Champion Partner Epstein Cole LLP Renews Its Support for Access to Family Justice
- PBSC National Office
- Sep 9
- 4 min read
TORONTO, ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 –
Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is excited to announce that Epstein Cole LLP has renewed its commitment as a Champion Partner of the Family Justice Centre (FJC), pledging $150,000 in total over the next three years to support access to family justice in Ontario. The support of Epstein Cole LLP, along with that of Legal Aid Ontario, will enable the FJC to expand the scope of tangible legal services that it provides to Ontarians in the family law system and to mentor more law students in this area of law.
PBSC is deeply appreciative of Epstein Cole LLP’s enduring leadership and support, which began with the founding of the Family Justice Centre in 2020, when the firm provided both financial and advisory contributions alongside Legal Aid Ontario. Designed as an innovative response to the access to justice gap in Ontario’s family law system, the FJC brings together lawyers and law students from across the province to provide free family law advice and drafting services to self-represented litigants who cannot afford a lawyer but do not qualify for legal aid.
Unlike many legal clinics, the FJC substantially relies on the volunteer service and financial support of the private family law bar. As shared by PBSC’s National Director, Andrew Biteen, “Epstein Cole LLP has been a steadfast partner in our mission to bridge the family justice gap, and we are thrilled to continue this important work together. Epstein Cole LLP’s leadership in this space sets a powerful example of what it means to invest in in both community impact and the future of the profession. We are grateful for Epstein Cole LLP’s significant, multi-year, donation. This support will be foundational in allowing the FJC to build on its successes and add in-person services.”
Epstein Cole LLP has contributed meaningfully to every facet of the program. In addition to their generous financial contributions, the firm’s lawyers have played an active role in shaping the FJC’s programming, training student volunteers, and providing hands-on legal support as part of our roster of Lawyer Supervisors. This comprehensive engagement has been instrumental to the FJC's growth over the past five years.
In the 2024-25 Program Year, the FJC’s team of dedicated law students and volunteer lawyers delivered 146 Summary Legal Advice Meetings, drafted over 100 high-quality court documents to help clients advance their cases, and provided targeted referrals to over 650 callers seeking legal and social service supports. The FJC’s educational videos on Family Law Process were viewed over 1,800 times. The FJC also trained 15 law student caseworkers in family law, trauma-informed lawyering, and anti-oppression practices—nearly half of whom plan to pursue careers in family law. Building on this success, we are excited to be developing a pilot program for in-person services in partnership with Legal Aid Ontario and the courts, bringing vital services closer to the families who need them most.
Speaking on their commitment to the FJC, Roslyn Tsao, Managing Partner at Epstein Cole LLP, shared:
“Epstein Cole is proud to renew our commitment to the FJC and to the vital work of expanding access to justice for families in Ontario. The FJC not only provides critical legal services to clients who cannot afford lawyers, it also shapes the next generation of family law professionals through mentorship and hands-on experience. We’ve seen the program’s impact grow year upon year, and we are honoured to partner in a mission that so closely reflects our firm’s values. We hope our ongoing partnership will encourage others in the legal community to support this meaningful effort with volunteers and donations.”
PBSC extends its gratitude to all of the Law Student Caseworkers, Lawyer Supervisors, Clinic Supporters, and Friends of the FJC who contribute to this program. We offer our special thanks to our Program Partner, Legal Aid Ontario, and our dedicated Champion Partner, Epstein Cole LLP.
About Epstein Cole LLP:
Epstein Cole LLP is the largest family law firm in Canada and a leader in shaping the law and providing access to justice for families. They enjoy a national and international reputation for handling sophisticated and difficult family law and related matters ranging from complex trust, property and support issues, to international child mobility and abduction cases, to inter-jurisdictional marriage contracts. They provide advice, counsel, representation, litigation and dispute resolution services for family law matters in Ontario and elsewhere. Clients and referring counsel can expect work of the highest calibre, exceptional client service, practical legal advice and cost-effective strategies to meet their ultimate goals. Epstein Cole LLP also has a longtime footprint on the jurisprudence and education of practitioners in the family law field. Learn more about Epstein Cole LLP at www.epsteincole.com.
About Pro Bono Students Canada:
PBSC envisions a society with accessible legal systems where the dignity and rights of every person are upheld. Each year, PBSC engages approximately 1,450 student volunteers working with community partners and under the supervision of pro bono lawyers and notaries to serve an estimated 14,000 people across Canada. The organization is guided by its three core values of dignity, equity, and humility. Learn more about PBSC at www.probonostudents.ca.
Contact:
Donor and Media Inquiries
Andrew Biteen, National Director
416-946-5178
Lawyer/Law Student Inquiries
Stephanie Giannandrea, Acting Director, Family Justice
416-946-0519
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