Advancing the Public Interest

Funding Work Across the Justice System

We fund a wide variety of public interest work across BC, including justice projects, legal education and research, law reform, and law library services. We take a creative and expansive approach to what justice can look like, so that more people and communities can benefit from it, especially those who are marginalized and denied equity. 

We hold ongoing relationships with several community organizations and non-profits that provide public interest law in BC. Through our funding, we support programs that protect human rights and civil liberties, the environment, and advance equality for women and people who experience gender-based discrimination.   

Helping People Understand and Use the Law

We fund public legal education programs and services that help people in BC understand their rights and navigate the legal system. Some programs offer broad, accessible information for everyday legal questions. Others provide more specialized support to communities that face barriers to legal services, including immigrants and refugees. 

Articling Positions for Law Students

Public interest law depends on lawyers who are committed to the work. The Law Foundation of BC invests in building that pipeline by funding articling positions at over 20 public interest organizations and non-profits across BC. These placements give law students hands-on experience in the sector while providing organizations with dedicated, supervised legal support. 

We see this as a long-term investment in the future of public interest law. We actively seek creative ways to expand this funding and support more organizations in bringing articling students on board. 

We also partner with BC’s three law faculties to fund student-run legal clinics, where law students provide legal information, advocacy, and direct assistance to people in the community. All student work is supervised by lawyers, ensuring clients receive reliable, high-quality support.