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, legal professionals and students. 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. We also help the public prepare for their appearance before courts and tribunals.

Your Role

Supervising lawyers' responsibilities include:

• reviewing documents;

• educating clients and volunteers;

• supporting the volunteer teams;

• providing legal information;

• answering questions without providing legal advice;

• supervising volunteers during a workshop;

• providing Aboriginal law expertise during a workshop; or

• providing practice area expertise to assess the needs of a first time client.

The most common involvement is supervising teams, which includes three key tasks:

1. there are generally 4 teams you supervise (we like to leverage your time);

2. along with a volunteer workshop manager, ensure the timely movement of each appointment; and

3. 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. Our practice areas are listed on the Legal Subject Areas page.

Assignments may be done in person or virtually depending on the scheduled workshop.

Supervising Lawyers 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.

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.

Scheduling and Cancellation

Periodically, we provide you a schedule of workshops using Survey Monkey every quarter. 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 4 business days prior to the assigned date, we will provide you with a client roster, so you do a conflicts check.

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

Qualifications

All Supervising Lawyers must be licensed members of the Law Society of British Columbia. We presently do not work with non-insured members, including Crown counsel, retired and non-practicing members. Click here for more information about insurance and pro bono activities.

How to Apply

Read and sign our Volunteer Application Package. Email the signed Volunteer Application Package and your CV to Jenny Ho, our Deputy Executive Director.

Once you are accepted, our volunteer coordinator will arrange for you to observe workshops that interest you. Once you have completed the observation period, we can connect again.

Questions?

If you have questions about volunteering as a Supervising Lawyer, please contact Dom Bautista, Executive Director.