Applications closed.

FACL BC Contractor Posting: Executive Coordinator 

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) is looking for a highly-motivated 1L (preferred) or 2L BC law student to serve as our next Executive Coordinator, to help fulfill our mission of promoting equity, justice and opportunity for Asian Canadian legal professionals and the broader community. This is a one-year paid independent contractor position at a competitive hourly rate. Estimated hours range from 5 to 10 hours per week but are not guaranteed.

FACL BC is a pan-Asian organization celebrating the diversity of our Asian communities - we explicitly encourage applicants who identify as being “Asian-Canadian”, including but not limited to South Asian, West Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, or any other self-identifying Asian-Canadian law students from any BC law school (UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of Victoria, and Thompson Rivers University) to apply.

As part of our mission to continue diversifying our operations outside of the Greater Vancouver area, based on equal qualifications, preference may be given to candidates applying from the University of Victoria or Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law. 

Apply here: https://forms.gle/mu7AhyAhPiSmyCTp8 

Deadline to apply: April 2, 2024 at 11:59PM Pacific Time.  

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, so please apply early. Only qualified candidates who are shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.

Term: May 1, 2024 - May 31,  2025

Rate: $24.00 per hour

Hours: 5-10 hours per week (estimated, not guaranteed)

Who are we?

FACL BC is a diverse coalition of Asian-Canadian legal professionals working to promote equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian-Canadian legal professionals and the broader community.  FACL BC is the largest equity-seeking bar organization in British Columbia with over 620 members across all areas of the legal profession including students, associates, partners, in-house counsel, public service, and the judiciary.   

In November 2023, we hosted our largest Gala to date featuring Patrick Chan, Olympic figure skater, who spoke on the theme of Champions: Within, Among, and Beyond. We welcomed 767 guests to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver to a sold out evening, preceded by our first in-person daytime Conference featuring Judge Gurmail Gill of the BC Provincial Court.

FACL BC was also the winner of the 2022 Clawbies award for Best Podcast and the 2021 Clawbies award for Best Innovative Project for our ground-breaking documentary, “But I Look Like a Lawyer”, which captures stories of the discrimination, stereotyping and bias experienced by members of the Pan-Asian legal community.  

Our documentary was also selected for The 26th Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival and NALP Annual Conference in Vancouver, and will be screened at the Law Society of BC. You may also recall learning about our documentary in school, as it is mandatory viewing for Professional Responsibility students at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (Common Law),  and is recommended reading for incoming students at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law. The documentary is also recommended viewing for students enrolled in the Law Society of BC’s Professional Legal Training Course and was recently mandatory viewing for students at the Peter A. Allard School of Law.

What are we looking for?

• Current 1L (preferred) or 2L student attending the University of Victoria Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law or Peter A. Allard School of Law;

• Self-identification as Asian-Canadian preferred;

• Outstanding organizational and communication skills (verbal and written);

• Experience planning events for non-profit organizations, student clubs or similar organizations;

• Experience with platforms such as Google Drive and Zoom is an asset;

• Experience with social media platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook is an asset;

• Experience with Linktree, graphic design (Canva), and website management (Wild Apricot) is an asset;

• Willingness to learn, adapt and problem-solve;

• Ability to work independently and in a team, with another Executive Coordinator and Associate Director, and with multiple stakeholders;

• Ability to meet tight and competing deadlines within a highly active organization; and

• Ability to work occasionally in the evenings and on weekends, as required.

The successful candidate must possess a personal laptop and a reliable Internet connection. Additional training on the software applications listed above will be provided to the successful candidate.

What are your responsibilities?

 Administrative

• Respond to director requests for assistance with events, operate Wild Apricot (our membership/website platform) or another platform, Zoom, Canva and Google Drive, and send out emails;

• Approve new membership applications, maintain an orderly archive and assist the Treasurer with financial matters on Wild Apricot;

• Contact Wild Apricot to troubleshoot issues that arise;

• Apply for CPD credits or other professional credit approvals for FACL BC’s events;

• Assist in recording board meeting minutes and/or action items, if needed;

• Attend FACL BC monthly board meetings (typically the second week of each month), Board orientation (typically in August), and the internal Board retreat (typically in March), as required; and

• Assist the Treasurer with collecting information and drafting grant applications for FACL BC.

Communications

• Review and respond to emails received in the general FACL BC inbox and forward other inquiries accordingly to the appropriate committee and director(s);

• Coordinate with the Membership Committee to draft and send out monthly email newsletters to FACL BC’s membership;

• Assist in sending out calendar invites to directors for board meetings and contractual deadlines with other third-parties;

• Assist with preparing marketing materials, including updating the FACL BC website, Instagram page, LinkedIn account, Facebook page and newsletter; and

• Report regularly to the President, Associate Director and FACL BC Executive Committee as needed.

Event Planning

• Provide logistical support for FACL BC events and initiatives including creating event pages on Wild Apricot, and Zoom and Facebook;

• Make event name tags for attendees and speakers;

• Set up and attend  virtual events, where requested;

• Assist the Secretary with updating our internal events calendar with new events and changes, if needed;

• Create and send thank you cards and arrange to deliver FACL BC merchandise to event guests and event speakers, as required; and

• Such other FACL BC-related services, and deliverables, as we may request.

Privacy Policy

We take your privacy seriously.  For details, please see our FACL BC Privacy Policy here. 

Today, on International Women’s Day, FACL BC celebrates the achievements of women and girls in all of their diversity, here in British Columbia and around the world. We honour those who stand up for gender and racial equality, in big and small ways. We also affirm our commitment to advocating for gender equality and uplifting the voices of Asian women in the legal community.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Inspire Inclusion, emphasizes the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society. The theme highlights the need for everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities. We need to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected. 

FACL BC imagines and is committed to a world, including a legal community, free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. We celebrate the careers of numerous outstanding women lawyers and jurists across Canada. Notably, we celebrate Justice Mary Moreau, the latest addition to the Supreme Court of Canada. Her appointment marks a transformative moment, ushering in an era where women constitute the majority on our highest court.

We encourage you to read our ​​resource list to highlight the voices and work of Asian women in the legal profession: Amplifying Asian Women in Law: A FACL BC International Women’s Day Resource List (2021). 

Dear FACL BC Members,

Effective April 1, 2024, there will be an increase in Full Membership and Supporting Membership pricing from $50 to $80 per year. This adjustment is necessary to support the continued growth and sustainability of FACL BC, a non-profit society dedicated to serving the Asian Canadian legal community. 

In addition, our memberships are currently valid for one year from the date of activation or renewal. Starting January 1, 2025, we will also be transitioning all memberships to a calendar year membership term (January-December) to facilitate a streamlined renewal process for all members. More details to follow in late 2024.

In an effort to mitigate the impact on our members, we are pleased to announce the following transitional measures:

• Active Full Members and Supporting Members with renewal dates between April 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 will have their membership term automatically extended to January 1, 2025 at no extra cost.
• Active Full Members and Supporting Members who have already renewed their membership in 2024 or plan to renew their membership by March 31, 2024 will be eligible for a 2024 prorated rebate discount code upon request by emailing info@faclbc.ca when they renew their membership in January 2025. The prorated rebate discount code will only be available upon request from January 1, 2025 to January 31, 2025.
• Articling students, NCA candidates, and judicial clerks to the BC Supreme Court, BC Court of Appeal, Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Canada, Tax Court of Canada, and Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada are considered Full Members. However, if you fall under any of these categories, you can select the prorated discount membership option at checkout, which reduces the Full Member pricing from $80 to $50.  If you have any questions or issues regarding the prorated membership option, please contact info@faclbc.ca. 

Student Membership pricing will remain complimentary and unchanged. Full Membership and Student Membership will continue to be the only classes of members with voting rights and eligibility to run for the FACL BC Board of Directors. If you have any questions, please visit here or contact info@faclbc.ca.

Thank you for your continued support of FACL BC.

Warm regards,

FACL BC

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) expresses its warmest congratulations to Judge Karen Leung on her appointment to the Provincial Court in the Vancouver Region. Judge Leung will be sworn in on March 4, 2024.

For the past decade, Judge Leung has significantly advanced access to justice as legal counsel at the BC Provincial Court. Her membership in committees liaising with counsel, the executive branch, and the Superior Courts strengthened relationships behind the scenes of the courtroom while streamlining the public’s access to the courts. In particular, she assisted with drafting Court Practice Directives and Notices to the Public that were vital in providing access to justice during the COVID-19 pandemic. From organizing the very first BC Provincial Court Twitter Town Hall to the creation of the Virtual Courts Toolkit, Judge Leung’s work has set the stage for how our legal system can pivot in response to unprecedented times.

A judiciary that reflects our province’s diversity and promotes access to justice is well-positioned to meet the needs of our community and aligns with FACL BC’s mandate of promoting equity, justice and opportunity for Asian Canadian legal professionals and the wider community. We look forward to Judge Leung’s continued contribution to the legal profession.

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) is thrilled to have been invited to collaborate with CBABC and SABA BC on this initiative. Having procedures that promote the correct pronunciation of names can play a significant role in ensuring that individuals are treated with respect and dignity in court and before tribunals, regardless of their race, culture or ethnicity. From the CBABC website:

On February 2, CBABC, the South Asian Bar Association of BC and the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) delivered a letter to the Chief Justice of BC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of BC, Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of BC, and the Chair of Circle of Chairs of BC Administrative Tribunals.

The letter offers best practices to ensure that all people appearing before courts and tribunals throughout BC have their names pronounced correctly, increasing inclusion for lawyers and participants across the province.

The suggestions include:

• Amended practice directions to outline how participants can advise the court/tribunal of the pronunciation of their names.
• Updated standard practices to request pronunciation of all names upon introduction.
• Encouragement to request confirmation of pronunciation.
• Verification of the correct pronunciation of all participants prior to the hearing.

Implementation of these practices will improve the experience of Indigenous and racialized people who appear before our courts and tribunals. It also sends the message that everyone, regardless of race, culture and ethnicity, should be treated with equal respect and dignity.

Read the full PDF here. 

The 2024 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”. This theme celebrates the rich past and present contributions and accomplishments of Black people in Canada, while aspiring to embrace new opportunities for the future. FACL BC invites our membership to learn more about Black Canadian communities, and how they continue to help shape Canada.

FACL BC recognizes that anti-Black racism continues to exist in the legal profession and Canadian society at large. As Asian-Canadian legal professionals, we commit to acting in solidarity with our Black colleagues and acknowledge the contributions Black legal professionals have made to the profession. 

This year, Lunar New Year will be held during Black History Month. We want to recognize the long history of Black and Asian solidarity and tensions in North America. Against the backdrop of COVID-19 and its disproportionate impacts on Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC), both the Black Lives Matter movement and the Stop Asian Hate movement gained significant momentum in the public eye. We must work to ensure the pledges of solidarity made then are continued to be put into action. These actions must also include undoing the anti-Black racism and colourism that continue to exist within Asian communities. FACL BC commits to strengthening interracial solidarity toward the shared goals of ending racial injustice and white supremacy to build a better future.

To find resources on topics such as tackling anti-Black racism in Asian communities and allyship and action, visit FACL BC’s Resource List for Black History Month.

Today, FACL BC observes the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia.

Seven years ago on this day, Alexandre Bissonnette walked into the Quebec City Mosque and murdered six Muslim men while they prayed. Nineteen others were injured and one of those injured was left paralyzed. The loss to their families and community is tremendous.

On this day, we honour the lives of the men who were lost in this heinous act of violence and Islamophobia. FACL BC also honours the lives of the four members of a Pakistani-Canadian Muslim family who were killed while out walking in London, Ontario, in June of 2021. We stand against the racism and fear perpetuated against Muslims. 

FACL BC invites you to take a moment of silence to remember these victims and all victims of hatred: 

• Ibrahima Barry
  
• Mamadou Barry
  
• Khaled Belkacemi
  
• Aboubaker Thabti
  
• Abdelkrim Hassane
  
• Azzedine Soufiane

The National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia acts as a reminder that Muslim people and those perceived to be Muslim continue to face discrimination and the threat of violence. However, for those who face discrimination, no such reminder is needed.

We encourage allies and those within the legal community to learn about Islamophobia and the actions we can take to combat this issue. 

FACL BC is an official sponsor of the Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline, a free and confidential hotline aimed at providing legal assistance to anyone who has been a victim of Islamophobia.

Resources:

• Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline

• Islamophobia Awareness Month - What Is Islamophobia?

• National Council of Canadian Muslims - Community Resources

• Canadian Labour Congress - Islamophobia at Work: Challenges and Opportunities

• Naseeha Mental Health hotline available 7 days a week from 9AM-9PM PST: 1 (866) 627-3342 https://naseeha.org/ 

• 310 Mental Health Support: Call 310-6789 for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health 

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) expresses its warmest congratulations to Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC on beginning her term as President of the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC).

Throughout her distinguished career, Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC has represented clients in workplace immigration law as well as employment law more broadly. She has worked towards building a strong and inclusive legal profession through her numerous professional and community involvements. Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC served as a Bencher of the LSBC from 2014 to 2015 and 2017 to present, where she is Chair of the Executive Committee and a member of the Audit and Finance Committee. Jeevyn also serves the community as a member of the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee, Director of Creative BC, Instructor at Capilano University, Legal Studies Department and member of the UBC Alumni Awards Selection Committee.

Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC is the second person of Asian descent to be elected as the President of the LSBC. The first was Anna K. Fung, KC.  FACL BC is heartened to see another Asian woman elected to this influential position. Diversity in the LSBC’s Benchers and leadership brings a range of experiences and perspectives to bear and gives a voice to those who have been historically underrepresented, including those in our Asian Canadian community. FACL BC looks forward to continuing to strengthen its relationship with the LSBC under Jeevyn Dhaliwal, KC’s leadership. 

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) congratulates the Honourable Leonard Marchand on his appointment as the Chief Justice of BC and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of Yukon. As a Syilx person and a member of the Okanagan Indian Band, Chief Justice Marchand has made history as the first Indigenous Chief Justice of BC.

Chief Justice Marchand was a Judge in BC Provincial Court from 2013 until 2017, when he became the first First Nations Justice appointed to the BC Supreme Court. In 2021, he became the first First Nations Justice appointed to the BC Court of Appeal. Leading up to his impressive 10 years of judicial experience, he articled and practiced at Fulton & Company LLP in Kamloops since 1994. Throughout his practice, he appeared before all levels of court in BC and many administrative tribunals. He has dedicated much of his career to advancing reconciliation and supporting survivors of residential schools, including ​​advancing civil claims on behalf of survivors and helping to negotiate the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

FACL BC recognizes and applauds the progress the new Chief Justice has made for Indigenous peoples towards being reflected in the justice system. In his own words in a recent interview, Chief Justice Marchand said: 

“It's important to have Indigenous voices throughout the justice system, so that we can start to establish, for the first time, a level of trust in a system that has such profound effects on the everyday lives of Indigenous people.”

FACL BC echoes the Chief Justice’s sentiment and is heartened to see him appointed to a position where he can continue to share and use his unique voice and perspective. We are sure that his appointment and an increasingly diverse judiciary will also benefit the larger community, including Asian Canadian legal professionals. FACL BC looks forward to seeing the changes Chief Justice Marchand will bring and his impact on BC’s justice system.

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) expresses its warmest congratulations to Judge Grace Oh on her appointment to the Provincial Court of BC and to Justice Phuong T.V. Ngo on her appointment to the Federal Court. To the best of FACL BC’s knowledge, Judge Oh is the first Judge of Korean descent and the first female Judge of East Asian descent to serve on the BC Provincial Court judiciary. Justice Ngo is the first Justice of Vietnamese descent to sit on the Federal Court. 

Judge Oh worked as Crown Counsel with the BC Prosecution Service for the last 25 years where she appeared before the Supreme Court, the Youth Court, and the Downtown Community Court. She was appointed to the Provincial Court of BC in November 2022 and was sworn in at the beginning of 2023. 

On December 4, FACL BC board members attended her welcome ceremony at the Surrey Provincial Court where she was applauded by her colleagues and by pan-Asian-Canadian legal communities as a talented, versatile, and compassionate addition to the bench. FACL BC thanks the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch for their invitation to provide congratulatory remarks and to Mylene de Guzman for reading these remarks to the Court and to Judge Oh. 

Justice Ngo is a Vietnamese-Canadian who immigrated as a young child with her family. She was appointed to the Federal Court in September 2023 following a successful career as a partner at Gowling WLG in Ottawa. Justice Ngo practiced in both English and French with a focus on the fields of procurement law and health law. Justice Ngo was widely recognized for her legal work as a leading practitioner in procurement law by Lexpert, Chambers Canada, Best Lawyers in Canada, and Legal 500. 

FACL BC is proud to see the accomplishments of these distinguished Asian-Canadian women recognized and is heartened by their appointments to their respective courts. A diverse bench that reflects Canada’s diverse communities and their lived experiences increases public trust and confidence in the judiciary and improves the administration of justice. FACL BC thanks Judge Oh and Justice Ngo for their contributions to the legal field and we look forward to seeing them thrive in their new positions.