The ELC provides free legal assistance to help community, non-profit, and Indigenous organizations and citizens in BC address public interest environmental law issues
OUR PROGRAMS
In the pursuit and support of the restoration, protection, and health of ecological systems for all, the ELC is committed to anti-oppressive practices and policies that promote environmental justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work and in the spaces that we hold and create around our work.
ELC CLINIC PROGRAM
The ELC provides a practical, hands-on experiential learning experience for law students and partners with communities to protect the environment and advance public interest environmental law issues in BC. We believe that today’s Clinic students are tomorrow’s lawyers for the environment.
The Environmental Law Centre Society collaborates with the University of Victoria Faculty of Law to operate the Environmental Law Clinic. The ELC Clinic is Canada’s first hands-on academic program in public interest environmental law. Operating under lawyer supervision, Clinic students work in partnership with Indigenous, environmental, and community organizations and individuals to understand and respond to public interest environmental law issues. The ELC’s goal is to attain and support strong laws that protect air, land, and water, through both Indigenous and state authority.
What does the Clinic do?
Students in the ELC Clinic produce legal tools and resources on a wide range of public interest environmental issues. We provide capacity to organizations to use law and policy to protect and restore the environment.
Operating under the supervision of a lawyer, ELC Clinic students deliver over 4,000 hours of legal aid, legal research, law reform and legal education services each year to Indigenous, environmental and community organizations.
How do we select cases?
The ELC takes on public interest environmental cases that align with our values and mission. Potential Clinic projects should aim to meet the following criteria:
- Represent a public interest environmental law matter that aligns with the goals of the ELC’s vision and objectives.
- Provide a significant educational opportunity for a law student in the areas of legal research, legal writing, law reform or advocacy;
- Be financially feasible and not expose the ELC to financial or other risks;
- Have the potential to make significant contribution to environmental protection or to the development of environmental law;
- Provide a service to a client who would otherwise be unable to obtain the service (e.g. unable to pay for their own lawyer) and must not be undertaken merely as a support service for a lawyer or professional who is being paid fair market rates for their services.
Preference is given to projects with the potential to make significant contribution to environmental protection or to the development of environmental law.
How to request help from the ELC
Complete and submit our Clinic Project Application form that describes our services and asks you for details about your proposed project, including:
- Project Description: We will ask you for a short description and request that you answer questions about the facts surrounding the legal issue, the parties involved, and what are you hoping the ELC will produce or do for you?
- Contact Information: We will ask for contact information for you, your organization and any authorized representatives. We are required by the Law Society of British Columbia to obtain and record this information.
- Signed Disclosure of Information: We will ask you to read, sign and return a disclosure of information form, which confirms your understanding that while we will treat all information you provide to us as confidential unless you consent to it being treated otherwise, your potential project will be considered by the ELC Society’s Board of Directors, who are responsible for formally approving all of our cases.
Return the completed form by email (elcclinicdirector [at] uvic.ca or elc [at] uvic.ca) or mail. We will review your application and will contact you by phone or email if we need more information. Given our limited resources, we are not able to represent all those who request our services.
PLEASE NOTE: We are only able to consider projects for the ELC Clinic that have submitted a completed Clinic Project Application form.
ELC Associates Program
Launched in September 2007, the ELC Associates Program connects lawyers across the province who are either practicing or interested in public interest environmental law. ELC Associates share knowledge with each other and ELC Clinic students and collaborate on key environmental and resource development issues throughout the province.
Associates are appointed for a two-year term, during which time they work with the ELC to provide access to public interest environmental law services. Lawyers who have participate as Associates found the program to be beneficial for both their law practices and professional development.
ELC Associates Program Application Process
We are currently working with Cohort 9 Associates and will begin accepting applications for Cohort 10 in summer 2025; however, we welcome expressions of interest at any time.
How to Apply to the ELC Associates Program
To become a part of the next Cohort of the ELC Associates Program, we ask for the following information:
- Name and contact information, including email, phone number and firm address;
- Call year;
- Areas of practice;
- Scope of public interest environmental law to date or an expression of your interest in the Associates Program; and
- Short bio
ELC Associates Program FAQ
- What is the Environmental Law Centre Associates Program?
- The ELC Associates Program started in September 2007 at the University of Victoria with funding from the Law Foundation of BC. The purpose of the ELC Associates Program is to enhance the capacity of the public interest environmental law Bar in BC while enriching learning opportunities for ELC students through a unique collaboration between the Bar and the ELC Clinic. Since 2007, the ELC has coordinated Program activities for eight cohorts of ELC Associates. We are currently recruiting Associates for Cohort 9.
- Who can be an Environmental Law Centre Associate?
- Any lawyer practicing in BC with an interest in public interest environmental law. Each cohort of ELC Associates will be selected based on a variety of factors including demonstrated interest and/or expertise in public interest environmental law; mentor role potential; geographic distribution; and diversity/length of experience.
- What are the expectations of Environmental Law Centre Associates?
- ELC Associates may provide mentoring and advice, as appropriate, to Clinic students working on cases or projects within their area of expertise and/or in their geographic region. With approval of the ELC Board, Associates may also be able to secure student assistance for public interest environmental cases. Associates will stay abreast of developments in public interest environmental law through regular videoconferences hosted by the ELC, and through networking with other Associates. These videoconferences are approved Continuing Professional Development Credits by The Law Society of BC.
- What are the benefits of participating in the Program?
- Benefits include:
- Staying current with emerging environmental law practice issues;
- Networking with other lawyers engaged in public interest environmental law;
- Receiving advice from knowledgeable colleagues;
- Obtaining student assistance on ongoing public interest environmental cases or files;
- Working with highly motivated students that share similar practice-area interests; and
- Building the capacity of the public interest environmental bar in BC.
- Benefits include:
- What do former Associates say about the Program?
- I have gone back to the CLE materials and teleconference backgrounders for information when faced with a client issue. They are a helpful starting point in my practice.
- The background materials for the teleconferences were concise, to the point, and directed the discussion very well. Even for areas in which I have no knowledge, the teleconferences were excellent. It was really helpful to hear from the other lawyers because they are leaders in their fields.
- A huge benefit of the Program is becoming acquainted with lawyers who have addressed similar issues and who are willing to have me call them for moral support and legal assistance. They often suggest alternative strategies and novel legal arguments.
- The networking opportunities were my favourite part. It was very valuable to have an opportunity to talk with like-minded people. It makes the possibility of doing environment work when it comes up in my work more likely because I have other lawyers I can consult with and bounce ideas off of.
- I was able to get outside of my usual files and get a better appreciation for these other intellectually fascinating issues that I have no acquaintance with. I found it useful as a professional to observe and take mental notes on the issues presented.
If you are interested in becoming an ELC Associate, please contact us!
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Email: elc@uvic.ca
