ONLINE MEETING | Public Sector Lawyers and Pro Bono Service: Opportunities and Impacts
This meeting is being hosted by the Public Sector Lawyers Section.
| Speakers: |
Trevor Bant, Litigator, Ministry of Attorney General
Michael Kleisinger, KC, Senior Counsel, Ministry of Attorney General
|
| Time: |
Monday, November 9, 2026, 12:30pm - 1:30pm (PT) |
| Fee: |
CBA Member: Free!
Non-CBA Member: $70 (+ GST)
Don't have a CBA account? Create a non-member account to register! |
| CPD Hours: |
1.00 hour |
Public sector lawyers can play an important role in improving access to justice, but many wonder how pro bono work fits within their professional responsibilities.
Public sector lawyers have unique duties to employers that are required to act in the public interest. Lawyers providing pro bono services may be asked for advice involving potential claims against government or other public institutions, raising questions about conflicts of interest and professional obligations. Join Trevor Bant and Michael Kleisinger, KC, two government lawyers, as they share their experiences volunteering with Access Pro Bono, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to British Columbians.
This session will explore how public sector lawyers can navigate conflicts of interest, professional obligations, insurance coverage, and the rewarding ways they can support access to justice in British Columbia.
About the Speakers
Trevor Bant, Litigator with the Ministry of Attorney General, is the current Board Chair of Access Pro Bono (APB). He regularly volunteers through the Summary Advice Program, serves as referral counsel for the Court of Appeal Program, and is one of the supervising lawyers at a legal clinic operated jointly by APB and UVic Law students at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.
Michael Kleisinger, KC, Senior Counsel with the Ministry of Attorney General, has volunteered with Access Pro Bono and its predecessor organizations throughout his legal career. His primary contribution has been through the Summary Advice Program. He has also been extensively involved in other pro bono initiatives, including the Amicus Curiae Friends of Court Paralegal Clinic, the Lawyer Referral Service, and the Law Students' Legal Advice Program, both as a student and as a supervising lawyer.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This event will be broadcast from the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Musqueam First Nations. We encourage members to explore the rich history and knowledge of Indigenous people, and to continue learning about their experience in Canada past and present.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
This meeting is for lawyers, judges, articling students & law students only.
If you are a non-lawyer working in a field related to this meeting, please contact sections@cbabc.org to request attendance. Attendance is granted to non-lawyers on a case by case basis.
ACCESSIBILITY
Please request any accommodations needed in the "Notes" area upon registering. Live captions and transcripts are available for attendees upon request.
We welcome suggestions for enhancing the inclusiveness of our activities. Please contact if you have any questions or recommendations.
LOG-IN INSTRUCTIONS
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