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Purpose and Motivation
A major challenge in pro bono work has been the lack of an efficient system to match lawyers with opportunities suitable to their skills and time constraints. While many lawyers in Ontario are willing and eager to contribute, the complexity of finding appropriate cases has been a significant barrier. OBA President Kathryn Manning emphasizes that “lawyers in Ontario are generous, and they want to contribute, but they are busy.” The new portal aims to remove this barrier, streamlining the process so that more lawyers can engage in pro bono services without the administrative burden of searching for suitable cases.
How It Works and Who Is Involved
The portal is offered free of charge to all lawyers and law firms in Ontario. It was developed in collaboration with Pro Bono Ontario (PBO)—the province’s largest legal aid referrer—and the law firm Gowling WLG. Technical development was led by Paladin, a US-based software company known for building similar platforms across 13 US states. This marks Paladin’s first pro bono portal outside the United States, and the company plans to expand to other Canadian provinces in the near future.
Within the portal, lawyers have access to a sortable, real-time database of available pro bono opportunities. This allows them to browse and filter cases by their area of legal practice, interests, and availability, making it much easier for them to contribute in ways that are both meaningful and manageable with their existing workloads.
Benefits Beyond Philanthropy
Aside from its social and philanthropic value, participating in pro bono work provides significant professional development, especially for early-career lawyers. For example, litigators can build courtroom experience, while corporate lawyers can enhance their skills by assisting small businesses and non-profit organizations. These are opportunities that may not frequently arise in large, specialized law firms. As OBA President Manning notes, the system “builds a skill set for your associates” and offers a compelling business case for encouraging pro bono participation within firms.
Broader Initiative and Future Plans
Pro Bono Ontario, which last year facilitated direct legal services for more than 33,000 clients through its network of 1,000 volunteer lawyers, is serving as the anchor NGO partner in this portal project. The broader goal is to engage more lawyers committed to the vision of 100% access to justice across Ontario. As the initiative grows, Louis Frapporti of Gowling WLG will join Paladin’s advisory board and help form a Canadian Advisory Board, focusing on partnering with social enterprises, corporations, and government bodies to optimize and accelerate the platform’s impact.
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