Partner Jim Dube was in Liberia until May 25, 2008. Once again, he was working with the U.S.-based International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP).
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Jim Dube
Blakes Partner
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About Blakes Pro Bono
Blakes plays a leading role in promoting the delivery of pro bono legal services in Canada. The Firm was among the first national law firms in Canada to adopt a formal policy that treats time spent on pro bono legal services as equivalent to billable hours. Blakes was among the first to also form a national committee to review and proactively seek out pro bono opportunities. Blakes conducts regular seminars to discuss pro bono projects and successes. The Firm encourages associates and partners to pursue worthwhile causes.
A Blakes partner was a founding director and president of Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO), a not-for-profit organization formed in 2002 to improve access to justice. Blakes continues to have a key role in numerous PBLO initiatives.
Blakes is also an active member of Pro Bono Law of BC, a not-for-profit group also launched in 2002, and an active supporter of Pro Bono Law Alberta, a not-for-profit organization formed in 2007. In September 2008, Blakes received the Canadian National Pro Bono Law Firm Award at the National Pro Bono Conference in Vancouver.
Today, Blakes is proud to say it has one of the largest pro bono programs in Canada.
A majority of our pro bono projects are listed in our Pro Bono Review, but updates include:
Habitat for Humanity
Blakes partners with Habitat for Humanity providing pro bono legal assistance and, in addition, Blakes recently participated in a Habitat for Humanity build project on the corner of 16th Avenue and Deerfoot Trail in the northeast of Calgary, Alberta. In the past year, Blakes has participated in Habitat for Humanity Adopt-a-Day-Team-Builds in both Toronto and Calgary. These builds help in the construction of affordable housing for those in need. Blakes has now participated in six different build sites since 2004, contributing towards the completion of more than 75 new homes. |
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Blakes partners with Habitat for Humanity
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AIDS-Free World and the Girl Child Network
Working with AIDS-Free World and the Girl Child Network is one of the latest pro bono initiatives at Blakes. Our team of lawyers is headed up by Connie Reeve, a labour and employment Partner. Connie, along with Melanie Gaston and Shashu Clacken, both litigation Associates, recently travelled to Botswana, Africa to take statements from some of the women who were victims of widespread sexual violence during the recent Zimbabwe election campaign. The violence included gang rape, beatings, torture and the threat of HIV infection.
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In order of appearance: Melanie Gaston (Blakes Associate), Betty Makoni (head of Zimbabwean grass-roots organization, the Girl Child Network (GCN); Connie Reeve (Blakes Partner) and Shashu Clacken (Blakes Associate).
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