Rhonda Wise

Pro Bono Ontario

Pro Bono Ontario (PBO) bridges the gap between lawyers who want to donate their services and low-income Ontarians who cannot afford a lawyer or qualify for legal aid. PBO focuses on legal problems that are both common and under-served. They include problems related to employment, housing, consumer protection, consumer debt, and estate planning (including substitute decision making, wills and powers of attorney). PBO creates and manages programs that assist seniors, children, unrepresented litigants, and Ontario's non-profits, entrepreneurs and small businesses. The organization has a province-wide mandate. PBO operates out of nine unique locations, including a call-centre housing our Free Legal Advice Hotline, three courthouses and five children's hospitals. In 2017, PBO helped over 25,000 clients who had nowhere else to turn. Volunteer opportunities are available for: • private practice lawyers • government lawyers • in-house counsel • retired lawyers • law students