Law centre celebrates five years

The sea, the sky and the land, so important to the law students, clients and supporters of UVic’s Environmental Law Centre (ELC), will provide the backdrop for a benefit evening later this month at an historic, hilltop Oak Bay mansion.

Event organizers are promising an evening of fine food, wine and music at Gibson House on May 22 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the ELC, recognize past and current supporters, and solicit new patrons.

Students in the ELC clinic earn credit and gain environmental lawyering skills by providing free legal assistance to a variety of conservation, First Nations and community organizations across the province. Future plans include raising funds to hire a legal director, who would take over supervising the clinic program from local lawyers who currently provide the service pro bono.

The ELC also intends to spearhead establishment of a fund to forgive loans incurred by students who go on to pursue careers in public interest law.

“With annual law school tuition projected to approach $10,000 in the next few years, it will be increasingly difficult for students to dedicate their careers to protecting the environment,” says UVic law professor Chris Tollefson, executive director of the ELC. “Our proposed loan forgiveness program will assist UVic graduates to pay down their tuition debts if they’re working full-time as public interest lawyers.”

The benefit evening will feature Joanne Hounsell, one of Canada’s leading lyric sopranos, accompanied by eminent pianist Robert Holliston. Tickets are $60 per person or $100 per couple and charitable receipts are available on request. For further information contact Sandra Leland at 721-8191 or e-mail sleland@uvic.ca.