This text is part of the special Philanthropy section
Thanks to the Quebec Bar Foundation, young adults from disadvantaged communities, under the wings of the Director of Youth Protection (DYP), benefit from life-saving financial support as they continue their law studies and see their academic perseverance rewarded. “We believe in you”, that is the message that the Lawyers Foundation radiates to its stars of tomorrow.
“These investigations are demanding and take time,” Anne-Marie Poitras, CEO of the Quebec Bar Foundation, explained in an interview. If we can alleviate this stress for young people from less privileged backgrounds, or for ethnocultural communities that are underrepresented in the legal community, that is part of the Bar Foundation’s primary mission. »
The objectives of the Quebec Bar Foundation are essentially based on two main pillars: the advancement of the law (through grants for research projects, legal competitions, afternoon web conferences) and support for legal studies.
It is in this second scholarship program that the partnership with the DPJ Youth Foundation nests, which was created in 2021 following contact between the Court of Quebec, the Youth Chamber and the Bar Foundation, with a view to the implementation of instruments in juvenile justice. When discussions emerged between the Bar Foundation and the DPJ Youth Foundation (which offers additional services to those of the DPJ and in particular promotes the transition to autonomy) in the fall of 2021 and winter of 2022, three young law students were targeted and they could thus gain access to academic training without financial stress.
“We decided to join forces to support them in paying their tuition fees, their public transport, their books, their food, their medicine, their rent…,” explains Anne-Marie Poitras.
Great pride
Because this first three-year agreement between both entities expires this year, the Foundation of the Bar intends to extend it. “It is promising and meaningful for us. After three years, we will have provided $44,500 in scholarships for these young people attending law school. What we donate does not cover all the costs these young people incur, but the DPJ Youth Foundation steps in to provide full financial support. »
“What we heard is that these young people are very proud of the support of the Fondation du Barreau du Québec. For them it is very meaningful, because this is the community they want to be a part of after their studies and their Bar School. It helps them protect themselves and avoid overwork, stress and anxiety, because they know that financial support will allow them to focus on their studies, their homework and their exams. It gives them peace of mind,” M continues.me Poitras.
A certain preconceived perception is that law studies are more easily accessible to a certain social and financial elite. Despite their special background, Anne-Marie Poitras nonetheless evokes the great resilience and unwavering motivation that comes from the trials often experienced by the young people accompanied by the DPJ.
“What we are trying to recognize is academic perseverance. This is the support we want to give them, especially until the end of the Bar School. Their background of resilience and courage allows them to aspire to these studies, especially if we remove the financial concerns of getting there. If some wanted to pursue a master’s degree, we could support them. »
Philanthropic heart
In a letter of gratitude published by the Quebec Bar Foundation, one of the candidates who received this support warmly expressed his deep gratitude to the organization that supported him in his academic journey. “Your support is essential to guarantee access to education and ensure the training of the future generation of competent lawyers and lawyers,” wrote A., whose anonymity must be maintained out of prudence.
Anne-Marie Poitras underlines that for more than 45 years, the Foundation of the Bar has been supported exclusively by private donations, from governors or donors (individual, one-off, or companies, etc.). Hence the “appeal to the philanthropic heart” of the legal community, crucial in developing initiatives such as cooperation with the DPJ.
“We want the most diverse legal succession possible. This is what will enrich the legal community, what will ensure that law contributes in a useful and relevant way to the societal challenges we face,” concludes Anne-Marie Poitras.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of Task, relating to marketing. Writing the Task did not participate.