The McKercher LLP Community Fund
In 2023, we launched The McKercher LLP Community Fund. As a firm, we have been historically committed to supporting local, provincial and national non-profit organizations and charitable events. We look for ways to create opportunities, build communities, and promote the next generation of volunteers. Supporting the communities in which we work and live is part of our “Prairie Pride”.
Our newly formed McKercher LLP Community Fund was created to invest in projects in our communities in a different way. This fund supports initiatives that are aligned with our three pillars of investment and provide impact in our communities, including:
Supporting programs and projects with a mandate of fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in communities, including a focus on truth & reconciliation.
Supporting programs and projects with a mandate of instructing, educating, and/or guiding knowledge with the purpose of providing opportunities for personal growth in communities.
Supporting programs and projects with a mandate of creating or enhancing general quality of life in communities, with a focus on building a more sustainable future for the communities.
Currently, our diverse volunteer investment panel makes decisions regarding investments from our community fund. Decisions are made annually and announced and celebrated publicly. Investments from this fund are meant to fund projects or programs, not sponsored events, fundraisers, or other single occurrences.
Grants are open to registered charities and incorporated non-profits in Saskatchewan, or regional and/or national charities and incorporated non-profits with operations in Saskatchewan. Applications are reviewed by a panel of volunteers from McKercher LLP with representation in both Saskatoon and Regina including staff, management, and lawyers. Review our guidelines here.
Watch here for our 2024 intake for grant application process and deadlines.
Grants from our community fund are expected to benefit communities throughout Saskatchewan. In 2023, our inaugural year, our community fund provided three (3) grants of $3,500 each.
Pro Bono Services
A large part of our commitment to community involves mentorship, education, and guidance for the next generation of legal professionals. To that end, our firm sponsors and funds the McKercher LLP Lecture Series at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.
To help you decide if pro bono work is right for you or your organization, we have created a well-established and clearly defined pro bono policy that you can download here. This policy is meant to encourage and support the participation of our lawyers in pro bono public activities, using the same high standards of service as paid legal services.
Furthering Legal Education
A large part of our commitment to community involves mentorship, education, and guidance for the next generation of legal professionals. To that end, our firm sponsors and funds the John A. Stack Memorial Lecture Series, as well as the McKercher LLP Lecture Series at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.
Many of our members have served as sessional lecturers at the U of S, not only in the College of Law, but also in the Colleges of Commerce, Veterinary Medicine and more. They are often invited to share their experiences and insights as guest speakers at professional and policy seminars and conferences across North America.
