Retired Manitoba lawyer Norman Yusim has won the CBA’s 2025 Volunteer in Profile (VIP) Award in recognition for his dedication to accessible and equitable legal support.
The annual VIP award honours CBA Members who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to pro bono work in Canada or their jurisdiction.
Norman was nominated by the Legal Help Centre in Manitoba, a registered charity working to improve access to legal and social service resources for socially and economically disadvantaged members of the community. Norman regularly volunteers his time and expertise at the centre’s Drop-In Clinic and the File Review Program, helping law students develop practical skills, supporting self-represented clients, and filling a crucial gap in services for those who cannot afford legal counsel.
In their nomination letter, the Legal Help Centre said that Norman's passion is evident in every aspect of his work, whether he's offering insights from his previous collaborative law practice, conducting research or guiding the next generation of legal professionals.
“Norman’s legacy is one of compassion, professionalism, and a profound dedication to access to justice.”
With over four decades of legal experience, Norman was one of Manitoba’s most prominent practitioners of family law, guiding clients through aspects of family transition such as separation and divorce, custody matters, child and spousal support and family property accountings and division.
Throughout his career and into retirement, Norman has also shown a steadfast commitment to giving back to his community through pro bono services and advocating for equitable legal access.
This has particularly been clear through his work with Legal Aid Manitoba and Family Arbitration and Mediation Institute Inc. (FAMLI), an association of lawyers and other professionals dedicated to helping individuals and families resolve their family law disputes outside the Court system through mediation and/or arbitration.
His previous experience with the Manitoba Lawyer Assistance Program and the Law Society of Manitoba shines as he identifies next steps for self-represented litigants, ensuring they have clarity and guidance through complex cases.
Norman’s extensive career highlights also include instructing at the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba and lecturing for Community Legal Education Association (CLEA). He currently sits on the board of CLEA and is a former board member of Legal Aid Manitoba, the Board of Jewish Education, Northwest Child and Family Services and the Children’s Foundation of Winnipeg.
Norman also spearheaded, with the Robson Hall Class of 1980, the creation of a bursary for Indigenous law students at the University of Manitoba, showing his deep-seated commitment to inclusivity and opportunity within the legal field.