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Pro Bono

The objective of the Pro Bono program is to bring together lawyers and the poor in order to eliminate barriers to justice.

The program exists to support, co-ordinate, and encourage the delivery of Pro Bono services in the Greater Victoria area through The Salvation Army Community & Family Services Centre. The target group is those persons who are ineligible for legal aid, who meet the required criteria and are in need of assistance with matters of civil law.

Criteria for Clients

The criteria for obtaining the Pro Bono services of lawyers participating in The Salvation Army's program are as follows:

1. Clients must first be ineligible for legal aid
2. Clients must meet the financial criteria of total household income. To assess your financial eligibility, you may be required to provide a proof of income. Please contact our office for eligibility assessment.
3. Clients cannot have equity in a home, or other, of more than $60,000.00
4. Clients must have a legal problem

It is necessary for guidelines to be established to be eligible for the Pro Bono program for several reasons:

1. The Lawyers are volunteering their services free of charge and therefore can only provide their services to those who need it the most, and cannot otherwise afford to retain counsel on their own
2. The Government Legal Aid program provides assistance to a group of people who meet their criteria. In order not to infringe on services that the Government and lawyers of legal aid provides, Pro Bono must have a different set of criteria.
3. Criteria are in place to make sure that those who seek the services of Pro Bono lawyers indeed cannot afford to retain counsel on their own.

What should you do to prepare for your initial visit with a pro bono lawyer?

1. Bring all key papers, including court documents and letters.
2. Bring a printed or typed summary of your situation and your questions (not more than 2 pages). All information will remain confidential.

For more information about our Pro Bono Program contact our Coordinator.

Our Pro Bono program is a partnership between The Salvation Army and Access Justice.