PBLS Recognizes Volunteers During National Volunteer Week

April 21, 2021

During National Volunteer Week, Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan would like to thank our amazing volunteers who make our work possible. We have volunteers across Saskatchewan, assisting low-income people in all areas of law. We provide our services through two programs: our Free Legal Advice Clinics and our Panel Program. Our Free Legal Advice Clinics take place in 10 communities throughout Saskatchewan and offer people appointments with a volunteer lawyer to discuss their legal issues. The Panel Program matches clients with volunteer lawyers who provide legal services ranging from limited specific needs up to full representation for the clients’ particular legal matter.

The pandemic has made volunteering tough. All our Clinics are now provided by phone appointments, which means that clients can no longer simply bring documents with them for review; therefore, document exchange must be coordinated through the PBLS office. Similarly, the written summary of legal advice provided to the client after the Clinic appointment is now distributed via the PBLS office instead of being given directly to the client at their appointment. Changes like this have placed additional work on our volunteers, and we truly appreciate the flexibility and dedication our volunteers have shown for serving our clients.

We want to specifically thank our dedicated volunteer lawyers who have been recognized with awards for the 2020 year.

• Idowu Adetogun practices with Grayson and Company in Moose Jaw and received the Victor P Dietz Pro Bono Service Award. This award is presented on behalf of the Law Society of Saskatchewan by CLASSIC Law and Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan. Each year, they alternate giving this award to a recipient who engages in delivering, establishing, coordinating, or advocating in relation to Pro Bono services in Saskatchewan.
• Ron Cherkewich, a retired lawyer who resides in Candle Lake, received the Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan Volunteer of the Year Award for his ongoing display of exemplary dedication to the provision of Pro Bono services through Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan.
• Leland Campbell Kodratoff Persick LLP, a law firm located in Yorkton, received the Dedicated Firm Award for its dedication to Pro Bono Services through Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan.

If you are interested in volunteering with Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan, or want more information, please visit our website or email the Staff Lawyer & Outreach Director at Davida.Bentham@pblsask.ca.