TORONTO, ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 --
Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is delighted to welcome Shulman & Partners LLP as a Champion Partner of its innovative Family Justice Centre (FJC). The firm’s generous commitment of $100,000 will enable the FJC to reach even more families across Ontario.
The FJC is a first-of-its kind initiative that brings together law students and pro bono lawyers to offer free legal services to low-income self-represented family law litigants. The FJC launched in the Fall of 2020, and began running virtual legal clinics in February 2021. During the first eight months of the program, the FJC facilitated 85 summary legal advice meetings, and assisted in the drafting of more than 60 court forms.
"Supporting and promoting access to justice initiatives is incredibly important to the team at Shulman & Partners,” said Managing Partner, Ron Shulman, a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School. "We are thrilled to be joining the FJC as a Champion Partner, and for this unique opportunity to support low-income families throughout Ontario.”
The FJC aims to bridge the substantial and long-standing barriers faced by low-income Ontarians accessing the family justice system. Through public legal education resources and virtual legal clinics, private bar lawyers and upper-year law students provide unbundled legal services (i.e. summary advice, document preparation, legal coaching, etc.) to individuals who are unable to afford a lawyer. With growing support from the family law Bench and Bar, the program is quickly becoming a fixture in the access to justice landscape.
“This generous gift will provide vital assistance to family law litigants while at the same time offering invaluable learning opportunities for law students. I am delighted that Mr. Shulman, an Osgoode alum, and his firm are supporting such an important and innovative program,” said Mary Condon, Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School and member of PBSC’s Advisory Board.
The FJC also benefits from support from Founding Partner, Epstein Cole LLP, and Program Partner, Legal Aid Ontario. In 2020, the FJC hired law students from eight law schools across Ontario. The program relies on the in-kind support of private bar lawyers, and welcomes participation from family lawyers from across Ontario.
“We are grateful to Shulman & Partners LLP for their leadership and support of this important program,” said Brittany Twiss, National Director of PBSC. “This contribution will help us meet the growing demand for the FJC’s services, and we are heartened by the firm’s commitment to advancing PBSC’s mission in this significant and tangible way.”
About Pro Bono Students Canada
PBSC was established in 1996 at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. PBSC’s mission is to provide free legal support to people and communities facing barriers to justice. Each year, the organization recruits approximately 1,600 law student volunteers who work with community partners and under the supervision of pro bono lawyers to serve over 13,000 people. The organization’s student volunteers alone provide approximately 130,000 hours of free legal support annually, helping to close the justice gap while providing students with opportunities to develop valuable skills and experiences.
About Shulman & Partners LLP
A boutique family law firm dedicated to providing specialized services centred on integrity and client satisfaction, Shulman & Partners LLP pride themselves on being professional, transparent, and honest with clients. Boasting a strong reputation for leadership in the area of family law, they bring stability and control to an otherwise unstable situation. Learn more about Shulman & Partners LLP at https://shulman.ca/.
Contact:
Donor and Media Inquiries
Brittany Twiss, National Director
647.880.2160
Lawyer/Law Student Volunteer Inquiries
Hilary Ingle, Program Manager
416.946.5178
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