By Lou Frapporti Access to legal help remains one of the most persistent—and least visible—barriers facing those the charity and not-for-profit sector care for every day; many of whom are among the most vulnerable people in our communities.
The Paladin – Ontario Bar Association Pro Bono Portal – and Ontario’s legal community – is here to help.
Lawyers are expensive – getting help that is pro bono is a part of the solution. Pro bono is Latin for “for the public good,” referring to professional services rendered for free or at a significantly reduced rate .
As reported in the Toronto Star, Lawyers Weekly and other publications, the recent launch of this innovative initiative by Paladin Pro Bono and the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) represents a fundamental shift in how pro bono legal support is delivered—using technology to seamlessly connect charities and not-for-profits directly with skilled volunteer lawyers across Ontario, in a way that is faster, more targeted, and far easier to access than traditional models.
Through this project, the OBA and its partners are working to ensure that organizations doing critical front-line work—supporting newcomers, small businesses, marginalized communities, families, and individuals in need—can access high-quality legal assistance without diverting scarce financial resources away from their core missions.
If you lead or work for a charity or not-for-profit organization that supports those who regularly encounter legal challenges – in any area that would benefit from legal advice – join me, my partner Erin Farrell, Colleen Hoey of Dentons, and Paladin’s Danielle L. on February 18th for a webinar to learn more.
Registration is by invite only. If you are a representative of a charity or not-for-profit, you can register for this webinar by emailing me at Louis.Frapporti@GowlingWLG.com.
And to business leaders across every sector: please consider forwarding this message to the charities and community organizations you support. This is a practical way to help strengthen their capacity, reduce risk, and allow them to focus more fully on the people and communities they serve.
This initiative, which is in its infancy, is about unlocking legal support at scale, modernizing access to justice, and ensuring that those doing the most important work in our communities are not held back by unmet legal needs.
To law firms interested in learning more about how this initiative and Paladin can support your pro bono journey, please free to email me. at
Together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of so many.
