Photo: Russ Zilman

Pivot Legal Society brings a new and dynamic approach to advocacy on behalf of marginalized persons.

Pivot combines the following approaches to maximize the impact of its resources on as many people as possible.

Everyone benefits

Everyone in society benefits from Pivot's legal efforts to improve the lives of marginalized persons.

[Ten reasons why everyone benefits]

Personal empowerment

Rather than providing legal services as a charity for the poor, Pivot views itself as a lawyer to a client, taking informed direction from that client.

Pivot understands that people know the challenges they face in life best. Creating opportunities for our clients to take control over their own interests and concerns is a big first step toward improving their lives.

Strategic legal advocacy

Strategic legal advocacy means focusing on the causes of problems rather than symptoms.

By selecting those cases with the potential to advance the legal rights and interests of the largest number of people, Pivot aims to maximize the impact of its resources on the law and on society.

Communications strategy

Pivot uses the media as a public education tool to promote its mandate and messages around specific issues.

Pivot’s focus on its media strategy over the past five years has raised public awareness about the concerns of marginalized people.

These issues include police misconduct, the impacts of criminalizing sex workers, the importance of harm reduction and the pressing need for affordable housing.

[ Read about Pivot and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside ]

[ Read "Advocating change" by John Richardson ]