Welcome from Pro Bono Students Canada

Welcome to the Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) Osgoode Chapter! PBSC is a national organization which provides pro bono legal services to organizations and individuals in need. It is the only national law student program in the country with chapters in all 22 Canadian law schools. As the largest chapter in Canada, last year, PBSC Osgoode successfully placed over 200 students into more than 50 projects at non-profit organizations, law firms, various community legal clinics, and influential national organizations. Our campaign for 2019/2020 is #LegalAssistanceForAll (or #LAFA), and our team has been working hard to increase our numbers in order to provide more pro bono services to more communities. This year, we are on track to have more than 70 projects and an estimated 230 student placements, making this our biggest year to date!

To achieve this ambitious goal, we are seeking motivated students who are looking to gain practical legal experience while supporting causes they’re passionate about. Our students work directly with lawyers and legal professionals on projects that promote access to justice. Perhaps most importantly, the majority of our projects are open to 1L students, providing an unparalleled opportunity to gain relevant legal experience early on in your studies!

We currently run three different types of projects: Client Assistance & Intake, Research and Writing, and Public Legal Education. The one that will be right for you will depend on both the opportunities you are looking to gain as well as the skills you want to hone. You can find descriptions of our projects on our new website at pbsc.osgoode.yorku.ca. Opportunities include chances to get involved with some of our flagship programs (including the Family Law Project, Wills Project, and our project with Pro Bono Ontario) as well as newer placements (such as the Criminal Court Decisions Research Project, the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, or Osgoode’s own Winkler Institute for Dispute Resolution).

The unprecedented variety of projects available for Osgoode students to participate in through PBSC means that there is something for everyone! If you are interested in volunteering with us this year or simply want to learn more about what we have to offer, get in touch. You will find members of our executive team in Gowlings Hall during our tabling week from September 9th to 12th. Finally, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@PBSCOsgoode) for more information about upcoming projects and events. No matter what you are passionate about, we have opportunities for you; so please feel free to reach out or come find us at our events! We look forward to pairing you with your perfect project!

#LegalAssistanceForAll