Paladin has expanded its reach beyond the borders of the United States with the launch of its first international pro bono portal in Ontario, Canada. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), signifies a pivotal step in introducing a structured and accessible avenue for Canadian lawyers to engage in pro bono work.
For legal professionals in Ontario, the portal offers a centralized and filtered database showcasing real-time opportunities to provide legal assistance to those lacking access to legal support. Notably, Pro Bono Ontario, the region’s largest legal aid referrer, assumes the crucial role of recruiting lawyer assistance, thereby anchoring the portal’s effectiveness.
Kirsti McHenry, Executive Director of Pro Bono Ontario, emphasized the importance of this portal by highlighting its potential to engage more lawyers in the quest for universal access to justice. Last year alone, through a dedicated group of 1,000 volunteer lawyers, Pro Bono Ontario provided legal services to over 33,000 clients.
The expansion of Paladin into Canada is further bolstered by the involvement of Louis Frapporti, a partner at Gowling WLG, who joins the company’s advisory board. Frapporti will contribute to forming a Canadian Advisory Board aimed at optimizing the platform for localized needs and fostering collaboration with the social enterprise, corporate and government sectors.
“Innovation in the legal sector is essential to transformative change,” stated Frapporti, stressing the potential for demonstrating the symbiotic relationship between doing good and good business. Gowling WLG, one of Canada’s largest law firms, is set to pilot the use of Paladin’s platform to expand its pro bono initiatives.
The need for such initiatives is underscored by data from the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice, indicating that about half of Canadian adults encounter a serious legal problem over a three-year period, a situation exacerbated by existing economic challenges. This platform aims to facilitate consistent opportunity intake and data gathering on volunteer interests and legal needs, ultimately enhancing the matching of lawyers with pro bono opportunities.
Kristen Sonday, co-founder and CEO of Paladin, expressed the company’s commitment to leveraging technology to advance the pro bono community in Canada, with plans to expand further across the nation this fall, adapting the blueprint to reach individuals in urgent need of legal assistance globally.
Lawyers in Ontario interested in participating can view available cases and register their interest at the Paladin portal.
For further reading on this development, visit the original article on LawNext.