Legal life raft

Norman Yusim came out of retirement to get right back to work. He didn’t plan it that way, but when the perfect opportunity landed in his lap, it was impossible to turn down.

The 70-year-old lawyer with a passion for helping people is back at it at the Legal Help Centre (LHC), empowering underserved individuals to navigate legal problems, offering guidance and connections to resources.

“LHC provides such an important service to those in need with legal issues, providing access to justice to those who simply cannot afford to hire lawyers, by helping them seek out resources, providing advice and assistance to the Court of King’s Bench in Winnipeg,” said Yusim. “LHC, in my view, provides an invaluable service.”

Prior to beginning his employment at LHC in September 2025, Yusim volunteered there as a mentor to the law students who worked directly with clients to assist them with legal matters (family law, immigration law, estate law, criminal law, small claims matters and civil litigation matters, among others).

Yusim worked at Fillmore Riley LLP, primarily in family law, for over 35 years and has extensive legal experience and practice.

“They’ve been very good to me,” Yusim said of his colleagues at the LHC, noting that thanks to the flexibility of the position, he’s able to help look after his four grandchildren when he’s needed to accompany them to appointments.

“I’ve been practising law since 1981. I’ve never taken law for granted. I consider it a privilege. I think it’s important to give back,” he added, highlighting the gap in representation for people who don’t qualify for legal aid, and the working poor.

“It’s a very complex system, especially family law. It can be intimidating. I can’t imagine not having a hot clue and being thrown into the system. You’re being sued, going through a separation … I try to sort of give a blueprint. I feel comfortable in the advice I give.”

Though the LHC cannot represent clients in legal matters, they can offer advice on ways to deal with challenges, which Yusim finds satisfying.

“You can see how they relax. First-hand watching people come in and be upset and nervous, not knowing where to turn, to get to the point of achieving the result they want, or understand why they can’t achieve it.”

Yusim thrives on the energy of the students and volunteers working together as a team to help clients. He’s witnessed the growth in the LHC as it tries to find different ways to increase and improve access to justice.

“This place could not operate without volunteers. We trade ideas. I used to teach articling students — they’re learning how to deal with people, very important how to deal with people. The clients have to trust you, and then that calmness comes over them. Even for a lawyer, court can be intimidating.”

LHC’s executive director, Kasia James, appreciates the opportunity to contribute meaningfully in the lives of the clients.

“Every day, to make a tangible difference in the community, to provide that impact … LHC is a wonderful organization that collaborates with students and volunteers,” said James. “It’s an amazing community. To me it’s a really meaningful way to make a difference.”

LHC was founded in 2011 and will celebrate its 15th anniversary this year. And, for the first time, it will be hosting a special fundraising event to be held in October — a celebration of the meaningful work that has been done thus far, and a look ahead at future possibilities.

“There are sponsorship opportunities, and that’s a great way to support the sector,” James said.

“Our mandate is to help the underserved to navigate legal issues and offer that guidance to social services; to be able to help the most vulnerable. One of our cornerstones is the drop-in legal clinic, which we offer three times a week on a first-come, first-served basis,” she explained, adding that law students conduct interviews with clients, overseen by lawyers.

“It’s a primary service for community. There are referrals with different community partners, looking at the underlying issues… It’s quite a systems navigation piece. We were created in that way — we support the courts,” she said.

The LHC is launching a legal help centre at the courts in the summer, working on increasing outreach supports and presentations with community partners, and moving forward with a northern outreach project.

With a staff of six at the core of the LHC, which includes three lawyers, the organization receives significant help from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” said James, noting that they also host social work placements, and work with criminal justice students from the University of Winnipeg.

“It’s fascinating. There are a lot of moving parts. So many students are doing amazing things. As staff we are always energized.”

With increasing demand for services every year, James says it’s all worthwhile when it comes to the impact on people’s lives.

“A client was able to keep their house, maybe get a referral or deal with a complex situation. That’s always the thing that shines the most. And that student, who did a placement here, graduates from law school and comes back as a volunteer.

“We are helping the community with a number of different areas of law, and types of client matters, including family law, civil, employment, immigration. We know that we are often helping the far underserved, some of the most vulnerable in the community, folks that have barriers to access justice,” she said, noting the demographics include persons with disabilities, immigrants and Indigenous people.

Located at 521 Bannatyne Ave. and open Tuesday to Thursday, the LHC is a registered charity. It is funded through grants, corporate donations, law firms and private donors, and donations are always welcome.

Visit: https://legalhelpcentre.ca

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca