If your organization is interested in participating in Pro Bono Students Canada please:

1. Complete the application form to the right (click 'Apply')
2. Register your project details (click 'Register Project')
3. Ensure the supervising lawyer signs the Release and Disclaimer of Liability form and fax it to (416) 736-5736

"The graduates of PBSC enter the profession as agents for change, with a new level of expectation regarding the role of public service in a legal career.”
– Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Robert

Thank you for your interest in Pro Bono Students Canada. Students may assist you in a variety of law-related projects:

• Legal research and the preparation of legal memoranda
• Drafting manuals and policy papers
• Public legal education
• Lobbying and advocacy work
• Case preparation
• Providing assistance to counsel in legal proceedings or administrative hearings
• Client intake: conducting client interviews and providing supervised legal advice

Student Project Managers provide support to students at the law school end to ensure that students are progressing in their projects and benefiting from their experience. The PBSC Coordinator, faculty advisor, and career development office are also available to the students, if the student has any questions or concerns.


Registration Requirements

1. Organization Type

• Incorporated non-profit (public interest) organizations that include: disadvantaged and underrepresented communities, museums, art events, co-ops, heritage trust organizations, etc.
• Lawyers conducting pro bono work
• Legal clinics

Note: We cannot help small businesses or individuals seeking legal assistance.

Generally we do not help religious or political organizations (e.g. a specific church or political party). However, projects may be assessed on a case-by-case basis when it has a specific goal of supplying a social service or human rights service.

2. Lawyer Supervision of 5-10 hours

Organizations require a lawyer, working internally or externally for the organization, to:

• Sign the "Release and Disclaimer of Liability" form, and
• Provide 5-10 hours of supervision to the student per year.

Note: Volunteer lawyers or personal contacts of an organization member also fulfill this requirement.  A non-lawyer supervisor can supervise the student for the majority of the placement duration.

Organizations without lawyers may seek the following to find a lawyer supervisor:

• Ask a board member if s/he has personal contacts with lawyers
• Talk to people you know and ask around for a lawyer to volunteer
• Talk to people you have worked with in the past to help you find a lawyer
• Solicit for a volunteer lawyer
• Contact Volunteer Lawyers Service (www.volunteerlawyers.org), which offers free legal support to eligible charitable and non-profit organizations in Ontario

3. Participation with one PBSC office for the term in which you are applying:

There are 21 PBSC offices across Canada. All offices try to outreach and serve more organizations in their communities. As a result, our offices all serve different organizations and never overlap in placing students at the same organizations. Organizations that have previously participated with another office may participate in Osgoode Hall Law School's program in the new term, provided that it is only registered with one office per term.