VLS is pleased to offer pro bono mediation services through its Mediation Project. This service uses volunteer lawyers to provide free mediation and dispute resolution to eligible nonprofit and charitable organizations located in Toronto.

Mediation within organizations like yours can be helpful whenever an organizational crisis arises. Our volunteers have corporate governance experience and can provide the third-party voice you need to resolve difficult situations.

Here are some examples of scenarios where mediation might be helpful for your organization:

• Is your organization or board facing a dilemma? Do some people within the organization want to head in one direction while others want to go a different way? Is it tough to reach a decision due to lack of consensus, constant arguing, or even bullying behaviour on the part of a board member?
• Are meetings as laid out in the by-laws not being held? Is communication between the board and the members of the organization poor? Have misunderstandings reached the boiling point?
• Have complaints about firing the Executive Director (or a senior staff person) divided volunteers and directors into two camps?
• Is the founder of your organization having difficulty moving ahead with strategic directions for your charity?
• Are personality conflicts turning into toxic environments in your volunteer-driven organization?
• Have arguments about the use of finances for the organization left board members at an impasse? Are important decisions made and then reversed?

The solution to developing a proactive response to these types of problems can be achieved through a mediation process.

All volunteers working on this project are trained mediators. They are objective, knowledgeable about board governance and procedures, and will work with an organization to come up with a mutual resolution to the issue at hand.

If you are interested in VLS's pro bono mediation services, please contact us by phone at 416 977-4448, ext. 228 or e-mail info@volunteerlawyers.org All inquiries are kept strictly confidential.