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The Young Bar of Montreal Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of its Free Legal Aid Service for Youth, Parlons Droit
The Young Bar of Montreal Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of its Service, Parlons Droit
Founded in 1993, this project, initially named “Mercredi, j’en parle à mon avocat” (Wednesday, I Talk to My Lawyer), inspired by a similar program in Lyon, France, allowed volunteers from the Young Bar Association of Montreal to provide free legal aid services for young people aged 12 to 21 residing in the Montreal area.
Mercredi, j’en parle à mon avocat: The Birth of a New Pro Bono Service by the Young Bar of Montreal
This pro bono service was born in 1993 from the collaboration between the Young Bar of Montreal, the Quebec Bar, and the Commission des écoles catholiques de Montréal, under the presidency of Me François Ramsay.
In response to one of the missions of the Young Bar Association of Montreal aimed at improving access to justice, this project addressed a real need among young people for information about their rights. At a time when the internet did not exist, young people had limited knowledge of the different resources available to access legal information.
Thus, young people would ask their questions by phone or during meetings with volunteers at the Maison du Barreau on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
When the program was created, L’Extrajudiciare, the former newspaper of the Young Bar of Montreal, had published an advertisement recruiting for this service, sparking interest among many members, including Me Nathalie Roy, lawyer and former volunteer of the Young Bar Association of Montreal.
For Me Nathalie Roy, this service was a springboard for her involvement with the Young Bar of Montreal. Quickly, her participation in the program became a driving force, giving her a unique motivation to thrive in her profession.
“By participating in the various pro bono services offered by the Young Bar of Montreal, as a volunteer, you receive much more than you give,” emphasized Me Nathalie Roy, lawyer and lifelong member of the Young Bar of Montreal.
From March 31 to April 9, 1995, the team of the Young Bar Association of Montreal participated in the International Youth Fair to promote this service to young people. Through Legal Quizzes, the volunteers provided young people with information about their rights in a fun and educational way.
Image: Advertising card for the program "Mercredi, j’en parle à mon Avocat!"
Current presentation of the Parlons Droit program: Free legal aid for youth.
Since 2020, the program has been revitalized to energize and modernize the Jeune Barreau de Montréal. Now known as Parlons Droit, it continues to offer free legal services to youth aged 12 to 21!
By calling 514-954-3446 or filling out the appointment form on our website, young people can get answers to their concerns regarding work, housing, family, and more.
A concrete example of a situation faced by young people:
Rémi got his first summer job at a restaurant, but he has questions about his employer's practices. He wonders about his employer's obligations concerning overtime, work uniforms, tips, and minimum wage.
The Jeune Barreau de Montréal is committed to providing this free legal assistance through our volunteer lawyers, who can also guide young people to appropriate legal resources.
This sense of public usefulness and helping the most vulnerable perfectly reflects the values of the Jeune Barreau de Montréal.
“This is a promising program that deserves to continue developing in order to provide a real public service,” says Me Joey Suri, Lawyer and President of the Jeune Barreau de Montréal for the 2023-2024 mandate.
2024 Goals: Increase visibility for more accessible legal aid to youth
Aware of the program's value, the Jeune Barreau de Montréal aims to revitalize Parlons Droit this year.
To do this, we need YOUR help!
We are mobilizing all our members to recruit new volunteers who wish to contribute to Parlons Droit this year.
If you would like to get involved in this program, we invite you to contact us at servicesprobono@ajbm.qc.ca.
This is a project for youth that also offers a unique experience for all those who participate!
Access to Justice for Youth | Free Legal Aid for 12-21 Year Olds | Jeune Barreau de Montréal | Legal Volunteers | Youth Rights | Parlons Droit | Pro Bono Legal Service
