Pro Bono Law Alberta and Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan join forces to present the first-ever co-hosted National Pro Bono Conference Pro Bono Law Alberta and Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan join forces to present the first-ever co-hosted National Pro Bono Conference 9/3/22, 12:00 am Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is pleased to announce a co-hosting agreement with its sister organization, Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan (PBLS) for the 8th National Pro Bono Conference that will be held from September 21st to 23rd, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta. Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is pleased to announce a co-hosting agreement with its sister organization, Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan (PBLS) for the 8th National Pro Bono Conference that will be held from September 21st to 23rd, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta. The National Pro Bono Conference is a biennial event hosted by Canada’s provincial pro bono organizations on a rotational basis. Aimed to bring together lawyers, paralegals, law students, judges, politicians, non-profit sector leaders, academics and the public from Canada, the U.S. and abroad, the Conference promotes knowledge-sharing and best practices for increasing access to justice for all members of society. Co-hosts bring a new Conference experience to Calgary 2022 Due to the pandemic, the 2020 Conference was postponed to 2022 to preserve the experience of in-person delivery. This year, and for the first time in Conference history, PBLA and PBLS are partnering to host and deliver a memorable Conference at the prestigious Hotel Arts and National Music Center in Calgary, Alberta. “PBLA is excited to welcome Access to Justice Stakeholders and Champions across Canada to Calgary this fall. As the only national gathering of pro bono stakeholders in Canada, this year’s Conference provides opportunities to celebrate sector gains and map pathways to improve Access to Justice in an increasingly uncertain future,” said Nonye Opara, Executive Director of PBLA. “We are privileged to be partnering with Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan and look forward to providing a great conference experience for all attendees.” This year’s theme is “Navigating Justice for the Future,” and will focus on four key areas of diversity, resourcing, collaboration, and innovation. The three-day Conference features a welcome reception, diverse plenary sessions, workshops, the National Pro Bono Awards banquet at the National Music Centre, and other fun events. “PBLS is delighted and honoured to announce that the 8th National Pro Bono Conference will be co-hosted with PBLA. The Conference brings together the best and brightest to tackle the ever-widening gap of access to legal services in Canada. We have weathered the storm of COVID-19 and are here to reflect, support and learn from each other on how best to move forward” said Carly Romanow, PBLS Executive Director & Staff Lawyer, “We look forward to re-connecting and creating new relationships with attendees from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Canada and the world.” Please subscribe to the conference mailing list to be informed of conference updates and visit probonoconference.ca for more conference information, including ways to support the conference through volunteering and sponsorships. Previous Next

PBLA partners with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Calgary Public Library and Calgary Legal Guidance for 12th Annual Calgary Legal Advice Clinic PBLA partners with Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Calgary Public Library and Calgary Legal Guidance for 12th Annual Calgary Legal Advice Clinic 7/10/22, 12:00 am PBLA is partnering with Calgary Legal Guidance, Calgary Public Library, and Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP to host the 12th Annual Calgary Legal Advice Clinic as part of the Calgary Public Library’s Annual Law Connect Event. Also as a part of Alberta’s Access to Justice Week which runs from October 24 -30, 2022. PBLA is partnering with Calgary Legal Guidance, Calgary Public Library, and Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP to host the 12th Annual Calgary Legal Advice Clinic as part of the Calgary Public Library’s Annual Law Connect Event. Also as a part of Alberta’s Access to Justice Week which runs from October 24 -30, 2022. This year’s clinic will be held in person at the Calgary Central Library on Thursday, October 27, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Members of the public can receive free, confidential advice from a volunteer lawyer for 30 minutes. Given the in-person format for the event, assistance will be provided by pre-booked appointments. There may be limited walk-in appointments at the Clinic on October 27 but this is not guaranteed. Appointments can be made by leaving a message on the Clinic intake line at 403-541-4804 from Tuesday, October 11 to Friday, October 21 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). Appointments cannot be scheduled outside the intake period. Available appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public will be required to provide details of their legal matter, including opposing party information, when booking an appointment. For more information on the 2022 Calgary Legal Advice Clinic, please contact info@pbla.ca or call 403-541-4804. Previous Next

Pro Bono Law Alberta Welcomes Hyder Hassan as New Executive Director Pro Bono Law Alberta Welcomes Hyder Hassan as New Executive Director 18/9/23, 12:00 am The Board of Directors of Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hyder Hassan, ICD.D, as Executive Director, effective September 11, 2023. CALGARY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 – The Board of Directors of Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hyder Hassan, ICD.D, as Executive Director, effective September 11, 2023. Hyder’s appointment follows a comprehensive Executive Director recruitment process conducted by the Pro Bono Law Alberta board over several months. Hyder holds the Institute of Corporate Directors Director (ICD.D) designation and brings over a decade of leadership experience from various sectors, including for-profit, government, and non-profit organizations. He was a Financial Services Executive with Leading Banks & Credit unions. Previously, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Immigrant Services Calgary, which, under his leadership, received the United Way of Calgary Agency of The Year Award. Hyder played an instrumental role in Immigrant Services Calgary’s transformation, growing annual revenue, while developing and launching the Gateway initiative (https://gatewayconnects.ca/) to unleash the economic, social, and civic potential of newcomers to Alberta. Hyder serves the community via various Boards, including as an Expert Adviser at Innovate Calgary and as the Founder & Board Chair of Soul Strategic Ventures (UPcomer Capital Ventures, SEI Consulting, Fire-X3). He is also a Co-founder of www.fullsoul.ca and Fiber Optics startup. In addition, he is part of the AMA Regional Board and serves on the AMA advocacy and Investment committees, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Calgary Fish Creek, where he serves as the District Chair for Community Assessments & Partnerships. Furthermore, he was a member of the Innovation Committee for Alberta Health Services, served as the Charter President of the Rotaract Club, and, together with his wife Christina, received recognition with Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 Award. Hyder has also been appointed to the Premier’s Council for Charities and Civil Society and the Anti-Racism Advisory Council. In September 2022, Hyder was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for his significant contributions. He holds two financial designations and an MSc. Innovation & Entrepreneurship HEC Paris and Public Leadership Credential from Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. The PBLA Board is confident that Hyder’s experience, leadership skills, and visionary strategy, position him seamlessly to lead our organization in this new chapter. Previous Next

PBLA Resumes In-Person delivery of Court Programs and Rebrands Amicus Program. PBLA Resumes In-Person delivery of Court Programs and Rebrands Amicus Program. 23/12/22, 12:00 am PBLA is excited to announce that its Court-Based programs – the Civil Claims Duty Counsel (CCDC) Project will resume in-person on January 9, 2023. After two years of administering the programs virtually, we are pleased to be returning to the Calgary and Edmonton Courthouses to deliver in-person programming. PBLA is excited to announce that its Court-Based programs – the Civil Claims Duty Counsel (CCDC) Project will resume in-person on January 9, 2023. After two years of administering the programs virtually, we are pleased to be returning to the Calgary and Edmonton Courthouses to deliver in-person programming. While the default mode for program delivery will be in person, we are offering a few virtual shifts on a pilot basis for self-represented litigants who cannot physically attend our program offices in Calgary or Edmonton. Due to recent changes in court naming conventions, our Queen’s Bench Court Assistance Program has been rebranded as the King’s Bench Court Assistance Program (“KB Amicus Program”). This rebranding is a name change only and does not change the objective and scope of the KB Amicus Program. While the programs will be delivered both in person and virtually, much of the program scope and process will remain the same. Self-represented litigants with civil matters in Provincial Court and the Court of King’s Bench who apply for assistance and meet program criteria will be able to receive up to 30 minutes of free legal advice from a volunteer lawyer. Through the King’s Bench Amicus Program, self-represented litigants with civil matters in Applications Judge and Justice Chambers can also receive assistance with regular morning chambers applications in person. For in-person assistance at the Calgary and Edmonton courthouses, no appointment or pre-registration is required; the programs operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for program schedules and more information. Applications for virtual assistance (excluding morning chambers assistance in the KB Amicus Program) can be submitted on PBLA’s website or by leaving a message at 403-541-4804. Clients with eligible requests will be contacted with additional information about their virtual appointment, including how to fill out waivers, review our terms of service, and share case documents with and connect to a volunteer lawyer. Previous Next

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Location Area Of Law Type Of Assistance Organization

What We Do Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is a non-profit charitable organization that promotes access to justice in Alberta by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited means. What Sets Us Apart Our Mission Our mission is to engage the legal community and leverage their skills and resources in pro bono services that facilitate access to justice for Albertans. ​ Pro Bono Law Alberta works to promote access to justice by: Creating pro bono opportunities for Alberta lawyers; Working with law firms to develop pro bono policies and projects; Leveraging pro bono resources in the community; and Enhancing the growth and fostering a pro bono culture in the legal profession. ​ PBLA is not a direct provider of pro bono services to the public, but rather works through partnerships, collaborative projects, and events that involve the legal community and organizations providing pro bono legal services. As PBLA is not a direct service provide, we work primarily with the legal community to encourage pro bono service through varied volunteer opportunities, which in turn, benefit low-income Albertans seeking legal assistance. Visit the Get Legal Help page for more information on pro bono legal services in Alberta. Our Milestones

Board & Staff Hyder Hassan Executive Director Alexandra Weipert Manager Partnerships Ray Sequeira Manager Finance Bilal Sikander Special Advisor La Salette Encarnacion, LLB Court-based Programs (Edmonton) and VLS Coordinator Bernard Gregorio Court-based Programs (Calgary) Coordinator Bella Abellanosa Marketing and Events Coordinator Board Of Directors The Pro Bono Law Alberta Board of Directors consists of volunteers from across Alberta who share a dedication to the pursuit of access to justice for all Albertans. Senior Counsel, Stikeman Elliott (Canada) LLP (Calgary) President Karen Fellowes, KC General Counsel, Corporate Secretary – Thinkific Labs Inc. Vice-President Ed Ma, KC Senior Vice President Scott Land & Lease Ltd. Treasurer Steve Nelson Associate, Carbert Waite LLP (Calgary) Secretary Eleanor Carlson Senior Legal Counsel at Woodfibre LNG Limited Bencher at Law Society of Alberta Kene Ilochonwu Partner and Co-Head of Tax Group at McCarthy Tétrault LLP (Calgary) Director Brett Anderson Manager of Planning & Optimization, Suncor Energy (Calgary) Director Hsiu Yan Chan ​ Director Judith Hanebury, KC ​ Director Marija Bicanic Twinn and Philp Barristers (Edmonton) Director Robert Philp, KC Partner, Felesky Flynn LLP (Edmonton) Director Robert Neilson Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (Red Deer) Director Shay J. Vanderschaeghe CKM Law LLP (Calgary) Director Usman Mahmood

Volunteer with a Pro Bono Clinic Volunteering at a pro bono legal clinic is a great way to get involved with your community and help those in need of legal guidance and advice. Visit a clinic website to see how you can volunteer your time: Calgary Legal Guidance Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic Edmonton Community Legal Centre Fort McMurray Legal Clinic (operated by the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic) Grande Prairie Legal Guidance (operated by the Edmonton Community Legal Centre) Medicine Hat Legal Help Centre (operated by the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic) Lethbridge Legal Guidance Lloydminster Legal Clinic (operated by the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic) Student Legal Assistance (Calgary) Student Legal Services of Edmonton Youth Law at The Alex Other Paths to Pro Bono There are many other ways lawyers can volunteer their time and expertise in a pro bono legal capacity. PBLA, CLG, ECLC and other groups regularly hold pop-up clinics and ad hoc events which require volunteer support. Visit the Volunteer Opportunities page for more information on upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Insurance & Rules Corporate/Government Insurance Exempt Lawyers Corporate/government lawyers are active members of the LSA and exempt from the insurance provisions of the Rules of the Law Society pursuant to Rule 135 and Rule 148. This category of members swears a statutory declaration that they will not provide legal services outside the scope of their employment. The Benchers of the LSA and the ALIA have facilitated the extension of errors and omissions insurance coverage through ALIA to corporate/government lawyers when they provide pro bono legal services through an authorized pro bono provider as listed in Rule 148(2.1). Non-Practicing/Inactive Lawyers If you are a lawyer who is non-practicing, retired or otherwise inactive with the LSA, and you would like to provide pro bono services exclusively through an approved pro bono provider (see Rule 148.2.1), you can apply for Active Membership, Pro Bono Legal Services status. Lawyers will be required to pay an annual membership fee equivalent to the inactive member fee rather than the full active membership fee. Read more about Active for pro bono status or download the application form here. Practicing/Active Lawyers Members of the Law Society of Alberta (LSA) who are active and insured lawyers (members of the private bar) are insured to provide legal services to clients whether or not they charge a fee for the legal service. When providing pro bono legal services through a pro bono clinic, other pro bono program or doing the legal work for free in the course of private practice, the Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association (ALIA) insurance provides errors and omissions (E&O) coverage for pro bono legal services delivered.

Please note that PBLA is not a legal clinic and does not provide legal advice or services directly to members of the public. We are also unable to provide legal advice by email or through the below contact form. If you are in need of pro bono legal services, please visit the Get Legal Help tab for more information on available services. Inquiry Type* First name* Last name* Location* Email* Message* Submit Pro Bono Law Alberta 301, 255 – 17 Ave SW Calgary AB T2S 2T8 Office Address : Pro Bono Law Alberta 301, 255 – 17 Ave SW Calgary AB T2S 2T8 Office Address : Pro Bono Law Alberta 301, 255 – 17 Ave SW Calgary AB T2S 2T8 Office Address : Contact Us