2015 annual report - pro bono law saskatchewan5... · financial statements ... 2015 annual report ....

2015 ANNUAL REPORT

2015 Annual Report PRO BONO LAW SASKATCHEWAN 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS Vision & Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Message From The President & Executive Director . . . . . . . . .3

Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Activities & Outreach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Our Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Supporters & Funders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

2 2015 Annual Report PRO BONO LAW SASKATCHEWAN

VISION & OBJECTIVESAs a non-profit charitable corporation, Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan strives to improve access to justice within Saskatchewan by creating, facilitating, and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide high-quality pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited means.

PBLS operates under several guiding principles:

• pro bono services are meant to complement, not replace, an adequately funded legal aid system;

• pro bono services should be primarily directed at providing advice and representation to persons who cannot afford to pay for these services; and

• pro bono service should be endorsed and encouraged within the profession as a professional responsibility shared by all in the profession.

Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan adopts the following definition of pro bono legal services:

Providing professional legal services without expectation of fee, where legal aid is not available, for:

• persons of limited means who demonstrate a need for legal assistance but are unable to afford legal counsel without suffering financial hardship;

• charitable, non-profit, religious, civic, community, governmental and education organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means or which work for the public good of marginalized or disadvantaged individuals or groups;

• matters of public interest and broad community concern which might not otherwise be pursued; and

• the improvement of the law or legal system in a manner which benefits marginalized or disadvantaged individuals or groups.


MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

These days there is much discussion of access to justice within the legal profession. Conventional wisdom on the topic tells us that cooperation, partnership, and collaboration amongst stakeholders are key to addressing the access issue. These concepts are very much a part of who we are as an organization. As you will note in reading the following report, our successes over the past year, as they have been in each year since PBLS opened its doors in 2008, are a result of the efforts of numerous individuals and organizations from across the Province who have come together to facilitate the provision of free legal services. We can think of no better way to begin our annual report than to thank them.

To the lawyers who were registered to volunteer with PBLS in 2015, your efforts are greatly appreciated – thank you. We are proud to say that we have volunteer lawyers from across all sectors of the profession, including private practitioners, counsel from the provincial and federal governments, Legal Aid, in-house counsel, and lawyers who practise pro bono exclusively pursuant to the Law Society of Saskatchewan’s Pro Bono Membership.

We would like to acknowledge the many community organizations across the province that make our Free Legal Clinic Program possible. These organizations provide PBLS the physical space as well as administrative staff resources such that summary legal advice and assistance can be provided to residents of their communities. We are keenly aware of the tremendous work done by these organizations and are grateful for their partnership.

We would also like to thank our supporters and funders. The Law Foundation of Saskatchewan is the primary funder of PBLS and without their commitment we would not be able to offer the services we do. The Law Society of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Bar Association Saskatchewan Branch have been long-time supporters and have contributed both financially and in numerous other ways to the work of PBLS – thank you both. PBLS has also been fortunate to receive in-kind services from Virtus Group LLP and Childview. Thank you to both of these organizations for their continued support.

Finally, we would like to thank the Board and Staff of PBLS and, in particular, Sandra Reid and Eileen Libby, Q.C. who both retired from the Board in 2015. Thank you for your service to PBLS. We have also recently said good-bye to Nicole Sarauer who was our Programs Director and Staff Lawyer for the last number of years. Thank you Nicole for your contributions to the organization. We would also like to acknowledge Michelle Ouellette, Q.C. who will end her final term with PBLS in June of 2016. Michelle has been a long time director of PBLS and has acted as Vice-President, President, and now Past-President of the organization. Thank you Michelle for your dedication to PBLS.

2015 has been another busy year for PBLS. We continued to serve a considerable number of individuals and organizations who otherwise would not have received the legal assistance they needed and consider this a great success. That said, the demand for our services continues to rise with the number of persons contacting our office for assistance significantly increasing over the previous year. As such, in 2015 significant effort was spent laying the groundwork to make our existing programs more efficient and effective. In 2016 we will continue to work to improve our services and extend our reach by increasing efficiencies in the organization, strengthening existing partnerships and creating new ones.

David Thera, Q.C.President

Kara-Dawn JordanExecutive Director & Staff Lawyer

David Thera, Q.C. -President


PROGRAMSPro Bono Law Saskatchewan coordinates and operates several pro bono legal service programs in the Province. These programs include a Clinic Program, a number of Panel Programs, and Mentor and Support Programs.

Clinic Program

Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan’s largest program is our Free Legal Clinic Program. Through this program volunteer lawyers from throughout Saskatchewan meet with individuals to provide summary legal advice and assistance in all areas of law. The clinics take place across Saskatchewan and are made possible by a number of community partners who dedicate staff resources and office space to make the clinics a reality.

Client Feedback:

“Very friendly. Gave me in depth advice and answered all questions honestly and in a way I could understand.” - Estevan Free Legal Clinic 2015

“Very Informative. Guided me in the right direction.” - Meadow Lake Free Legal Clinic 2015

Thank you to all of the lawyers who volunteered with the Clinic Program in 2015 and thank you to our community partners! During 2015, regular clinics were offered in partnership with the following organizations: Salvation Army Regina (Regina Free Legal Clinic,) Prince Albert Indian Metis Friendship Centre (Prince Albert Free Legal Clinic,) Salvation Army Swift Current (Swift Current Free Legal Clinic,) Salvation Army Moose Jaw (Moose Jaw Free Legal Clinic,) Salvation Army Estevan (Estevan Free Legal Clinic,) North Battleford Catholic Family Services (North Battleford Free Legal Clinic,) Salvation Army Meadow Lake (Meadow Lake Free Legal Clinic,) Scattered Site (La Ronge Free Legal Clinic,) Community Low Income Centre (Weyburn Free Legal Clinic,) Salvation Army Yorkton (Yorkton Free Legal Clinic) and the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan (Small Claims Clinic Regina.) In Saskatoon, summary legal services are provided at the Legal Advice Clinic operated by Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City.

For the first time in 2015, a full day free legal clinic was held in the border city of Lloydminster in partnership with Lloydminster lawyers and Pro Bono Law Alberta. The success of this inaugural event was followed by a second full day clinic in the spring of 2016 and we look forward to a continued partnership!

In 2015, 1978 appointments were scheduled through a free legal clinic in Saskatchewan and 1158 clients were served.

Panel Program

Through the Panel Program, volunteer lawyers provide full pro bono representation for individuals and community organizations of limited means. The program is province-wide and 79 individuals and organizations received assistance through a Panel Program in 2015. Several of these programs are specialized, where volunteer lawyers provide assistance with particular areas of the law. Specialized panels operating in 2015 included an Immigration & Refugee Panel, a Seniors Panel, a Solicitor Panel, a Residential Tenancy Panel, and a Criminal Appeals Panel.

North Battleford Clinic Volunteer Monte Migneault with Kara-Dawn Jordan

Kara-Dawn Jordan and Ashlee Longmoore with Meadow Lake Free Legal Clinic Hosts Peter Eason and Karen Eason

Lloydminster Legal Grounds Volunteers September 2015


Client Feedback:

“As a non-profit organization, I cannot begin to tell you how much the assistance provided by your organization and our pro-bono lawyer means to our centre. Without the assistance provided, our centre would most likely have been evicted by this point or we would have been locked into a lease that would have bankrupted our centre. The pro-bono lawyer you were able to match us with went above and beyond our expectations.”-Solicitor Program Client 2015

Immigration & Refugee PanelThe Immigration & Refugee Panel provides legal services to individuals involved in the immigration and refugee process in Saskatchewan. Unique in Canada, public sector volunteer lawyers make up the majority of this panel program, Saskatchewan is leading the way with government lawyer volunteers making valuable contributions to pro bono.

Seniors PanelThe Seniors Legal Assistance Panel is a program for seniors receiving the Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement. When faced with a legal issue, it allows seniors access to legal counsel for advice and assistance. Solicitor PanelThrough the Solicitor Panel, volunteer lawyers provide assistance to a charitable, non-profit or community organization of limited means.

Residential Tenancy PanelThrough the Residential Tenancy Panel, volunteer lawyers and articling students, under the supervision of their principals or other lawyers, assist low income persons facing residential tenancy matters.

Criminal Appeals PanelThrough the Criminal Appeals Panel Program lawyers provide representation to needy individuals who are denied both legal aid and court appointed counsel and are appealing a conviction or sentence, or are the respondents to a criminal appeal.

Mentor & Support Programs

Through the Mentor and Support programs, volunteer lawyers supervise law students, mentor a junior lawyer, or provide organizational support to an existing program.

Volunteer Lawyers

During 2015, 341 lawyers volunteered with Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan programs or our approved partner programs.

“It is a great program to have and does open our eyes to the extent of the lack of access to justice in our area.” – PBLS Volunteer

PRO BONO LAW SASKATCHEWAN OFFICEwww.pblsask.ca

During 2015, PBLS staff fielded over 3500 calls and emails from members of the public seeking legal assistance. PBLS aims to give assistance to everyone who contacts our office whether it is through one of our programs or by referring them to additional or alternate services.

PBLS Volunteer Lawyers Sadaf Etemad-Rezaie, David Couture and Samer Awadh

Prince Albert Free Legal Clinic Lawyer Volunteers


ACTIVITIES & OUTREACHIn addition to actively creating, facilitating, and promoting opportunities for lawyers to deliver pro bono legal services, Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan also provides assistance and support to partnerships and supports the work of volunteer lawyers providing pro bono legal services.

Support to Lawyers

Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan works in a number of ways to support lawyers providing pro bono legal services: developing and managing projects, compiling best practices and guides, reducing barriers to pro bono service provision, preparing and posting online tools for lawyer volunteers, and recognizing and promoting the important work lawyers are doing pro bono.

Pro Bono Pledge

The Pro Bono Pledge is a voluntary pro bono standard designed to assist law firms with their organized pro bono efforts . Law firms in Saskatchewan that have signed the Pledge commit to, and provide support for, pro bono legal services within their law firms .

2015 Pledge Signatories:

Allan C . Hjelte Law OfficeAmirzadeh LawElke Churchman Law Office P .C . Inc .MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman LLPMcDougall Gauley LLPMcKercher LLPMiller Thomson LLP

Partnerships

Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan continues to work with numerous partners to assist and support the delivery of pro bono legal services:

Disbursement Fund PartnershipPro Bono Law Saskatchewan partners with the Saskatchewan Branch of the Canadian Bar Association to offer a Disbursement Fund. Due to generous donations by the Branch, Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan is able to administer this Fund for use by lawyers providing pro bono assistance through Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan programs.

Insurance PartnershipPro Bono Law Saskatchewan continues to work with Saskatchewan Lawyers’ Insurance Association and the Law Society of Saskatchewan to ensure that there are no barriers to lawyers in Saskatchewan engaging in delivery of pro bono legal services through Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan programs.

Service Award PartnershipPro Bono Law Saskatchewan partners with the Law Society of Saskatchewan to award an annual Pro Bono Service Award that recognizes outstanding pro bono contributions by a lawyer in the province. For 2015, the award was presented to Janice Gingell for her work with Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City.

Libraries PartnershipPro Bono Law Saskatchewan and the Law Society of Saskatchewan Libraries have partnered to ensure effective delivery of pro bono legal services. The Law Society of Saskatchewan Libraries generously provide free research assistance to lawyers who are working on a pro bono matter through a Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan program in addition to publications for the free legal clinics operating throughout Saskatchewan.

Perry Erhardt Q.C. presents 2015 Pro Bono Service Award to Janice Gingell


Outreach to Lawyers and the Community

Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan engages in a number of activities to bring awareness to access to justice issues and the need for pro bono services, to provide information on Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan programs and services, and to gain the insight of others for the purpose of developing and implementing effective pro bono initiatives. In 2015 these activities included the following:

• Exhibitor at the 2015 Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan Branch) Mid-Winter Meeting

• Participated at the CBA Law Day Fair at Saskatoon Public Library

• Participated in the Community Fair for Newcomers 2015 • Presented to students at the CPLED Bar Admissions Course• Presented to Aboriginal Courtworkers• Took part in a Pro Bono Students Canada presentation on

Self Represented Family Law Litigants

• Participated in the Dean’s Forum on Dispute Resolution and Access to Justice

• Met with community organization partners and volunteer lawyers from across the province

• Met with representatives from Canadian Pro Bono organizations

• Met with various provincial organizations independently and as part of the Saskatchewan Access to Justice Group and the Family Law Sector Group

• Submitted regular articles to the legal publications “Bar Notes” and “The Bencher’s Digest”

• Published a quarterly newsletter sent out to community agencies throughout the province

• Provided regular updates on Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan’s social media accounts

OUR TEAMBoard of DirectorsDavid Thera, Q.C. (President)Michelle Ouellette, Q.C. (Past-President)Craig Goebel (Vice-President)Susan Amrud, Q.C. (Secretary-Treasurer)Chris LafontaineStephen McLellanMajor Mike HoeftRandi ArnotEileen Libby (2012-June 2015)Sandra Reid (2009-June 2015)

StaffKara-Dawn Jordan, Executive DirectorNicole Sarauer, Programs Director (2011-April 2016)Ashlee Longmoore, Programs CoordinatorShea Manweiler, Legal Assistant & Intake Worker (July 2014-May 2015)Tomilola Adebiyi, Legal Assistant & Intake Worker (August 2015-Present)Morgan Lawrence (Summer Student)

Practicum StudentsTara WatsonBrenden Ryan


SUPPORTERS & FUNDERSSupporters

Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan is a registered Canadian charity and a special thank you is extended to the individual donors who contributed to Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan during 2015:

Patricia Quaroni, QCGail Wartman, QCLinda Christensen, QCAaron Fox, QC and Lenore FoxAndrea CoupalAngela StolzAzure-Dee FaragoBarry ClarkeBenjamin HultonBrenda HesjeBrent MaKsymins Brian BanilevicCarolyn McManusChelsa BuddChris Weitzel and Jennifer WeitzelChris SmithDayne Graf and John GrafDonna Sigmeth, QCElizabeth SlaterGordon Kuski,QCHanna KeatingIan Lowe

Jan MalhoskeJanet McMurtry and Ross McNabAidon FiegerJenn GrafJohn AllanJoyce DunnKate RoyLeslie FowlerLinda FoxMarion PhoMarlene FalconerMatt SpenceMelanie HodgesMitch McAdamMurray SaliNicole SarauerPatricia SmithPeter HagarPhilip GalletRobert Millar, QCSmith SteelStuart Wicijowski and Marlene Boucher

Suneil SaraiSusan WahbaTerrance Graf, QCTim HuberTim SmithTracy FisherVal HardingVanessa MinakerDan MorrisJennifer BarnettJody ScottMichelle KlovanskyAlan KilpatrickJCS EnterprisesAlliance EnergyRoy Coomber and Carol CoomberEvan Quick and Luanne QuickJoanne Moser

Special thanks are also extended to the Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan Branch) for the generous donation of funds for the CBA Disbursement Fund, the Law Society of Saskatchewan for its ongoing financial and in-kind support, Virtus Group LLP for in-kind audit services, and Childview Inc. for the donation of an unlimited software license for use at our clinics across the province.

Funders

Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan acknowledges generous annual funding from the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan and thanks the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan for its commitment to access to justice initiatives.

PRO BONO LAW SASKATCHEWANAvord Tower

1650 – 2002 Victoria AvenueRegina, Saskatchewan

S4P 0R7

P: (306) 569-3098F: (306) 569-2198

E: info@pblsask .caW: www .pblsask .ca

2015 annual report - pro bono law saskatchewan5... · financial statements ... 2015 annual report ....

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