I think it's clear the night was one full of joy and excitement. UNB Law Pro Bono Students Canada | Étudiant(e)s pro bono du Canada New Brunswick Law Foundation #pbsc #A2J #accesstojusticeforall #accesstojustice #NewBrunswickLawFoundation

The TNG Community Services Fall Open House with Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal Services (KBCLS) and Community Mediation Services on September 19th was well-attended and informative. Under the theme “F’All into Justice”, this was the second open house since the legal clinic merged with TNGCS, and the first since TNG’s Community Mediation Service became co-located with the clinic. The event presented an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the work both programs are doing to increase access to justice, and also to participate in a law reform activity on the proposed Renoviction By-Law. KBCLS welcomed a cross-section of TNG staff from different programs, neighbours, community members, volunteer mediators, students, Legal Aid Ontario representatives, and the following partner agencies: * Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services * Cecil Community Centre * CultureLink Settlement and Community Services * ehm - Evangel Hall Mission * Kensington Market Community Land Trust * Pro Bono Students Canada | Étudiant(e)s pro bono du Canada * Unity Health Toronto * University Settlement Toronto * University of Toronto The open house provided a great networking opportunity and featured interactive games, including a spin-the-wheel with three options: riddles, song completion, and guessing countries. Participants spun the wheel and completed the challenge to win. We also had a crossword puzzle related to basic legal knowledge. Winners received a bag full of candies of their choice - how sweet is that?

Dear Friends/Colleagues/Curious Internet Strangers, I will be celebrating my 40th birthday later this month. Life has given me a great deal, so for this upcoming milestone birthday, I have arranged to (very modestly) give back. Accordingly, if you were planning/would like to share in my celebrations with a gift or recognition, I ask that you please donate to the newly formed Kilravey Family Bursary for students attending York University - Osgoode Hall Law School. Donations above $5 CAD will receive a tax receipt. My legal education at Osgoode (including my invaluable experiences with the Community & Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP) and Pro Bono Students Canada | Étudiant(e)s pro bono du Canada) played a formative role in my life. Osgoode is the greatest crucible for diversity, innovation and inclusion in Canada’s legal ecosystem and I am honoured to be able to (humbly, for now) support the studies of incoming students at this great institution. A description of the bursary and a donation link can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ekjH6ivf Thank you for stopping by and (hopefully!) for supporting the Kilravey Family Bursary – I am immeasurably thankful and look forward to thanking you in person at the earliest opportunity! [Pictured below are some, but certainly not all, of the wonderful people who made Osgoode so special to me ❤️]

The Law Foundation of Ontario has been the Principal Funder of PBSC since our inception in 1996 – nearly 30 years ago! Their funding has enabled PBSC to cultivate a student-led, national access to justice movement. The Foundation’s meaningful support enables PBSC to deliver innovative and impactful projects to further our mission of providing free legal support to people and communities facing barriers to justice. Thanks to the Foundation, law students across the country engage in unique training and experiential learning opportunities, fostering a culture of service, inclusivity, and humility within the legal profession. #AccessToJustice #law 

We were grateful to have Noah Aiken-Klar from the The Law Foundation of Ontario (PBSC's Principal Funder) join us at the U of T Chapter's launch event. Thank you, Noah, for inspiring the incoming 1Ls with your remarks on the importance of getting involved in public interest work!

Félicitations aux lauréat.e.s du prix Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella 2024 ! Nous sommes fiers de voir autant d'anciens étudiant.e.s d'EPBC parmi les lauréat.e.s de cette année. 🎉

Congratulations to each of the 2024 Award Winners! It is great to see so many PBSC students among the recipients of the Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Prize this year.