National (April 26, 2023) – BLG is proud to announce that Canadian Lawyer has named us a 5-Star Pro Bono Firm for 2023.
This special recognition — awarded for the first time this year, in partnership with Pro Bono Ontario — celebrates Canadian law firms that provide important legal services to those who may not be able to afford it.
The value of BLG’s pro bono services in 2022 was more than $3.3M — a level of contribution that we sustain thanks to a nationally led, regionally delivered pro bono program.
Regional pro bono committees stay connected to local community needs, enabling us to contribute to initiatives like UBC’s ID Support Clinic, which helps marginalized Vancouverites replace their lost and stolen identification, and Calgary’s Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, a recognized centre of excellence in child abuse intervention and prevention.
A national committee ensures we undertake country-wide efforts, such as our support of Groupe 3737, which coaches and supports BIPOC entrepreneurs across Canada. National coordination also creates efficiencies and promotes lawyer participation across the entire firm.
We are proud of our relationships with provincial pro bono organizations and contribute hours and funding to a number of programs across Canada, including Pro Bono Ontario, Law Society of Nunavut, Pro Bono Canada, Pro Bono Students Canada, Justice Pro Bono, Pro Bono Law Alberta and Access Pro Bono in B.C.
In 2022, BLG was both the Diamond and the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) sponsor for the National Pro Bono Conference in Calgary. The conference brought together over 200 pro bono and access-to-justice stakeholders from across Canada to focus on sector challenges and channel key learnings into future action for access to justice.
This isn’t the first time BLG has been recognized for our pro bono work. Most recently, we were awarded Pro Bono Initiative of the Year — alongside our partner in the Afghan evacuation initiative, Landings LLP — at the 2022 Canadian Law Awards.
Read more about our pro bono work here.