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regional wrap-up National Pro Bono Conference recognizes growing trend in legal community lawyers and law firms providing pro bono services. "Many lawyers believe it is their professional responsibility to provide pro bono services because they possess a skill that most people do not. Lawyers also believe in giving back to their communities and providing pro bono services is one way to do that." The results of The 3rd National Pro Bono Conference — The Power of Pro G Awards Pro Bono Program Award: Pro Bono Students Canada Family Law Project. This award recognizes a specific Canadian pro bono program that increases access to legal services for people of limited financial means. Law Firm Award: Dawson Stevens Duckett & Shaigec of Edmonton, Alta. This award rec- ognizes a Canadian law firm that has made an outstanding contribution to the provision of pro bono legal services. National Law Firm Award: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. This award has the same criteria as the Law Firm Award and is specifically presented to a national law firm. Pro Bono Distinguished service Award: Provincial Court of Alberta Judge John T. Henderson. This award recognizes an indi- vidual Canadian lawyer who has made an outstanding contribution to the provision of pro bono legal services. More details on the awards online at: probonoconference.ca/awards.php Lewis with Pro Bono Distinguished Service Award winner Judge John T. Henderson, and Supreme Court of Canada Justice Marie Deschamps. Bono: Stepping Up, held Sept. 16 and 17 in Calgary, were discussions on pro- pelling the pro bono movement forward, introducing the Pro Bono Declaration for the Americas, and encouraging and expanding the provision of pro bono services. The mandate of the pro bono organ- izations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec is to help organize and facilitate pro bono services. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP's David Scott discussed the responsibil- ity of the provincial and territorial bars to provide pro bono services. He then illian Marriott, executive director of Pro Bono Law Alberta, says there is a growing trend toward raised the associated issue of how to fund the organized delivery of such ser- vices and what role law societies and the profession should assume in providing financial support to the pro bono organ- izations. Lawyers from Australia and the Conference keynote speaker Stephen Lewis (striped tie) with lawyers from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, winner of the National Law Firm Award. United States discussed how they man- age pro bono services in their jurisdic- tions. Marriott says pro bono services in these two jurisdictions are more organ- ized than they are in Canada and the private bar assumes a strong leadership role in its delivery. Elise Colomer Grimaldi, director of the Latin America program, led a discussion about how the New York City Bar's Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice has co-ordinat- ed the Pro Bono Declaration for the Americas, which originates with lead- ers of the pro bono initiative in Latin America, is asking lawyers, law firms, and law schools to sign the declaration which would require them to provide 20 hours of pro bono annually. Supreme Court of Canada Justice Marie Deschamps talked about her belief that providing pro bono services should be mandatory for all lawyers. She said she believes this is a shared responsibility among all lawyers and discussed different types of initiatives and how to engage young associates in the pro bono movement. The conference is for people who are or want to be engaged in the deliv- ery of pro bono services to share ideas, knowledge, and best practices and to recognize the legal community's efforts. The next conference is scheduled to be held in Montreal in 2012. — DC 2011 Ontario Lawyer's Phone Book Your most complete directory of Ontario lawyers, law firms and courts CATCH THE SAVINGS BEFORE THEY'RE GONE! OFFER EXPIRES DECEMBER 1, 2010 Order your copy today at www.canadalawbook.ca • 1-800-565-6967 A Thomson Reuters business 12 NO VEMBER / DECEMBER 2010 www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com 7" x 1" Cdn. Lawyer banner.indd 1 10/28/10 11:32:22 AM