Pro Bono Law Ontario Wins Prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers Award

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Apr 07 (MARKET WIRE) --
The American College of Trial Lawyers has chosen Pro Bono Law Ontario as
the recipient of the prestigious Emil Gumpert Award. This is especially
significant since it is the first time the award has been won by a
Canadian organization or individual.

The award recognizes programs, public or private, whose principal purpose
is to maintain and improve the administration of justice.

Pro Bono Law Ontario will use the monetary part of the award - valued at
$50,000 USD - to open a new walk-in, legal help centre in
Ottawa--modelled on the successful "Law Help Ontario" centre operating
out of the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. Law Help Ontario is a
project of Pro Bono Law Ontario that provides pro bono legal services to
people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer and are unrepresented in a
legal matter.

In a letter to Pro Bono Law Ontario, the Chair of the Emil Gumpert
Committee said, "The Board of Regents of the American College of Trial
Lawyers was impressed with your goals and progress, and unanimously
approved the recommendation. Your goal of creating, nurturing and guiding
organized pro bono efforts in Ontario will encourage and extend the pro
bono services of Canadian lawyers beyond the jurisdiction of 'Law Help
Ontario.' We believe your program is truly unique and has the potential
for national impact."

Lynn Burns, the Executive Director of Pro Bono Law Ontario, says the
award is a fitting tribute to the many lawyers who have volunteered their
time and expertise over the first year of operation of Law Help Ontario.
"Thanks to their dedication, almost 3,000 individuals received help with
their legal needs in 2008. Now that we can expand this much-needed
service to Ottawa, the result will be that many more Ontarians will have
professional guidance and support in dealing with the justice system."

The American College of Trial Lawyers will present the award to Pro Bono
Law Ontario in Ottawa in July, which will coincide with the official
launch of the centre.

BACKGROUNDER

Pro Bono Law Ontario (PBLO) is a charitable organization that promotes
access to justice in Ontario by creating and promoting opportunities for
lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited
means. The Law Help Ontario office at 393 University Avenue in Toronto -
the same building which houses the Superior Court of Justice -- has been
open since December 2007. The volunteer lawyers and Law Help staff
provide a full range of brief legal services to assist unrepresented
litigants and address the key challenges they face when they decide to go
to court, such as:

- Not understanding court rules and procedures

- Not being able to properly complete court forms

- Not understanding their legal rights and available remedies

- Not being able to research or apply case law

- Not being able to interpret or apply applicable legislation

The Law Help Centre is not designed to replace services of lawyers
retained to provide full representation. Rather it operates as a walk-in
centre that assists low-income, unrepresented litigants who are
considering litigation, defending or bringing an action, or trying to
enforce a court order for civil (non-family) matters. The Law Help Centre
only assists clients that cannot afford to hire a lawyer and do not
qualify for legal aid. Litigants can come back to the walk-in centre as
many times as needed.

Contacts:
PLACEMENTS & INTERVIEWS:
PBLO Communications
Carol Austin
416-302-7699
carol@pblo.org
MORE INFO: www.pblo.org or www.actl.com

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