Amici Curiae (AC) Friends OF Court
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DUTY COUNSEL

We love volunteers!

Thank you for your interest in Amici Curiae (Friends of Court) Legal Forms Workshop. Our pro bono service is powered by paralegals and legal professionals. It is supported by licensed members of the Law Society of BC. We assist the public in completing legal forms, for matters before the courts and tribunals. We do not provide summary legal advice nor take conduct of the client's  files.  (updated: August 19 2020)

​Here is our CV for your reference.
​
Your Role
As a volunteer duty counsel, you may volunteer for one of these 3 roles:
  • 1ACDC supervises volunteers on a designated session;
  • 2ACDC provides Aboriginal law expertise during a session; or
  • 3ACDC provides practice area expertise to assess the needs of a first time client. More about assessment services: go here. If you are interested, write Dom.
All assignments must be attended to in person.
The most common involvement is 1ACDC: supervising paralegals who have three key tasks:
  • there are generally 4 volunteers (Chair 1s) you supervise (we like to leverage your time);
  • along with a volunteer triage manager, ensure the timely movement of each appointment; and
  • you must approve the drafted form and the next steps for the client, before sending the client home.
The scope of practice areas is quite broad., except for the Uncontested Divorce and Family Law workshops

ACDC are invited  to attend free CPD which count towards their LSBC requirements.

LSBC Conflict of Interest Rules

The Law Society changed the rules on conflict of interest in 2013 to make it easier for lawyers to provide pro bono services at court-annexed and non-profit clinics. The rules permit lawyers in the same not-for-profit organization to provide limited legal services to clients that may have opposing interests, as long as information about each client is kept confidential.

For details, see Code rules 3.4-11.1 to 3.4-11.4 regarding conflicts.

Scheduling and Cancellation
Periodically, we provide you a schedule of workshops using Doodle. You select dates that work for you. Book as much or as little as you are comfortable with. We will inform you of your assignment.

Approximately 3 business days prior to the assigned date, we will provide you with a client roster, if you wish to do a conflicts check.

LSBC rules permit lawyers in the same not-for-profit organization to provide limited legal services to clients that may have opposing interests, as long as information about each client is kept confidential. For details, see Code rules 3.4-11.1 to 3.4-11.4 regarding conflicts.

If you have to cancel, we ask that you let us know no later than when conflict checks are being done.

Qualification
A licensed member of the Law Society of BC. We presently do not work with non-insured members (ie crown counsel, retired and non-practicing).

More: https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/Website/media/Shared/docs/insurance/LIF-probono.pdf

Getting started
To get started, let us arrange for you to observe a workshop. See if you like it. Download a Volunteer Information Package (click here).

Questions? Write Dom Bautista.  

AMICI CURIAE (AC) LEGAL FORMS WORKSHOP


Telephone

778.522.2839

Email

legalformsbc@gmail.com
  • Request an appointment
  • I want to give $
  • I NEED HELP
    • Virtual AC
    • Online Appointment request
    • Legal subject areas
    • Your first visit
    • I want to give tax deductible $
  • I WANT TO HELP
    • Legal Professionals
    • Duty Counsel
  • About ACFS