Community Involvement

As a law firm that calls Toronto home, Torkin Manes has always been committed to excellence, not only in legal service, but also community well-being. Firm members of all levels are dedicated to giving back to the community by participating in recognized charitable events throughout the year. Whether we are getting on a bike, running down iconic Yonge Street or wearing a chef’s hat in a soup kitchen, Torkin Manes always has a presence when it comes to supporting those in need, both through physical activities and fundraising efforts. In addition to these public charitable events, our associates and students have also taken the initiative to lead respective projects annually in support of Toronto’s homeless community. 

Supporting Pro Bono Ontario

As part of the firm’s dedication to giving back to the community, a number of Torkin Manes lawyers have donated their time in recent years to Pro Bono Ontario’s Free Legal Advice Hotline, which provides 30 minutes of pro bono legal advice and assistance with civil law matters in Ontario.

Most recently, the firm established The Ron Manes Justice in Action Fund, a special gift bestowed upon Pro Bono Ontario, which Ron, alongside others, was instrumental in creating with the goal of advancing  and promoting access to justice and equity through pro bono efforts. This gift is intended to be in support of PBO’s mission of “returning to court” and implementing new virtual appearance services, a mission that symbolizes Ron’s unwavering commitment to access to justice and the provision of duty counsel and amicus services in court for low-income Ontarians.

Additionally, in 2009, Torkin Manes co-founded the Family Legal Health Program run by Pro Bono Ontario at SickKids Hospital, which provides free legal services for patients and families of SickKids. The Program combines the efforts of clinicians and lawyers in the pursuit of better child health outcomes by assisting with legal challenges that impact the patient's health and/or the family's capacity to care for their sick child. The Program is Canada’s first medical-legal partnership and has been replicated nationally in several children’s hospitals. One of our lawyers, Lisa Corrente, was recognized with a Lexpert Zenith Pro Bono Award for her efforts in co-founding and volunteering to serve clients of the Program.

Supporting our Community

As a firm, Torkin Manes is pleased to play an active role by participating in community initiatives such as:

• Baycrest Ride for Brain Health
• CIBC Run for the Cure
• Daily Bread Food Bank
• Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies
• JDRF’s Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes
• Law Society of Ontario’s Lawyers Feed the Hungry
• Sporting Life 10K Run for Campfire Circle
• United Way Campaign