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Pivot Legal Society’s expansion, including the opening of Pivot Legal LLP, made larger headquarters necessary.
The former Water Street location had a mere 1,000 square feet with six staff members and many volunteers working in the office at any given time.
The extra 3,000 square feet at 678 East Hastings will do much to allow Pivot to respond to its constituency’s demands. The new offices have several meeting rooms as well as many offices for staff and volunteers, a kitchen and storage.
Pivot’s major financial supporters purchased the building and rent the main floor to Pivot Legal LLP and Pivot Legal Society. The top floor is rented to United Native Nations and the Pacific Association of First Nations Women. Many people in the Downtown Eastside know the building as in recent years it was 666 East Hastings – the B.C. Government’s local Welfare Office.
No change for Pivot Legal Society
Although Pivot Legal LLP and Pivot Legal Society share the same building and vision of social responsibility, they have different roles.
Pivot Legal LLP will provide legal services to the community at large. Profits from the new Pivot Legal LLP will go back to supporting the legal advocacy work of the Society.
Pivot Legal LLP is part of a larger entity called Unity Law Cooperative (ULC). In the future more law firms will be approached to join ULC as members in return for a pledge to dedicate part of their profits to fund strategic litigation in the public interest.
Pivot Legal Society will continue its work as a non-profit legal advocacy organization addressing some of the most pressing issues in Vancouver today, such as the housing crisis. In fact, the additional source of revenue and resources will only work to enhance the Society’s non-profit projects.
John Richardson was recognized for his social innovation and he received the prestigious Ashoka Foundation award in 2005, with ULC receiving second place in Small Business BC’s 2006 Small Business Plan Contest. |
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The ULC business plan was entered into the contest at the time under the name “Pivot Legal Cooperative” which has not been used as a name. ULC was applauded for merging a “viable model of legal practice with a social return.” ●
Pivot Legal LLP (est. November 2006)
Pivot Legal LLP is committed to providing high-quality legal services to individuals, companies and organizations in a wide range of practice areas. Pivot Legal LLP dedicates its profits to funding law in the public interest. Pivot Legal LLP partners are:
David Eby
Pablo Irribarra
Katrina Pacey
John Richardson
Lobat Sadreshashemi
Mary Childs
www.pivotlegal.com
Contact Kerry Jacox, tel. 604 255 9700 x 132
Pivot contact details
Pivot Legal Society, Hope in Shadows and Pivot Legal LLP are located at:
678 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1R1
Pivot Legal Society (est. 2000)
Pivot Legal Society’s mandate is to use the law strategically to address the systemic causes of social marginalization. We believe that everyone, regardless of income, benefits from a healthy and inclusive community where opportunity, respect and equality are strongly rooted in the law.
www.pivotlegal.org
Contact Peter Wrinch, tel. 604 255 9700 x 113
Hope in Shadows (est. 2003)
Pivot Legal Society will continue to support the growth of the Hope in Shadows photography and calendar sales project. In 2007, 190 street sellers were trained and sold over $120,000 in calendars. In 2008 the sales training will be improved to build on last year’s success.
www.hopeinshadows.com
Contact Paul Ryan, tel. 604 255 9700 x 122
Unity Law Cooperative (in development)
Originally to be named “Pivot Legal Cooperative,” the 2006 second-place winner of a Small Business BC Business Plan Award, Unity Law Cooperative will officially be launched in the near future, with Pivot Legal LLP as its primary member. |
