NW Collaborative
Futures Conference

Virtual Pro Bono Mediations: Breaking down financial and geographical barriers

COVID-19 has disrupted the traditional methods used by legal service providers to connect low income and marginalized clients with legal services. In this unprecedented moment of change, technology represents a significant opportunity to enhance service provision to clients by eliminating geographical, administrative, and financial barriers to access to justice. 

The Access Pro Bono has partnered with a local technology start-up, Qase, to enhance the mobilization of pro bono volunteers and the private bar to meet the needs of low income and marginalized clients across the province of British Columbia using an online platform that facilitates real-time bookings between clients and legal service professionals.

Speaker: Sarah Levine
Mediator, Grounded Mediation

Sarah is a mediator at Grounded Mediation, where she mediates family and estate law disputes throughout the province. She began her legal career as a law clerk for the Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin, former Chief Justice of Canada. Prior to opening her mediation practice, Sarah practiced estate and commercial litigation with top Vancouver litigation firms. She has been a member of the Teacher Review Board since 2014, where she adjudicates claims of misconduct against teachers. She has done extensive volunteer work both in the legal community and in the broader community, and has been recognized for her dedication and accomplishments as a volunteer. She has been an APB volunteer since 2010, in the Summary Advice Program, the Mental Health Program and on the Family Mediation Roster.

Speaker: Erin Monahan

Project Manager, Access Pro Bono Society of BC

Erin has been working in BC’s legal sector since 2011. She spent 8 years as the Education Director at the Trial Lawyers Association of BC, and has managed meetings, events and special projects for the greater part of her professional career. In 2020, she obtained a certificate in project management from UBC Sauder School of Business. In 2021, she earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. Erin is currently managing APB’s Virtual Family Mediation Project and Online Lawyer Referral Service.