UBC Law Students' Society

Quick Links Who are we? What do we do? When are our meetings? Who can join? How are we governed? How can I contact ELG?

 Upcoming Events:

Environmental Law Career Panel!

March 24 7:00 pm in the Global Lounge, join us and several legal professionals to learn about opportunities linking legal careers with environmental issues. Panelists will represent private practice, not-for-profits, government, and academia. The panel will be followed by refreshments!

Film Series at the Global Lounge:

The Global Lounge, is the ELG's new favorite hang-out. Free coffee, a great study space and during the month of March, an interesting film series. Check out their website to see the schedule:  http://www.students.ubc.ca/mura/international/index.cfm/get-involved/ubc-global-lounge/

Other Events:

Past Events

Public Interest and Environmental Law Conference - University of Oregon, Eugene Oregon - Trip Report

On February 25, five enthusiastic UBC law students headed south on I5 to attend a conference at the University of Oregon. The annual conference, put on by the students at the U of O, involved three days of fascinating speakers and panels. Some panels represented a public interest focus, with lots of conservation groups represented. Other panels provided a legal viewpoint on current environmental issues, some staggeringly large, others localalised. One highlight was Steven Donziger's presentation on his work representing Equadorian groups in their fight to have Chevron (formerly Texaco) clean up toxic waste dumps left behind when Texaco stopped drilling in the Amazon. Overall, the conference was an excellent experience and I think all those who attended would highly recommend it for anyone interested in Public Interest or Environmental Law. Participants send a BIG thanks to their kind hosts in the community or Eugene for providing places to stay, and to the ELG and the Faculty of Law for providing sponsorship.

Who are we?

The Environmental Law group is a student-run organization operating out of the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia. Our primary goal is to promote greater awareness of the legal aspects of current environmental problems to the community and to offer opportunities to law students to understand the practice of environmental law.

The ELG sponsors many events at the law school, including an Environmental Negotiation Competition, Career Panel, field trips, and more.  In the past year, the ELG has hosted these and other events, and submitted environmental suggestions to the committee planning a new law building.

What do we do?

In the 2009-2010 year, we are planning many great activities, including:

• Intra-school Environmental Negotiation Competition involving UBC, UVic, and University of Washington students;
• Environmental Film Series with interesting and poignant films and discussion;
• Environmental career panel with local environmental lawyers;
• Speakers discussing important developments in environmental law and research;
• Hiking and snowshoeing trips to the local mountains;
• Sending a delegation to the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference in Oregon;
• Environmental advocacy events on campus, including the "BOTTLE FREE UBC Pledge"

During the 2008-2009 year the ELG helped in organising the Public Interest Law Week which cumulated with the Environmental Racism & the Tar Sands conference hosted in the Long House at UBC.

 

Keep and eye on our website for other great upcoming events specific to the 2009-2010 year.

When are our meetings?

Throughout the school year we will be meeting roughly every two weeks. Email us at ubc.elg@gmail.com to find out when our next meeting is. At meetings we discuss upcoming events, and sometimes have guest speakers on issues relating to environment and the law.

The next meeting will be the week of March 1-5, when we will have a lunch potluck with Faculty o Law professors that teach in areas relating to natural resources and the environment.

We meet at the Global Lounge, in the new Marine Drive Residence, 2055 Lower Mall, where the ELG has office and meeting space.

Who can join?

Anyone can join the ELG. Mostly, our members are students in the Law School, but we also have some alumni members, faculty, and other students on campus.  Anyone who is interested in environmental law is welcome to join.  To join the ELG, send an email to ubc.elg@gmail.com with your name, affiliation (law student or otherwise), and email address.

How are we governed?

The ELG is made up of several Executive members who are voted in at the end of the first term of school (around December), and hold their offices for one year.  Currently, we have three co-Chairs, a Treasurer/Secretary, Social Chair, Communications Director, International and Global Issues in Law and Environment coordinator, and member at large.  We also create ad-hoc committees as need be to organize events. We strongly encourage first year students to become involved in the ELG.

Shirley Smiley (2nd year), Co-Chair
Vanessa Lunday (2nd year), Co-Chair

Simone Tielesh (2nd year), Co-Chair
Lauren Whyte (1st year), Treasurer/Secretary
Maya Stano (2nd year), International and Global Issues Coordinator
Servane Phillips (1st year), Social Chair
Kristen Brewer (1st year), Communications Director

Tim Luk (2nd year), General helpful person

Past Chairs

 Jacqui Kotyk/Maya Stano(2008-2009)

Virginia Richards(2007-2008)

Julie DesBrisay (2006-2007)
Scott Bernstein (2006-2007)
Karin Grubb (2005-2006)

How can I contact ELG?

Contact the ELG at ubc.elg@gmail.com

Environmental Law Group
University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
1822 East Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1

Art credits:

Logo design: Jennie Hayes, 2007

Logo Banner Photo (Birkenhead Lake): Scott Bernstein, 2007