Haiti: How lawyers are helping

Lawyers in both Canada and the United States are pulling together to help those affected by the earthquake
Lawyers in both Canada and the United States are pulling together to help those affected by the earthquake

Haiti - photo by Marco Dormino / The United NationsThe Canadian Bar Association is taking part in an initiative to provide no-charge immigration consulation and help prepare applications for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to sponsor family members living in parts of Haiti affected by the earthquake.

This effort comes in conjunction with a commitment by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to fast-track new and existing applications from Haiti. The CBA has set up a special page on their website (www.cba.org/haiti) to help sponsors initiate the process of finding an immigration lawyer.

In the U.S., The Florida Bar association has put forward a suggestion that its lawyers donate one hour’s pay to the Haiti relief effort. According to an article quoted in the ABA Journal, that could net $17 million dollars in relief money (if every lawyer in Florida gave an average of $200).

That same ABA Journal report tells the story of New York lawyer and pilot Dale Thuillez, who flew to Haiti three times last week. He brought doctors from Florida to Jacmel, Haiti, and returned to the U.S. with passengers.

All Canadians can donate to charities like the Canadian Red Cross. The Federal government will match citizen donations made to registered Canadian charities working for the Haitian relief effort.


Haiti photo by Marco Dormino, courtesy of The United Nations