Volunteer Opportunities for Lawyers

Volunteer lawyers are a vital part of the services we offer. No matter what stage you are in your legal career, as a junior associate, partner, corporate counsel, government counsel, professor, retired lawyer, in-between jobs, or in a non-legal occupation, you can get involved at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre!

Below are some ways for volunteer lawyers to get involved with the work ECLC is doing.

As a clinic lawyer, you will meet with clients and provide legal information and advice on a variety of legal matters. You will become a vital part of the ECLC team, as the work you do is a key component of the services offered to clients. You also help us to screen cases on the basis of their merit, which allows the ECLC staff to focus on those clients and cases that are most in need of our services.

Lawyers interested in providing summary legal advice on of residential tenancy, human rights, family, employment, immigration, contracts, bankruptcy, wills, income supports and other areas of law relevant to low-income individuals are encouraged to become part of the ECLC’s volunteer team.

• Hours:
  • Telephone Clinics From You Home/ Location: Volunteering from your office or home by providing help over the phone. Flexible daytime and evening shifts from Monday – Thursday from 9 AM – 8 PM.
  • UNAVAILABLE (as of Jan 4, 2022) In-Person Clinics at the ECLC Office: Monday – Thursday, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM and Flexible Shifts between Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM, you can sign up for at least a 2-hour shift.
  • UNAVAILABLE (as of Jan 4, 2022) Telephone Clinics at The ECLC OfficeFlexible Shifts between Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM, you can sign up for at least a 2-hour shift.
• Locations: Downtown ECLC Office for the clinics hosted by ECLC. Please note that we now offer discounted basement parking in our building  to make your volunteering more convenient.
• Minimum Commitment: One shift per month
• Qualifications:
  • Lawyers: Active/Practicing, Active (Exempt) or Active (Pro Bono Only) status with the Law Society of Alberta.
  • Articling Students can volunteer as long as permission is granted by their articling principal. 
  • Retired Lawyers can also obtain Active for Pro Bono Status with the Law Society of Alberta, which is an affordable and accessibly way to keep practicing law.

Training will be provided in the form of a one-time orientation session, which includes shadowing an experienced evening clinic lawyer as they meet with clients. Training seminars on the areas of law seen in the evening clinics are conducted on a periodic basis. There’s a video tutorial as well that you can watch anytime prior to your volunteer shift.

*Note that much of your volunteer activity may be eligible for your professional development requirements with the Law Society.

To become a volunteer lawyer with the ECLC, please email us at volunteer@eclc.ca with “Volunteer Lawyer – Clinic” in the subject line and a brief summary of your legal experience in the body of the email or fill out our volunteer lawyer application form here: https://www.eclc.ca/get-involved/volunteer-application-forms/ 

For more information, please contact Ruth Thangiah by phone (780-702-1725) or e-mail (rthangiah@eclc.ca)

If you are a lawyer who likes to take on an occasional pro bono case, we can provide you with files that are pre-screened for your practice area, case merit and the client’s financial need. Lawyers with expertise or interest in areas of civil, family, and administrative law are encouraged to become part of our pro bono roster. You have the choice whether to accept a pro bono or opportunity. You can also request a case when you have time, and we will match you with one that fits your practice area and availability.

• Hours: As required
• Commitment: ongoing
• Qualifications:
  • Lawyers: Active/Practicing, Active (Exempt) or Active (Pro Bono Only) status with the Law Society of Alberta.
  • Articling Students can volunteer as long as permission is granted by their articling principal.
  • Retired Lawyers can also obtain Active for Pro Bono Status with the Law Society of Alberta, which is an affordable and accessibly way to keep practicing law.

To be added to the roster, please email us at volunteer@eclc.ca with “Volunteer Lawyer – File Work” in the subject line with a brief summary of the areas of law with which you are interested to assist and a summary of your experience in the body of the email.

For more information, please contact Ruth Thangiah by phone (780-702-1725) or e-mail (rthangiah@eclc.ca)

Clients who call our office asking for assistance with a Will, Power of Attorney, or Personal Directive are referred directly to a lawyer on the Roster. The lawyer to whom they were referred will have the discretion to provide the service at no cost or decide on a reasonable fee to charge.

Time commitment: Varies (You determine any limits on referrals)
Location: For you to determine
Requirement: Active/Practicing, Active (Exempt) or Active (Pro Bono Only) status with the Law Society of Alberta

The ECLC has seven staff lawyers who, because of the number of clients we assist, often have questions regarding certain areas of law in which they do not have an expertise. In those circumstances, staff lawyers often consult other lawyers learned in specific areas of law. If you have an expertise in a certain area (no matter how obscure), please consider being a resource to the ECLC.

Time commitment: 10 minute phone call once in a while
Location: For you to determine
Requirements: Expertise in a certain area of law