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2023 HONSBERGER AWARD RECIPIENT |
Pro Bono Ontario to be honoured with the 2023 Honsberger Award at the Toronto Lawyers’ Association Awards of Distinction Reception at the Carlu on March 3 in Toronto.
For the first time in its nine-year history, the Honsberger Award will be presented to an organization, Pro Bono Ontario (PBO), as opposed to an individual lawyer.
The Honsberger Award has traditionally been presented annually to a Toronto lawyer in recognition of a single unique accomplishment or ongoing contributions to the legal community and the community at large, exemplifying the TLA’s three pillars: Knowledge, Community and Advocacy. (The Honsberger Award differs from the TLA Award of Distinction, which honours a recipient’s lifetime achievement of excellence and contribution to the integrity and worth of the law and the legal profession.)
Since its inception in 2001, the PBO administrative team and volunteer lawyers have helped increasing numbers of people who have nowhere else to turn to resolve their unmet legal needs. They include those with low to moderate income who face civil litigation issues of any size relating to housing, wills and estates, small business start-ups, charities, employment, debt and consumer protection.
Each year, PBO serves thousands of people who are frankly scared of the legal system and see it as a source of profound stress. In the face of the pandemic, inflation and the looming economic downturn, clients are relieved and grateful for the peace of mind PBO offers. Many write to thank the organization for the first decent sleep they have had in months.
“PBO fulfills a vital role in encouraging lawyers to share their time and expertise to the benefit of more than 30,000 clients a year who would otherwise have to navigate Ontario’s legal system on their own,” said Erin O'Donovan, President of the TLA.
“Community members in need benefit and volunteer lawyers gain a greater appreciation of how much they are giving while doing what motivated them to become lawyers – helping others without easy access to legal counsel to understand and exercise their legal rights.”
When PBO launched its Free Legal Advice Hotline in 2017, it changed the way Ontarians access legal services. The Hotline answers 30,000 calls each year – double pre-pandemic numbers. And 89% of the people who connect with PBO say the Hotline represents the first time they were able to speak to a lawyer about their problems. But the PBO team is able to serve only half the hotline callers each day and it needs more lawyers.
If PBO doubled the number of volunteer lawyers, it could easily serve 60,000 clients in 2023.
Only 5 per cent of lawyers in Ontario currently volunteer but PBO requires 15% or even 20% participation rates to meet the growing need.
Volunteering is manageable for most lawyers and PBO is endorsed by many firms who encourage lawyers to volunteer – to grow personally and gain additional legal experience.
One hotline shift is four hours, and volunteers can complete two shifts each day. Some lawyers may take 12 calls in one, four-hour shift. That equates to 12 people who receive counsel in one shift. Volunteering once per quarter can translate into 120 people getting help.