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.

Habitat for Humanity

Since 2004, Blakes has partnered with Habitat for Humanity, providing pro bono legal assistance. Blakes has also 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 nine different build sites, contributing towards the completion of more than 90 new homes.

Most recently, Blakes participated in the first ever Women’s Build Blitz to help launch the largest women’s build project ever undertaken in Canada. The Blitz was organized by Habitat for Humanity and partly sponsored by our client GWL Realty Advisors Inc. The goal of the Blitz was to build 16 homes at a site in eastern Scarborough (a suburb just outside Toronto) and break the cycle of poverty for 16 families.

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.

In photo, 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).

Urban Financial Services Coalition

Blakes has been acting as pro bono counsel to the Toronto chapter of the Urban Financial Services Coalition (UFSC) since July 2008. A not-for-profit organization, UFSC is dedicated to promoting the growth of minority professionals in all areas of financial services. UFSC also seeks to promote financial fluency and increase awareness of personal finance issues in disadvantaged and minority communities. Several of our lawyers are active in the organization and contribute to UFSC's various educational and professional development initiatives, including by serving on UFSC's corporate advisory board and leading professional development seminars at its general meetings.