Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/466000
WeirFoulds has a rich tradition of partnering with community and legal organizations to overcome barriers to accessing justice, including a successful challenge to the "spouse in the house" welfare rule by partner and Flip Your Wig for Justice Ambassador Raj Anand. Support for Self-Represented Parties Partner Hilary Book is a long-time volunteer in PBLO's Court of Appeal Amicus Duty Counsel program. As amicus duty counsel, Hilary assists self-represented parties with understanding the legal process and the issues that will be addressed on their motions. She makes submissions to the Court on their behalf, and also brings to the Court's attention relevant case law and arguments that a self-represented party may not have identified in order to ensure the Court has the benefit of full argument on the motion. "The Amicus Duty Counsel program helps to provide access to justice to individual litigants and contributes to the just and efficient determination of motions in the Court of Appeal," says Hilary. "I am proud to be a part of the program, and proud of WeirFoulds' commitment to serving the public and the justice system through this program and others." Human Rights in the Caribbean Associate Nadia Chiesa spearheads the firm's pro bono litigation initiative in the Caribbean which contemplates Constitutional challenges to current legislation offending fundamental rights in international law. WeirFoulds acted as counsel to a client in an Eastern Caribbean country charged under laws criminalizing private consensual sexual activity between adult men. After starting an application challenging the constitutionality of the laws, the criminal charges were withdrawn. INCREASING ACCESS TO JUSTICE BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD "There are huge unmet legal needs in every society, and lawyers' specialized skills allow them the unique opportunity to make profound and tangible differences in the lives of the disadvantaged." Raj Anand Four of our lawyers currently engaged in pro bono work (clockwise from top left) Raj Anand, Nadia Chiesa, Derry Millar, Hilary Book 17