The public is getting a rare chance to step behind the scenes of Montreal’s judicial system on Saturday as the Barreau de Montréal hosts the second edition of its open house event, VISEZ DROIT, at the Palais de justice and the Court of Appeal of Quebec.
Part of the citywide Rendez-vous VISEZ DROIT series, the event offered guided tours, a mock trial, conferences, and opportunities to meet legal professionals. Actor Sébastien Delorme, known for his role in the Quebec television series Indéfendable, returned as ambassador for a second year.
Tamara Davis, executive director of the Barreau de Montréal, said the day provides Montrealers with a rare opportunity to see the legal system up close.
“Today’s event is really important for the public, for the Montreal public, for all our citizens in the city who want to better understand how our legal system works,” Davis said.
Visitors could take tours of courtrooms, clerks’ offices, and the Centre d’aide aux victimes d’actes criminels (CAVAC), as well as normally restricted spaces on the fifth floor of the Palais de justice.
Davis said the event brings together a wide range of organizations offering free legal services. More than 20 kiosks were available, giving visitors the chance to learn about services offered by groups such as Justice Pro Bono, Éducaloi, the Fondation du Barreau du Québec, and the Montreal police.
The open house included a free legal clinic in collaboration with Justice Pro Bono, providing consultations in French and English on family law, immigration, civil law, administrative governance, housing, taxation, and labour law. Volunteers helped attendees navigate legal questions they might otherwise find difficult to access.
Gabrielle Gayrard, who volunteered at the clinic, said the event helps make legal services more approachable.
“I think it’s a very great event organized by the Bar of Montreal, where it’s possible for people to see something that they usually don’t have access to,” she said.
“It’s very difficult for people to have access to lawyers, to notaries, to any kind of legal consultation, so these kinds of events do not require a lot from the volunteers but they mean a lot to people,” she added.
Attendees could also watch a mock trial based on the Quebec legend of La Chasse-galerie, with Delorme participating alongside a judge and lawyers from the Barreau de Montréal. The performances gave the public a rare glimpse into courtroom procedures and legal debate.
For the second year, the open house expanded to the Court of Appeal, where visitors toured the historic Ernest-Cormier building and met judges who explained the workings of the province’s highest court.
A discussion on criminal law featured the Hon. Myriam Lachance, judge of the Court of Appeal, and Martine St-Victor, communications strategist and CEO of Edelman Montreal.
Later, a Q&A session with Chief Justice Manon Savard and judges Martin Vauclair and Suzanne Gagné, moderated by journalist Paul Arcand, allowed the public to ask questions about legal procedures and the role of appellate courts.
Davis said one of the main goals of VISEZ DROIT is to make the justice system less intimidating.
“Justice is the foundation of our democracy. It’s very important for people to have their rights recognized, and it can be sometimes a little bit intimidating for some people, considering the legal jargon or the different kinds of courts and procedures that exist. So we’re here to sort of demystify the whole thing for them, and with tours that we’re having today within the courthouse, they’re going to be able to see and familiarize themselves more with how things work.”
She added that the event also highlights the broader community of support available to citizens.
“We really hope that they realize that there’s a whole entire community who’s here to help them, that they are not to be intimidated to reach out to different organizations like us at the Montreal bar or people like Justice Probono or Lacanique Achlaig, and all kinds of other organizations who can support them to have their rights recognized in any sort of way.”
The Barreau de Montréal hosted the first VISEZ DROIT open house in 2025, drawing about 2,500 visitors and helping over 250 people with free legal consultations.
“We will also attain that objective again this year, so it just shows that there is interest and there is a need,” Davis said.
She noted that in addition to tours of the Palais de justice, visitors could also explore the Court of Appeal, a historic building that usually isn’t open to the public.
