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Allard School of Law Milestones
The University of British Columbia's Faculty of Law is committed to continuing to build a vibrant law school community that celebrates and supports diversity, equity and inclusiveness. Part of working towards this important goal means ensuring that individuals from groups that have been historically, persistently or systemically excluded from higher education are able to overcome the financial barriers to attending law school. Over the past two years, four new awards have been created to support students who identify as Indigenous, Black or as a person of colour (IBPOC).
The University of British Columbia's Faculty of Law is committed to continuing to build a vibrant law school community that celebrates and supports diversity, equity and inclusiveness. Part of working towards this important goal means ensuring that individuals from groups that have been historically, persistently or systemically excluded from higher education are able to overcome the financial barriers to attending law school. Over the past two years, four new awards have been created to support students who identify as Indigenous, Black or as a person of colour (IBPOC).
The following is a message shared with the alumni community by Dean pro tem Janine Benedet in January, 2021.
In the spring of 2020, students, staff and faculty at the Peter A. Allard School of Law found themselves in uncharted territory as a novel coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe forced the cancellation of in-person classes and a switch to remote learning.
March 13, 2020 marked the last day of in-person classes, with the entire university switching to remote instruction staring March 16.
In March, 2019, the Indigenous Law Students’ Association (ILSA) hosted its inaugural reception and fundraiser at the Peter A. Allard School of Law. The event serves to not only raise funds for bursaries, but also to honour outstanding figures in the local legal community who demonstrate stellar leadership in relation to the fostering of diversity in the legal profession.
On March 15-16, 2019, three JD students from the Peter A. Allard School of Law competed in the inaugural Canadian Competition Law Moot at the Federal Court of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. Victoria Wicks, Jonah Brook, Hannah Thomson, and Dylan Williams made the Allard School of Law proud winning a variety of awards at the competition. The whole team received the Best Faculty Award; Williams was named the Top Oralist (Respondent); and Williams and Wicks were honoured as the Top Respondent Team.
The Peter A. Allard School of Law is incredibly honoured to accept a $1 million gift from the estate of Nancy Wiggs to establish the Nancy E. R. Wiggs Entrance Scholarship.
There are few names as well known within the Peter A. Allard School of Law community as Nancy Wiggs. The beloved staff member worked with the law school for 36 years in a variety of capacities. Most notably, Wiggs served as the Administrator for the Faculty of Law from 1993 until her retirement in 2012.
On September 25, 2019, the Peter A. Allard School of Law gratefully accepted a generous donation from Richards Buell Sutton LLP (“RBS”) to support the continual operation of the law school’s Business Law Clinic. The significant $250 000 gift will permit the Business Law Clinic to operate over the next five years, thereby aiding the interests and needs of local businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. The gift also demonstrably fosters the law school’s commitment to experiential learning for its students and continual involvement in the local community.
The Class of 1979 celebrated their 40-year reunion on May 24th, 2019. The graduating class gathered at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club where they recalled their fond memories of law school.
Notable alumni from the Class of 1979 include the Honourable Carol Baird Ellan, Paul Mitchell, QC, and Suzanne Anton, QC.
The Class of 1959 celebrated their 60-year reunion over the weekend of May 17th, 2019. Those in attendance reminisced about their law school journeys over the course of a wine and cheese event in West Vancouver and a celebratory dinner at the Terminal City Club.
Members of this graduating class share their graduating year with another notable Allard Law milestone—1959 also marks the year during which the UBC Law Review was founded.