Helping our community: Norton Rose Fulbright and BMO partner to staff Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline
Canada | Press release - Firm | July 2023
Norton Rose Fulbright is pleased to partner with BMO to staff the Pro Bono Ontario Free Legal Advice Hotline throughout July, providing legal advice free of charge. This partnership aligns with our and BMO’s ongoing commitments to giving back to the communities where we live and work.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a massive surge in demand for legal services across Ontario. We are thankful for the support and happy to welcome lawyers from our partners BMO and NRF to our hotline family. This sponsorship and support will help make a difference in people’s lives,” said Lynn Burns, Executive Director of Pro Bono Ontario.
“We are thrilled to support Pro Bono Ontario with our colleagues at BMO. This is part of our firm’s pro bono commitment to help bridge the justice gap by providing legal services to those most in need. It is extremely important for us to be able to leverage our skills and support pro bono initiatives in our communities,” said Jennifer Teskey, Canadian National Chair of Litigation and Disputes and Canadian Head of Financial Institutions.
“BMO’s team of innovative and dedicated professionals care deeply about giving back to our communities and is proud of its longstanding partnership with Pro Bono Ontario,” said Stéphanie Jules, Co-Chair of BMO’s Legal Regulatory & Compliance DE&I Council. “BMO’s Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, drives the progress we make for a thriving economy, sustainable future and inclusive society. Working with Pro Bono Ontario we are using our time, knowledge and resources to help close the justice gap.”
Call lines are open Monday to Friday, and callers will receive up to 30 minutes of free legal advice. Lawyers from NRF and BMO are staffing the lines every Wednesday. Together we will provide counsel on a wide range of everyday issues that people need help with, including civil procedure, employment law, housing, consumer protection, consumer debt, corporate law for small businesses, charities and non-profits, and creating powers of attorney for property and personal care. If you have a potential issue and need legal advice, call the hotline at 1-855-255-7256 from anywhere in Ontario.
On July 12, our firm will host the first in-person call centre event in over three years, bringing Pro Bono Ontario volunteers together to respond to hotline calls supporting the community and one another.
Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline was developed to respond to unmet legal needs across the province. Volunteers have seen a 50 per cent surge in calls since 2020. Last year, the hotline assisted 30,000 callers with various legal needs.
Norton Rose Fulbright is also a gold-level sponsor of Pro Bono Ontario’s 100 Percent A2J Leadership Circle. The vision behind the program is: “Everyone deserves access to justice. Everyone has a role to play.” The proceeds from this annual commitment support a variety of pro bono initiatives.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a massive surge in demand for legal services across Ontario. We are thankful for the support and happy to welcome lawyers from our partners BMO and NRF to our hotline family. This sponsorship and support will help make a difference in people’s lives,” said Lynn Burns, Executive Director of Pro Bono Ontario.
“We are thrilled to support Pro Bono Ontario with our colleagues at BMO. This is part of our firm’s pro bono commitment to help bridge the justice gap by providing legal services to those most in need. It is extremely important for us to be able to leverage our skills and support pro bono initiatives in our communities,” said Jennifer Teskey, Canadian National Chair of Litigation and Disputes and Canadian Head of Financial Institutions.
“BMO’s team of innovative and dedicated professionals care deeply about giving back to our communities and is proud of its longstanding partnership with Pro Bono Ontario,” said Stéphanie Jules, Co-Chair of BMO’s Legal Regulatory & Compliance DE&I Council. “BMO’s Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, drives the progress we make for a thriving economy, sustainable future and inclusive society. Working with Pro Bono Ontario we are using our time, knowledge and resources to help close the justice gap.”
Call lines are open Monday to Friday, and callers will receive up to 30 minutes of free legal advice. Lawyers from NRF and BMO are staffing the lines every Wednesday. Together we will provide counsel on a wide range of everyday issues that people need help with, including civil procedure, employment law, housing, consumer protection, consumer debt, corporate law for small businesses, charities and non-profits, and creating powers of attorney for property and personal care. If you have a potential issue and need legal advice, call the hotline at 1-855-255-7256 from anywhere in Ontario.
On July 12, our firm will host the first in-person call centre event in over three years, bringing Pro Bono Ontario volunteers together to respond to hotline calls supporting the community and one another.
Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline was developed to respond to unmet legal needs across the province. Volunteers have seen a 50 per cent surge in calls since 2020. Last year, the hotline assisted 30,000 callers with various legal needs.
Norton Rose Fulbright is also a gold-level sponsor of Pro Bono Ontario’s 100 Percent A2J Leadership Circle. The vision behind the program is: “Everyone deserves access to justice. Everyone has a role to play.” The proceeds from this annual commitment support a variety of pro bono initiatives.