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Engaged Lawyer
Your expertise is a tool for justice. Your commitment is a gift to the community.
The engaged lawyer concept
An engaged lawyer is a legal professional who chooses to put part of their expertise at the service of a broader mission: making rights more accessible to all.
This engagement does not replace professional practice. It complements it. It is a way of exercising the legal profession with a social conscience.
Why do we need engaged lawyers?
Because many people do not know their rights and need accessible explanations.
Because legal education is a powerful tool for preventing injustice.
Because lawyers possess knowledge that can serve communities beyond the courtroom.
Because pro bono engagement is a professional and ethical tradition worth strengthening.
A lawyer who educates is a lawyer who multiplies access to justice.
How can a lawyer contribute?
There are many ways to contribute, depending on your availability, expertise, and interests.
Legal education
Organize or participate in workshops, conferences, and training sessions on rights.
Plain language writing
Produce accessible content that explains legal concepts without jargon.
Guidance
Help people identify the right institution or professional for their situation.
Pro bono
Offer free legal services to people who cannot afford them.
Research
Contribute to legal research and documentation of rights situations.
International
Participate in international cooperation activities on access to justice.
Law reform
Contribute to reflection and advocacy on legal and institutional reforms.
Mentoring
Support young lawyers and law students in their professional development.
In Canada
Canadian lawyers operate within a regulated professional framework. Their engagement with the Foundation must respect the rules of their bar association and the ethical obligations of their profession.
The Foundation does not ask lawyers to provide legal advice outside their professional framework. It invites them to contribute to education, awareness, and guidance activities that complement their professional practice.
A lawyer who contributes to the Foundation remains subject to all professional obligations of their bar association. The Foundation does not create a lawyer-client relationship between its members and the people it serves.
International engagement
Lawyers can also contribute to the international dimension of the Foundation by:
Participating in training activities in partner countries.
Contributing to the documentation of human rights situations.
Supporting local lawyers and legal professionals in their capacity building.
Participating in international legal research and publications.