Access Pro Bono Society of BC ("APB") was formed as a result of the 2010 merger of the Western Canada Society to Access Justice and Pro Bono Law of British Columbia. The merger brought together BC's two leading pro bono organizations with the objective of delivering a full spectrum of pro bono services for medium low income clients.
In mid-2014, APB launched the Mental Health Program in cooperation with the BC Mental Health Review Board and the Community Legal Assistance Society’s Mental Health Law Program ("CLAS"). CLAS referred clients that are unable to represent to APB for representation from trained volunteer lawyers and law students.
In 2016, the Mental Health Program received the National Pro Bono Program Award at the 6th National Pro Bono Conference in Ottawa. The National Pro Bono Program Award recognizes a specific Canadian pro bono program that increases access to legal services by addressing a gap in existing services or the unmet legal needs of a community, using innovative strategies to increase access to justice, promoting collaboration across sectors, and enhancing participation in pro bono initiatives.
In 2016, Z.B. v British Columbia (Attorney General), a constitutional claim was filed on behalf of a person who had been denied legal representation by CLAS' Mental Health Law Program. The BC Attorney General settled the constitutional challenge by increasing the legal aid funding to CLAS to provide legal representation to all detainees eligible for legal aid. As a result, APB's Mental Health Program has transitioned to the provision of telephone legal advice on Mental Health Act detention.
When individuals are detained and certified but fail to communicate or access the advice of how to secure legal representation at BC Mental Health review panels, their detention gets prolonged and condition gets exacerbated. Pro bono lawyers volunteering with the Mental Health Telephone program provide free legal advice over the phone for up to 30 minutes on the following topics:
- What it means to be certified under the Mental Health Act
- Right to a second opinion
- How to apply for a review panel
- Legal test and procedure at review panel hearings
- Consequences of cancelling vs. postponing a hearing
- How to prepare for a hearing.
The speaker, Mona Muker completed her JD in Orange County, California. She was called to the California bar in 2012 and the BC bar in 2015. Mona previously graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BA in Criminology and minor in Legal Studies. Before joining APB, Mona practiced real estate law, business/commercial contracts, and wills & estates as a sole practitioner in Vancouver. Mona is also experienced in civil litigation, criminal defense, human rights, and public legal education. Mona has a strong interest and passion for public interest, human rights, and social justice. She frequently works pro bono, volunteers, and makes an effort to create social and political change through her activism. Mona oversees APB’s Tribunals Program.
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