Update: The Law Society of BC says retired lawyers can provide pro bono legal services.
“For a $125 fee, a retired lawyer can provide pro bono legal services through a sanctioned service, such as Access Pro Bono or some community service agencies, and they will be indemnified through the Lawyers Indemnity Fund.”
“If the retired lawyer ceased to be a member of the Law Society, the Law Society can waive the reinstatement application fee.”
Original: At least one BC lawyer is expecting to see a huge demand for increased legal service provision on a pro bono or reduced cost basis as a result of COVID-19.
Speaking on The Jeff Andreas Show, Acumen Law’s Kyla Lee says that will be in part due to the record high unemployment rate leaving so many without work or an income.
“People who have expenses that have been deferred like mortgage payments that they’re going to be struggling to afford. And we also have lawyers who are out of work or looking for work and might be more weary abut providing pro bono or reduced cost services when they’re struggling themselves to make ends meet.”
There is also some concern that people might be looking to leave the field. “Many of them are very senior members of the bar who are thinking ‘well, now is a good time to start my retirement.’ And we are going to see a gap as we see people leave the profession take up alternative work or not have the capacity to give the types of pro bono services that they were giving before.”