From her first year of law school, Carly Stanhope has shown a commitment to addressing issues around access to justice through countless hours of volunteering and taking on numerous roles both within and outside the Allard School of Law.
Earlier this month [April 2018], Carly’s dedication and passion for the cause was recognized by UBC President Santa J. Ono who presented Carly with the Edward JC Hossie Leadership Award. The prestigious award is only given out to three UBC students each year and recognizes students who have demonstrated leadership through volunteerism, community services and campus activities.
“Carly has exhibited a philosophy of compassion and justice throughout her studies in the Allard School of Law,” explained Professor Margot Young. “As an active volunteer at UBC and in the greater Vancouver community, she makes a difference. She has coordinated and co-founded a variety of volunteer projects facilitating pro bono and social justice work by her peers. Carly has paired the challenges of an intense JD programme with a remarkable commitment to using that education to help those marginalized in our society.”
Carly balanced the demands of first-year law with weekly volunteering in the Legal Advocacy Program at Atira Women’s Resource Society. As a member, and later, Co-President of the Allard Law Women’s Caucus (along with graduating law student Rochelle Kelava), Carly led feminist law students in initiatives that include working with organizations such as Dress for Success Vancouver, the Elizabeth Fry Society, the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, and Battered Women’s Support Services.
In Carly’s second year, she was one of two Program Coordinators for Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC). Along with her colleague, Emily Atkinson, Carly recruited, trained and supported over 60 law student volunteers in 32 pro bono placements with public interest organizations. Carly and Emily cultivated the most growth that the program has seen in its 21 years of existence, by designing and securing 13 new placements, which continue to benefit students and communities. Carly continued to assist PBSC after her Coordinator role ended, giving presentations on PBSC programming at the PBSC National Training Conference in Toronto and at the ACCLE/CALT Annual Conference in Victoria.
In her third year, Carly worked with fellow student Melanie Begalka in establishing the PBSC-UBC chapter’s Homeless Identification Clinic at the Powell Street Getaway, which opened in October 2017. The Clinic addresses the persistent barrier that homeless persons face – lack of government issued ID – preventing access for housing, legal help, social assistance and detox facilities. The Clinic has served over 200 clients in its first year of operation. Carly was instrumental in obtaining a fee-waiver from BC Vital Statistics, which will go a long way towards ensuring the Clinic’s ongoing fiscal viability. During her third year, Carly also contributed many volunteer hours as a member of the National Executive of the #LawNeedsFeminismBecause campaign. Additionally, Carly has provided a valuable student link to the local social justice bar in her role as Secretary on the Executive of the Canadian Bar Association of BC’s Social Justice Section.
Carly shows what a committed citizen of the law school, and of the world, can achieve.
Originally published on April 30, 2018 in Allard School of Law News.
Since graduation from the JD program at the Allard School of Law in 2018, Carly Stanhope has started working at Harris & Company LLP as an articled student.