CBA/CB-eh?

When you start law school in September, you will be joining more than just an illustrious class; you will be joining a profession. This profession can be characterized in many ways. I’m sure most of you have heard the jokes by now.

 According to some legal scholars, the “legal profession” is simultaneously a trade organization,  corporate ideology, important cultural actor, and collection of individuals known both for their zealous pursuit of their clients’ interests and for their assertive individualism.  

The Canadian Bar Association (“CBA”) was formed in 1896 to represent and serve the interests of the legal profession in Canada.  Its motto is not “With great power comes great responsibility”, but it may as well be. The CBA promotes fair justice systems, facilitates effective law reform, champions equality in the legal profession, protects the independence of the judiciary and the bar, and is committed to the personal and professional development of its members.  Read: CBA = Justice League (with an underwear inside-the-pants policy).*

In addition to fulfilling its noble purpose by way of committees, working groups and special reports, the CBA co-ordinates fun and accessible opportunities for lawyers to engage with the public.  In Ottawa, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the CBA organized a flash mob featuring a choreographed dance to a re-mixed version of our national anthem. In Vancouver, for the first time in decades, “Lawyers with Pride” will march in a float specifically representing the diversity in the legal profession in Vancouver’s 34th Annual Pride Parade. 

Membership in the CBA is a career-long resource that you can start cultivating now – in your first year of law school! Student membership is only $20, and most of that fee contributes to career-related student programming sponsored by the CBA. Each province has its own branch and the BC branch is particularly active and collegial. Students interested in working in other provinces will find it helpful to connect to other provincial branches

Here are 5 reasons why you should join the Canadian Bar Association in September:

1.      Mentorship Program

What better way to expand your professional network than to meet a potential role model?  The CBA Mentorship Program pairs UBC Law students with a real-life lawyer for informal conversations and support. Mentors can offer valuable insight to unravel many mysteries faced by law students – from questions like “What courses should I take in my upper years?” to “Is this law firm a good fit for me?”  or “What does it mean, aside from rank, to be a partner at a law firm?” and even “So would an investment in golf lessons be a good idea?” Importantly, mentors can help you decipher the subtleties about how your law school interests translate to real-world practice. Sure, being a criminal defense lawyer looks great when Perry Mason does it, but is that what it’s really like?  If you are not sure what type of law you want to practice, being exposed to your mentor’s practice and sometimes even the practices of your mentor’s colleagues can inspire you. Mentors are encouraged to take their mentees to watch them in court and to bring them into the office, which gives students a better understanding of legal culture and the expectations of the profession.  You will receive more information about the Mentorship Program during 1L Orientation Week. The registration deadline is September 27, 2012.

2.      Sections

CBA sections are practice-focused groups that provide educational and networking opportunities for lawyers, judges, law teachers, and law students in BC and across Canada. With your CBA membership, students are invited to join up to 3 sections free of charge! Joining a section can pique your interest in a particular area of law, or keep you updated on developments in an area of law in which you have an interest, but cannot study in first year (environmental law, for example). Attend section meetings to hear distinguished keynote speakers discuss current cases, legislative reform and challenges facing practitioners today. Take advantage of this simple way to meet lawyers and expand your professional network. You’d be surprised at how willing these lawyers are to share their experience with you and assist you as you build your career.

3.      Communications

Besides receiving newsletters issued by the sections and circulating information via Section listservs, the CBA also publishes 3 renowned journals —Canadian Bar Review (frequently cited by the Supreme Court of Canada), Canadian Competition Law Review, and Canadian International Lawyer;  2 magazines – BarTalk and National; as well as newsletters on career-building and running your own practice. These resources are available to CBA members, and often feature articles specifically directed at lawyers and articling students. In the latest BarTalk, there were two features: one on a day in the life of an articling student, and one written by a BC Supreme Court Justice describing what the Court expects of an articling student.  Reading these publications can ease any anxieties about what to expect in the future, aid in your job search and career development, and keep you informed of current legal issues.

4.      Member Savings

If quenching your thirst for knowledge and providing valuable access to lawyers in Vancouver’s legal community is not exciting enough for you, the CBA also partners with local businesses to provide members with fantastic deals!

Die-hard Canucks fan? Discounted tickets! 

Ski-bunny? Discounted lift tickets at Whistler Blackcomb, Silver Star and Big White!

Tired of hostelling when you travel? Discounted accommodations at Starwood Hotels, including Westin, Sheraton, and W properties!

And many more!

5.      Hang with Nivi!

As someone who has benefitted immensely from CBA initiatives, Nivi Ramaswamy is keen to spread her love for the CBA! Meet Nivi - our CBA student representative and a 2L. The Canadian Bar Association representative promotes and organizes the CBA mentorship program and annual reception to the student body and serves on the CBA Membership Committee at monthly meetings.

As an aspiring intellectual property (IP) lawyer (a relatively niche area of legal practice), CBA helped Nivi find the perfect mentor last year who offered valuable insights and connected her to other IP practitioners! Further, the CBA sections have helped Nivi stay informed on current happenings in IP law, which in turn has helped her become nerdier (i.e. cooler!)

Nivi is an international student from India. In her former life (i.e. before law school), she worked as an environmental engineering consultant who also represented youth policy perspective on climate change & sustainable development at the United Nations. If you have any questions about the CBA, please contact Nivi at ubcmentorship@bccba.org.

*NB: It is not conclusive whether joining the CBA will provide you with super-powers; however, it may connect you with some every-day superheroes.

This post was co-written by Elise Everest and Nivi Ramaswamy, and edited by Acting Career Services Director Jenn Lau.

The Law Revue and the Guile Debate

Here's a post by recent alumnus Daniel Wood about two of the most light-hearted and certainly entertaining events of the year, the Guile Debate and the Law Revue. Your Orientation Assistant, Martina Zanetti, will be one of this year's Law Revue co-directors. Feel free to send her scripts and stop her in the halls for an impromptu audition.***

***There actually are no auditions. We take everyone.

When you enter into law school, you may feel a need to project an image of yourself as only professional and respectful; PUMP YOUR BREAKS. That thinking is pure unfiltered nonsense. The more you meet lawyers, the more you'll discover how delightfully whimsical and witty some of them can be. They're regular folks, you know.  Also, it’s important to maintain a light heart when you're in a profession known for dealing with heavy, soul-crushing stress and due diligence. The best places at UBC Law to flex your whimsical and sometimes crude muscles, and to keep your heart a featherweight, are The Robert H. Guile QC Memorial Debate and the UBC Law Revue.

Guile Debate: You are given a resolution (ex. "the ends justify the means") which you are argue pro or con for, but you have to make it funny or otherwise you fail.  There are two rounds; the tryouts and the finals. The tryouts happen in November and are for everyone who wants to participate.  They’re judged by UBC Law professors and representatives from the sponsoring firm, and are not very restrictive on how much you have to be on topic or what the realms of decency are. If you are one of the four hilarious individuals to make it to the finals in January, you have to settle down a slight bit and stay focused on the resolution (while still emphasizing humour, of course). The finals are judged by real life Provincial Court and Supreme Court judges, which could be your first exciting taste of their menacing and disapproving glares. An added bonus is that on top of all the glory, admiration and love you receive for being a finalist, you also get paid.  A cool 500 bones go to each member of the winning duo, and a less cool $250 to the runners-up. If you find yourself hesitant to sign up because you’re a first year and don’t really know anything up the law or law school, don’t be, 1Ls have had great success in the past.

Here is the 2012 Guile Debate Final in its entirety. 



Taylor Clarke and Camille Israel mourn the poor salmon run in a song and dance number at the 2012 Law Revue



Law Revue: A combination of live skit shows, videos and musical performances complete with whacky costumes and dirty dancing. Sometimes 1Ls are reluctant to participate in the Law Revue because it happens in March when anxiety about finals begins to sink in. But abandoning the Law Revue is far too drastic of a measure. Give up exercise, sleep and eating before you give up the Law Revue. Being a part of the show was the most fun I had every year that I was in law school and it’s not a huge commitment to be involved in it. It’s only a weekend of rehearsals in the morning and two of nights of shows done the following Monday and Tuesday.  Not to mention, sketch-writing is the highest form of procrastination.  So, in addition to having roles for theatrical types, the Law Revue always has jobs for writers and film producers, as well as all the unsung heroes such as costume designers, stage hands, bartenders and  door-money-taking-folk for whom the show couldn’t go on without. The Law Revue is a party onstage (and especially backstage). It’s a great opportunity to be creative, make new friends, get attention, and to see your professors, who often are guest stars, in a whole new light.

L-R: Career Services Director Jenn Lau, Career Services Public Interest Coordinator Tracy Wachmann, Criminal Law Professor Nikos Harris, Assistant Dean Kaila Mikkelson, Acting Assistant Dean Pam Cyr, and Tax Professor David Duff in the 2011 Law Revue.

Here is a short video I wrote/starred in, which features a cameo appearance from your very own orientation leader.  (SNAILS = Students not actually in law).

Just because you're beginning law school doesn't mean that all your non-professional aspirations have to die.  I highly recommend one or both of these staples of UBC Law to anyone who likes to perform or who likes being a part of creating something.  I also recommend participating in these events for anyone who is willing to go on a process of self-discovery.  I’ve witnessed people not only do things that they never thought they would, but also learn that they love doing those things.

LSLAP v. PBSC: A Guide

You are probably thinking: what are LSLAP and PBSC, and why are there so many acronyms in law school? Don’t worry, by the end of Orientation Week, you will be well acquainted with both of these programs, and may be wondering which one to choose. To make your decision a little easier, the LSLAP Exec and PBSC Coordinators have gotten together to give you a rundown.

Both programs allow law students to gain practical legal experience under the supervision of a lawyer, and benefit the community by increasing access to justice. Each one provides valuable networking opportunities with real lawyers, and both are well-known and respected in the legal community. 

Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC)

PBSC is a student-run, national organization with chapters in every law school in Canada. We match volunteer law students with non-profit organizations in the community to provide legal research, writing, public legal education, and client interviewing. Our projects and organization vary widely, from sport law, to business law, to environmental law, to women’s rights and more.

Pros:
1) Very manageable time commitment (3-5 hours/week, no time during exam months).
2) Opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and experience in specific areas of law.
3) Wide range of practical experiences available (research, drafting, client intake etc.) in diverse legal settings.

Cons:
1) Must submit a resume and application form to apply.
2) Volunteers do not give legal advice or represent clients.
3) Most projects are done remotely and students may feel like they aren’t really “hands on”.

Law Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP)
LSLAP is a student run legal aid clinic that provides free legal advice and advocacy to low-income individuals, under the supervision of experienced supervising lawyers. Volunteers attend legal clinics throughout Vancouver and then have the opportunity to represent clients from start to finish, with issues ranging from wills, to immigration, to criminal law.

Pros:
1) Regular client contact and the opportunity to represent clients in court.
2) Paid summer positions for clinicians are available.
3) No application form required, just sign up online.

Cons:
1) Clinicians required to travel to a clinic (locations in and around Vancouver) once a week.
2) Some files can be time-consuming (though the overall time commitment is flexible and up to the student) 
3) Taking on real legal issues can be daunting.

LSLAP and PBSC sound so awesome! Can I do both?
Some students choose to do both LSLAP and PBSC, but we recommend sticking with one. It is easy to overextend yourself in first year and many students that sign up for both end up dropping one. You will be exposed to a ton of clubs, programs, and volunteer opportunities in first week, so make sure you think about your interests in advance, prioritize, and choose wisely. Oh, and don’t forget to leave some time for school work and having FUN! 

This year, PBSC and LSLAP have worked together to ensure that all law students have as many opportunities to get involved with pro bono work as possible. PBSC has moved up their application deadline so that student who do not receive a position still have time to join LSLAP, and LSLAP will permit these students to sign up even if they miss the first LSLAP training session.

Both PBSC and LSLAP have offices right here in Allard Hall, and we would be more than happy to chat with you about the programs or law school in general. PBSC is in Room 138, and will be run by Kalie McCrystal and Claire Haaf this year. You can also shoot them an email at pbsc.ubc@gmail.com, or check out their website at www.pbsc.law.ubc.ca. Juliana and Ricky are heading up LSLAP this year, and are located in Room 133. Check them out online at www.lslap.bc.ca.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we will see you in September! 

UBC Law’s Travel Abroad Research Grants

The following post was written by 2L Emmanual Fung about his experiences researching in China this summer.


The Carbolic Smokeball Advertisement at Hong Kong University’s [now, old] Law Library

My name is Emmanuel Fung and I’ll be starting my second year at UBC Law in the Fall. It’s been great to have had contact with some of you already as a Law Student Ambassador and I look forward to meeting more of Class of 2015 at the Vancouver Icebreaker (on August 7^th – RSVP to orientation@law.ubc.ca if you haven’t already) and at Orientation.

In the summer following my first year at UBC Law, I had the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong and South China to perform research on trade and labour practices in the manufacturing export industry. The following blog entry details a few of the things I saw in China.

Professor Ljiljana Biukovic (who teaches a fantastic Contracts class – some of you will have her next year) at the Faculty of Law supervised the research, which was performed under the umbrella of the Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution project at UBC’s Institute for Asian Research. The goal was to improve Corporate Social Responsibility practices for Canadian importers.

Funding for the research was provided by UBC Law’s Travel Abroad Research Grants, which enables two law students (of any year) to perform research on a topic of their choosing. Last year, applications for the grant were received from the beginning of January to the end of February. Applicants were required to submit a cover letter, resume, undergraduate transcripts, first term marks and two letters of reference. The announcement for the grant was posted in the weekly news and events bulletin, so be sure to keep an eye out.  Applicants may choose from a list of sponsored proposals, or can work together with a professor to design their own proposal.

The Faculty of Law’s Career Services Office provides great advice and help in completing the application process. In fact, the CSO provides great advice and help for law students generally and I would recommend that all students get to know the team as soon as possible!

I found that working on the application in itself provided a great opportunity to hone my resume and cover letter writing skills. As well, many other first year summer jobs request the same documents. I would highly recommend that anyone interested in research apply for this great grant! Again, the grant is open to all years of study and in the past, many first years have been successful. I would be more than happy to share more about my experiences with any students: {emmanfung [ at ] gmail dot com}.

____________________________________________________

It is around nine or so on a Wednesday night and I am in the backseat of a Dodge Caravan on my way to Hong Kong’s border with Shenzhen, China eating a Big Mac and fries and sipping a Coke. My guide, a factory owner from South China, sits beside me and has four cell phones arrayed in front of him. He’s mechanically switching the SIM cards in his phones as we prepare to cross the border.

Armchair economists compare the price of Big Macs in locales around the world to map out inflation and currency parity. Coke consumption is loosely, but positively related to a country’s wealth. I’m not sure what the French Fry index signifies.

When I was here a year ago, the cost of a Big Mac meal was 20HKD or about 2.50USD (see proof above). The price for the same burger, fries and soft drink was now 28.2HKD. That’s a forty percent increase in price. To compare, 2- 3% inflation is generally considered a healthy rate.



The price of a Big Mac Meal in 2011 and 2012 compared



We cross the border, pass through customs and we meet another driver nearby. This Buick will take us to a prefecture of Shenzhen. I am told that it is another two hours to our destination. Along the way, I contemplate Chinese inflation and the econometrics of Happy Meals and am lulled to a happy sleep.
In my sleep, I get the sensation that I’m falling, or that I’m paused, midair, after tripping. And then I’m jolted awake. I guess that the van had dropped two inches or so as it crossed from one section of the road to the next. This happens again as the van soon crosses another section of road. I stare out the window into the dark and it takes a few moments before I am able to make out shapes passing us and before I realize how quickly we’re moving.

I don’t think emergency services are called if there’s an accident at this speed. They just bring a bulldozer.

I watch as we pass vehicle after vehicle on the highway. The only time we slow down is when we almost die – like when the truck we happen to be tailgating brakes. I get the feeling that the driver gets off from the speed.  A lime green Toyota CRV pulls ahead of us but we soon pass it again.

“Money can’t buy happiness, but without money you’ll surely be unhappy.” My friend had shared this Chinese proverb with me the day before.

I am a bit on edge and can’t sleep again so I work through questions that I want to ask people tomorrow. I had prepared a guide when I was in Vancouver, but my research directions have changed a bit since then. I am not sure exactly how to work my questions and I’m worried I won’t be able to properly translate my questions into Chinese. I think about the proverb my friend shared and wonder if I can tease a question out of it.

I am a bit on edge and can’t sleep so I work through questions that I want to ask people tomorrow. I had prepared a guide when I was in Vancouver, but my research directions have changed a bit since then. I am not sure exactly how to work my questions and I’m worried I won’t be able to properly translate my questions into Chinese. I think about the proverb my friend shared and wonder if I can tease a question out of it.

Our driver flashes his high beams to alert the driver of a truck that we’re about to pass. It’s a safety precaution, you see. Or maybe he’s just hoping the driver will get out of his lane.

 Then, I have giddy understanding that I’m at the frontier of the world economy.

The first and last two minutes of a flight are the most dangerous. On landing, all kinds of horrible things can go wrong. On takeoff, the structural pressure on the plane is greater than any other time in the flight. I always feel a moment of trepidation just as the plane leaves the ground. This is because I know that in that moment, the pilot must decide whether to commit absolutely to the take off, or to set the plane down safely.

 In that moment, the immense weight of the plane becomes obvious as it struggles against gravity and vibrates uncontrollably. The notion that the heavy plane is about to rise thirty thousand feet seems absurd. Then, the pilot commits to the takeoff and lets the jets roar. The incredible and unstoppable power of the jets under the wings is felt as the vibrations stabilize, your head pulls back slightly from the acceleration and any doubt disappears.

This is how I feel now as the Buick rumbles and bounces along the highway. I am being jetted to my destination – a production municipality in Guangdong – by an unstoppable economic force.

This Buick and the highway we are speeding along are vital pieces of infrastructure. They carry my sleeping friend. I’m sure he has not had much sleep recently because he told me that he’s been to four countries over the last two days on business. His factory produces the kind of secondary materials that are necessary for construction and I conclude that his insane schedule bodes well for the global economic recovery. He is a small, important cog in a global economic engine.

The next day, someone told me that the drive we completed in two hours the night before should have taken at least three. Every business owner I later spoke with underscored the stress, the business of manufacturing in China and trading with the world. We kept a breakneck pace that night because there was no practical alternative.

I imagine that no vehicles ever passed us because they were all well ahead.

The inflation and the rapid pace of change in China have been accompanied by a large volume of journalism and academic writing. In the research on corporate social responsibility, scholars have observed the “increased business focus” and “hyper-competitiveness” of small and medium sized firms. Speaking to business people in Hong Kong and South China, I felt this urgency over-and-over again in a way that these sanitized descriptions could not capture. More than anything else, this sense of pressure and urgency changed the way I understood and approached my work.

At the same time, the academic literature fails to meaningfully convey the “increased salience of personal values in decision making processes”. Likely, I’ve read too little, but I’ve yet to encounter adequate mention of the generosity or amiability of business persons in the academic literature. This culture and attitude contrast strongly from the hard and fast bargaining of business.

I remember one occasion where ten or so of us were chatting after lunch – business partners, an export advisor, a major client, an ex-employee now subcontractor, someone’s friend, someone’s brother. The languorous lunch – a twelve course affair –  was a daily ritual for them and at other factories I’ve visted.  As usual, a few were enjoying a post-prandial smoke.  Often as is the case when I – the foreigner – am present, the conversation turned to my motherland.

Tony our host (he pays for the meal) is considering sending his son to study abroad somewhere. “He gets teary eyed at the thought” his brother mocked him gently. “Imagine what it’ll be like when it’s his daughter’s turn.” Everyone laughs. “There is too much discrimination in America and Britain, but I hear in Canada all you need is Chinese. English isn’t necessary to get around”. The comment was addressed to me. I answered with a joke and they continued, satisfied. “What if he comes back with a foreign girl?” “Best to keep him at home, then.” Tony looked pleased at that.

“Why would want anyone immigrate?” Tony then asked rhetorically. “Everyone who immigrates eventually returns because they’re so bored. Here I get to hang out every day. I have all my friends and family here. Life as an expat is boring, there is no brotherhood” (this word is particularly difficult to translate). The table agreed.

And it’s true. Later, one of our lunch companions, a trader from Hong Kong, said to me privately: “When people wonder what I do when I’m in China for business, I tell them that I’m just here to mooch food and drink.”

I have rarely experienced that level of openness and amiability. Like myself, some were new additions to the group. Others were old hands and knew the lunch time routine – unabashed moochers. Not that Tony minded. All were business companions of some form who just happened to be hanging around the factory when noon rolled around. Invitations to lunch all around, every day – Tony’s treat. Everyone chatted like old friends. That is the culture there.

I returned to Hong Kong three days later and three lunches fuller. The night I returned, I lay in bed feeling very grateful and sad that I’ll likely never find myself around Tony’s factory at noon, again.

These two experiences – and many others I lack space to describe – challenged and altered the way I thought about trade and corporate social responsibility. Firstly, I found that unless CSR complemented and improved trade practices, it would have absolutely no resonance with small factory owners. CSR must to be simple, practical and reduce stress for manufacturers, not increase it. Second, one overlooked advantage of CSR for Canadian importers was the opportunity to develop closer relationships with manufacturers. Though I have not described them here, I learned firsthand about the unexpected advantages of good feeling between small businesses in China. For importers to gain these advantages, CSR must facilitate these relationships. It must not be overly aggressive, but should communicate good will.

Back in the van on the way to Shenzhen, one of my sleep-deprived friend’s many cellphones rings and wakes him. He rises to answer it.

“Hello?” It’s a North American client he met yesterday. “Yes yes, we have your new specifications. I will email you the price tomorrow. Ok? Thank you, bye.” Before he settles in to sleep again, he looks at me and asks if I was able to sleep.  “Just a bit, thanks.”

I should mention that while we were still in Hong Kong, he had asked whether I was hungry. I insisted that I had just eaten, but he ignored me and told the driver stop anyway. On our breakneck journey for the border, there was no time to sit down for a meal. So…Macdonald’s for everyone. His treat, of course.

 I am extremely grateful to the donor of the Travel Abroad Research Grant for the funding for this research, for the incredible generosity and hospitality of the friends and business persons mentioned in this piece, to my supervisor Ljiljana Biukovic for her time and guidance, and to all those who have been so open with their time, support and expertise.

UBC OutLaws

The summer before 1L I was a big ball of emotions. I was excited by the prospect of studying law. I was nervous about the academics and whether I would be able to handle the workload.  Mostly, however, I carried lingering doubts about whether I would fit in, as a gay student in what I thought would be a very conservative school and profession.

I could not have been more wrong.

The UBC Faculty of Law is a very supportive environment for LGBTQ students. In my experience, classmates and faculty are supportive, and appreciate the diversity of views and experience you bring to the class. In addition, there are a number of opportunities – clubs, panels, and research – to engage with issues important to the queer community.

One way to get involved with the queer community at UBC as a 1L – whether you are gay, straight or find yourself somewhere in between – is to attend an OutLaws event. The club has a mandate to promote a queer-positive learning environment, and to raise awareness of issues impacting the larger queer community.

What does OutLaws do? We build up the queer community at UBC Law by organizing pub nights, dinners with the LGBTQ medical students group, and keep you up-to-date on queer events happening in the wider UBC and legal communities. We also host the well-attended “Cheers for Queers” nights, where queer and allied law faculty meet with OutLaws members for beer (or in my case, Diet Coke!).

On the more serious side, OutLaws organizes academic panels on issues related to the queer community. We also provide student input on events hosted by the Canadian Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference (SOGIC).  Not only is this a great way to learn about the law, but it also acts as a way to meet lawyers from around British Columbia.

I would encourage all law students to get involved with OutLaws. If you have any questions about OutLaws, or would like more information about the LGBTQ scene in Vancouver, feel free to email us at ubcoutlaws@gmail.com. In addition, be sure to look for the OutLaws event on the Orientation schedule!

This post was written by 2L Michael Alty, co-chair of UBC OutLaws. Stop by and say hi at Clubs Day (Thursday, September 6)!

The Environmental Law Group

The Environmental Law Group has been a feature at the UBC law clubs’ scene for a few years now. We are passionate about both enjoying the environment around us, and doing our part to make sure we can continue to do so.  In particular we want to build a bridge between the environmental law community and students interested in that practice, to create opportunities for both, and broaden the awareness of the fundamentally important role that environmental law plays in our society. Our primary mission is educating and engaging students in the legal dimension of important environmental issues.

Throughout the year we plan educational, social, and career-oriented events. Last year we offered a film night, negotiation competition, careers in environmental law panel discussion, organized a group to attend the renowned Public Interest Environmental Law Conference in Eugene, Oregon, and a number of social events including a north shore hike. We are also initiating a push for more environmentally friendly operations in Allard, ie “greening Allard”. This coming year we are planning on continuing some of the fine traditions that the ELG has established such as the negotiation competition, as well as new initiatives that we hope will engage students, environmental law academics and lawyers, as well as other groups within UBC.

We are a fun group that enjoys both passionate debate and getting outside to play in the fantastic spaces in and around Vancouver. Many of our members are active skiers, climbers, and paddlers and are always keen to get away from the library for a hike and a pint or two. We encourage all of you with an interest in protecting the environment to come to clubs’ day and hear more about us, and come to our fall kick off meeting to meet the executive and hear about our plans for the year. We also hope that many of you will stay involved and take on the challenges of helping to lead the ELG after our current leadership steps down in January.

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information (ubc.elg@gmail.com) and we look forward to meeting you in September!