The Court of Appeal and Pro Bono Ontario (PBO) have re-launched PBO’s Amicus at the Court of Appeal Program.
Each Wednesday, lawyers volunteering with PBO will help self-represented litigants with single judge motions.
The volunteer lawyers act as duty counsel and appear as amicus curiae, or “friends of the court”, on a pro bono (free) basis.
Duty counsel may provide advice or make submissions that support self-represented litigants in the program. Duty counsel may also give summary advice on materials and court procedure for the self-represented litigants who visit the public counter.
Where possible, court staff will be scheduling single judge motions with self-represented litigants on Wednesdays, and these matters will receive priority on those days.
To participate in this program, self-represented litigants must attend court in person on Wednesdays. Counsel arguing single judge motions on Wednesdays are encouraged to attend in person as well.