PRO BONO GOING PUBLIC 2022 

The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted major trauma on low-income and marginalized British Columbians over the past two years. Many people in our communities continue to experience financial strain, housing insecurity, unemployment, and other hardships. Demand for our legal services has not abated - our Pro Bono Going Public event is as critical as ever to the BC communities that we serve. 

As we transition out of the pandemic, we are happy to announce Pro Bono Going Public’s return to two in-person locations in 2022: the Surrey Civic Plaza and the Vancouver Art Gallery. The 15th annual Pro Bono Going Public event will follow a hybrid model, with lawyers offering free legal advice at virtual and in-person clinics.

PBGP 2022 will run for two work weeks-- September 7 to 21 -- in a sustained effort to raise awareness and funds for our pro bono programs. Lawyers from across BC will register to provide one or two hours of free legal advice over the telephone or in-person to low and modest income British Columbians in need. Telephone appointments will be scheduled with ample time for conflict checks, and in-person clinics will allow for pre-scheduled and drop-in appointments.

APB invites BC lawyers to volunteer for one or two one-hour shifts. We also invite friends, family, co-workers and members of the public to pledge financial support for the participating lawyers. Our hope is that each volunteer lawyer will set a fundraising goal equal or more than their billable hour rate to support our programs. We aim to serve the public, spread awareness around lawyers' effort to increase access to justice, and raise $110,000 or more for BC-wide pro bono services. We can achieve our goals with your help!

I'M A LAWYER, I'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE

As a volunteer, you'll be able to register as an individual or with a team. And you'll be able to choose your preferred date and shift time. You'll speak to one or two low or modest income clients during your one-hour telephone or in-person shift. We match clients' legal issues to lawyers' areas of expertise, and we provide more than enough time to conduct thorough conflict checks. We also extend full insurance coverage for all legal help provided through PBGP 2022. Your obligations as the solicitor to your clients end when your shift is over. 

OKAY, I'M REGISTERED. HOW DO I RAISE FUNDS?

You can access your personal fundraising page by clicking the "LOGIN" button above, and by using the username and password you chose upon registration (information that is e-mailed to you). From your personal fundraising page, you can upload a photo, enter a message informing people why you're participating in PBGP 2022, send sponsorship requests to your friends, family and co-workers, manage your pledge sheet, and monitor your fundraising progress. Your supporters can make donations online or pledge to support you offline via cheque or cash. You can also share your fundraising page on social media to promote engagement and support. 

I CAN'T PARTICIPATE. HOW CAN I STILL SUPPORT THE CAUSE?

You can "SPONSOR A VOLUNTEER" or you can make a secure online charitable donation to Access Pro Bono by clicking on "DONATE"

HOW DO I SPONSOR A PARTICIPANT?

We bet you've never sponsored a lawyer before! Our community-minded volunteer lawyers deserve your support. Here's how you can  sponsor a volunteer of your choice, or sponsor a volunteer at random:    

Click on the "SPONSOR A VOLUNTEER" button, type in the Participant or Team's name, click Search and scroll down to see the results. When you find a volunteer lawyer, click on their name to access their personalized donation page, and then make a contribution. If you'd prefer to sponsor a team, you can do so on the team page. Your donation will be evenly distributed toward each team member's personal fundraising goal. 

I NEED FREE LEGAL HELP

If you need free legal advice and would like to book an appointment with a lawyer through PBGP 2022, please call our client line at 604-878-7400 or 1-877-762-6664 (toll-free).