On May 11 in Toronto, Access Pro Bono's Everyone Legal Clinic was awarded the 2023 Canadian Law Award for Diversity Initiative of the Year.

An independent panel of several dozen judges selected ELC –– the world's first virtual public interest law teaching clinic and legal practice incubator –– as the Canadian law firm or organization that took the most steps in 2022 to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

One of ELC's primary objectives is to improve equity, diversity, working conditions and quality of education in BC’s lawyer training systems. Over two thirds of ELC's first 44 articling clinicians are BIPOC. They serve in over twenty different BC communities, and bring a truly diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to their front line service roles.

Access Pro Bono was also awarded the 2023 Lincoln Alexander School of Law Award for Shaping the Future, as the shortlisted Excellence Awardee that best demonstrated EDI as a core organizational value, strengthened access to justice for underrepresented communities, advanced legal services through innovation, and invested in legal education through mentorship.

Pictured above (L-R) are: Serey Sinn (APB Director), Neesha Rao (APB Director of Legal Services), Mariyah Ali (ELC clinician) and Jamie Maclaren KC (APB Executive Director).