West Coast LEAF is honoured to host one of two inaugural Joe Arvay Fellowships for Public Interest Law. Funded by the Joe Arvay Initiative for Public Interest Law and the Law Foundation of British Columbia, this is a two-year fellowship designated for graduating Indigenous, Black, and racialized law students who wish to begin their legal careers in public interest law, with the first year of the fellowship starting as an articling position. The Fellowship builds on the legacy of Joseph Arvay, O.C., O.B.C., Q.C., one of Canada’s foremost human rights, constitutional and public interest lawyers.

West Coast LEAF is a BC-based legal non-profit organization with a mandate to use legally rooted strategies to achieve an equal and just society for all women and people who experience gender-based discrimination. We recognize that gender-based inequalities threaten the safety, well-being, and human rights not only of women, but also of Two-Spirit people, intersex people, gender non-conforming people, trans people of all genders, and people with non-binary gender identities.

Our work takes place on the stolen homelands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As a settler organization working within the colonial legal system, we acknowledge our responsibility to work for the realization of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. We are actioning our commitment to transforming our relationships with Indigenous Peoples through our Changing Tides plan, developed with the support of West Coast LEAF’s Indigenous Advisory Circle.

Using legally rooted strategies for systemic advocacy through litigation, law reform, and public legal education as informed by community outreach and engagement, we apply an intersection and inclusive feminist lens to our work across six broad and interconnected areas of work: access to healthcare, economic security, gender-based violence, criminalization, family well-being and access to justice.

Applications are welcome from Indigenous, Black, and racialized law students who are looking to complete their articles at a public interest organization committed to using multiples forms of legally rooted strategies to achieve systemic change through an intersectional and gender inclusive framework. The Fellow will work across all areas of West Coast LEAF’s law reform, litigation, public legal education, and community engagement strategies.

West Coast LEAF is a hybrid workplace, and we anticipate that the Fellow will do a combination of remote-based and in-person work. As this position will involve significant collaboration with colleagues, community partners, and external counsel, the Fellow must reside in or relocate to the Metro Vancouver area prior to taking up the Fellowship.

The Fellowship is expected to begin no sooner than May 2024 for a two-year term (2024-2026). The Fellow will have completed their law degree (JD or LL.B.) by the end of April 2024 and be eligible for admission to the bar in British Columbia.

The successful applicant will be excited about bringing their skills and experience to West Coast LEAF’s work and sees a critical, transformative role for lawyers in social movements. They will bring a demonstrated commitment to advancing gender equity rooted in unmasking settler colonialism, racism, classism, patriarchy, transmisogyny, ableism and other forms of oppression. They will also be life-long learners who approach their work with an ethic of relationship-building and deep collaboration and are keen to work across the spectrum of advocacy strategies in a dynamic and supportive work environment.

The following qualifications and attributes are assets for this role:

West Coast LEAF values diversity of experience, including the expertise that applicants bring in relation to their own identities. Since the Joe Arvay Fellowship for Public Interest Law is specifically designated for members of Indigenous, Black, or racialized communities, applicants are asked to self-identify their eligibility for the Fellowship in their cover letter. Applicants are also encouraged to self-identify any additional personal characteristics or experiences that support West Coast LEAF’s commitment to bringing diverse perspectives and lived experiences to the organization to the extent of their comfort. All applications will be held in the strictest confidence and shared only with the hiring panel.

This position is a two-year fellowship. The first year of the Fellowship (the articling year) is remunerated at $64,000 for full time employment (37.5 hours / week). The position includes paid sick time, paid vacation, paid office closure periods, extended health and dental benefits and a flexible and inclusive workplace. Upon successful completion of articles, the second year of the fellowship includes a planned salary increase to a minimum of $70,500 / annum. West Coast LEAF will pay all fees associated with the Fellow’s call to the bar in British Columbia, including the PLTC course, as well as provide funds for continuing professional development and membership in the Canadian Bar Association – BC Branch.

Applications should include a cover letter, resume, and law school transcripts (unofficial are fine), preferably submitted as one PDF file. Please submit your application to Raji Mangat (she/her/hers) by email at careers@westcoastleaf.org with the subject line “Joe Arvay Fellow”.

To be considered for this position, your application must be received by 11:59 pm PDT on Friday, June 30, 2023.

We anticipate interviewing short-listed candidates in July/August via Zoom. Short-listed candidates will also be asked to submit a brief legal writing sample (of no more than 10 pages) and the names and contact information for 2-3 references. Please do not submit writing samples or provide information about references with your initial application.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Due to the number of applications we receive, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please contact us at careers@westcoastleaf.org with any questions about the position, including any requests to meet your accessibility needs in relation to the application process.

West Coast LEAF is grateful to the Joe Arvay Initiative for Public Interest Law and the Law Foundation of British Columbia for generously funding this opportunity.