The Ontario Securities Commission is launching a new program to provide free legal advice to people who cannot afford to hire expensive securities lawyers. Seventy per cent of people named in OSC cases last year did not have a lawyer representing them, according to Karen Manarin, OSC deputy director of enforcement.
The pilot program, which launches this fall, will initially involve five younger lawyers from Toronto firms who have volunteered their time to help with cases without pay. But the scope could be expanded once the program is reviewed after its first year of operation. The lawyers have all received extra training in securities matters, and have senior mentors at their law firms who can give them advice if needed, Ms. Manarin said.
Gillian Dingle, who will participate in the program next year, said the work will give her a broader range of experiences relatively early in her career. "This gives me the opportunity to have that sort of advocacy experience and develop relationships with the commission that I might not otherwise get until I'm a few years more advanced in my career."
Read the full article here.
See also, The Law Times article, "New Program Helps OSC Respondents," here.