WHAT I DO

In addition to my day job doing poverty law at a community legal clinic, I am a board member for the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (FACL) and Chair of its Community Outreach Committee (COC). One of the projects that the COC is spearheading is a Public Legal Education (PLE) Initiative that will help match up and support FACL lawyers interested in pro bono work with Asian ethnic community groups that are looking for PLE workshops done in a linguistically and culturally sensitive manner.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MY PRO BONO WORK

At FACL, I get to work with members of the Asian-Canadian bar as well as law students who are energetic, idealistic, bright, and just a joy to be around. So many people enter law school and enter the practice of law hoping to make a positive difference for people who need it. Not everyone is able to satisfy those goals in their ordinary day-to-day practice. The FACL COC I hope provides a very practical avenue in which to satisfy those needs. The Committee is still in its infancy, but I can tell by the excitement and energy surrounding what we've done so far and what we have planned that we are truly tapping into an unmet need in the Asian Canadian legal profession and the communities that we represent. 

WHY I DO THIS PRO BONO WORK

Lawyers are in an incredible position to help members of their community advocate and educate for positive change. I believe this to be even more true of lawyers who come from a racialized background. Often there is disconnect between racialized communities and mainstream society with respect to its laws, policies, and the administration of justice in general. Pro bono lawyers can therefore act as bridges across these disconnects and champion community-specific causes both within the community and in broader society.

ONE COMMENT TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS

I'd like to direct my comment specifically to legal professionals from underrepresented groups: e.g. visible minorities, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ, etc. By virtue of your relative privilege as a legal professional, you are in the best position out of anyone in society to advocate and improve the situation for your community - don't take it for granted and don't underestimate the impact of what your knowledge and skills can do. This is especially true for the law students and young lawyers. Because if you don't do it, no one else will.