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Pro Bono Students Canada

"PBSC is a great experience for both the student and the participating organization."

— Michelle Mulgrave
LLB '2001

Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) matches volunteer law students from 16 Canadian law schools with public interest organizations, government agencies and tribunals, and lawyers doing pro bono, reduced fee and/or public interest work.

The students provide assistance in a variety of ways, including internet and other types of research on legal or policy matters; public legal education; and drafting policy papers, internal organization policies, and client manuals.

Students are available from 3-10 hours throughout the academic year, and many continue their pro bono work throughout the summer. Through this program, students gain legal skills and experience, and a chance to explore different areas of law while contributing to the development of a community or cause.

How can I help?

PBSC needs the assistance of lawyers to ensure the success of our program. Here are some ways you can help!

  1. If you have pro bono, reduced fee, or public interest work and require student assistance, please let us know and we will seek students to work with you.

  2. All of our projects must have a lawyer supervisor, but some community organizations do not have a lawyer on staff or on their boards. To ensure that these organizations can accommodate student volunteers, we match lawyers in the community to act as supervisors to students working on these projects. Supervision requires only 5-10 hours a year. Without this supervision, certain organizations will go without much-needed assistance.

  3. If you are associated with community organizations, please let them know about us - we can provide them with law student volunteers!

This is a great opportunity for Osgoode Hall alumni to interact with current Osgoode students, and to contribute valuable legal knowledge to the greater community.

Start now!

If you would like to participate or to learn more about Pro Bono Students Canada, please contact contact Osgoode's PBSC on-site supervisor, Mya Bulwa, Assistant Dean, Recruitment, Admissions & Career Development.