Where purpose-driven work meets professional growth
At Gowling WLG, pro bono work is more than a firm priority. It’s deeply personal to the lawyers who take on the files. This is clear both in the causes they support and in the role it plays in shaping their careers.
From individual impact to broader community change, pro bono isn’t reserved only for extraordinary cases. It’s woven into the fabric of everyday practice and backed by intentional structure: a clear pro bono policy, a passionate team of leaders, and opportunities that tap into lawyers’ core areas of work. Pro bono offers a sense of purpose, contributes to well-being and fuels professional growth.
Niche expertise in service of community
For partner Myron Dzulynsky, a career spent solving complex corporate governance and transactional matters has found a natural home in an unexpected place: Plast Toronto. Plast is a Ukrainian scouting charity with legacy assets, namely, a building in Toronto and summer camps east of the city. While Plast excels at running those camps and running youth education programs, it faces increasing sustainability challenges without dedicated internal resources to address them.
“I’ve been figuring out how to solve thorny asset management and financial issues for, if not the whole of my career, a large chunk of it,” Dzulynsky explains, adding that this pro bono work has taken on new significance in recent years given the influx of Ukrainian families fleeing conflict.
Plast offers a sense of belonging for newcomers to Canada. That’s a mission Dzulynsky describes as “pretty powerful and worthy of continuing.” His commitment is also personal given his family has been involved with Plast “for forever and a day.” Dzulynsky attended Plast’s summer camps as a child and his sister is now the branch president.
At this stage in his career, that connection has become both a personal and professional driver. Pro bono offers something billable work doesn't always provide: the satisfaction of applying hard‑earned expertise to help a community cause.
“At my age and stage, I’m not empire-building anymore,” he says. “In addition to my billable client work, I also teach, mentor, and leverage pro bono opportunities to give back to my community.”
Formal pro bono support, deeply personal outcomes
Gowling WLG’s formal pro bono framework creates an easy way to share the benefits of big‑firm expertise and resources with individuals and communities who might not otherwise have access. Lawyers can bring forward causes that matter to them or volunteer when opportunities come through the door. Importantly, all pro bono hours are fully credited.
“Our pro bono program reflects our firm’s values and the importance of ensuring fair access to legal services for all, which is something that many of our colleagues strongly support and advocate for,” notes Vancouver‑based partner and environmental law practice group leader Maya Stano.
With a career spent building close relationships with Indigenous nations, Stano uses firm-approved hours to step in where needs arise naturally through her practice. Some matters are short term, for example, helping a First Nation member deal with fishing offences. Others require a longer commitment.
Her most recent file falls into the latter category. Stano is helping an Indigenous Elder with a complex on‑reserve housing issue involving missing heirs and the nuances of property transfer on reserve land. The outcome is deeply personal: helping a long‑time client secure his interest in his home after years of service to his community.
The firm has fully supported Stano’s continued work on the file, even as it has required more time and resources than initially anticipated. Like Dzulynsky, she sees her pro bono work as a meaningful complement to day-to-day practice.
“As lawyers, we are generally very privileged,” Stano sums up. “I believe assisting others who are less fortunate is something we all have a duty and responsibility to do.”
Empowering juniors to lead
Another benefit of pro bono work is the opportunities it creates for mentorship and leadership, empowering associates to step up early in their careers. For Nayla El Zir, a regulatory services associate in Montréal, her work with La Traversée has provided exactly that platform.
La Traversée provides support and rehabilitation to victims of sexual abuse. El Zir helps the organization navigate privacy and regulatory compliance issues, including drafting privacy policies, reviewing consent forms, and providing guidance on the implementation of new tools from a privacy standpoint. This work sits squarely within her wheelhouse.
“Even if I’m not working one-on-one with the victims, my contribution has a direct impact on the individuals the organization serves,” El Zir explains, adding that she’s able to use her skills more independently at a much earlier stage in her career through these pro bono mandates.
“Whatever I learn in my practice, I’m able to apply at La Traversée. It’s given me a tremendous amount of exposure to business knowledge as well because I’ve participated in discussions that junior lawyers typically wouldn’t be involved in with most clients.”
“Through this pro bono work, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how privacy laws intersect with the practical realities faced by non-profit organizations. This experience has strengthened my technical expertise and my ability to communicate complex legal concepts to make them accessible and actionable for clients. I’ve learned how to tailor compliance recommendations and practical guidance to reflect an organization’s size, structure and resource constraints.”
Driven by a strong desire to give back, El Zir views pro bono not as something separate, but as an integral part of her practice, supported by a firm that recognizes it as a priority from the top down.
“It isn’t seen as a side quest, which suits me well,” El Zir explains. “Honestly speaking, I wouldn't feel whole if I didn't do this kind of work. I've learned so much. Pro bono has given me back more than I’ve ever invested.”
The net benefit of pro bono work
At Gowling WLG, the through line is simple: there are so many good reasons to engage in pro bono work. That mindset reflects range of reasons that drive this work while recognizing that the benefits run both ways.
Whether it’s the chance to apply highly technical skills in a novel way, find renewed purpose later in a career, gain early hands‑on experience and client exposure, or stand beside individuals and communities in moments of real vulnerability, pro bono consistently delivers both purpose and professional growth.
This article was produced in partnership with Gowling WLG
