NSRLP Goes West

Jumping Off the Ivory Tower with Prof JulieMac

This week Julie speaks with Andrew Pilliar, Assistant Professor of Law at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC, and now Director of the new NSRLP West chapter. Some years ago Andrew shifted away from legal practice – he practiced in a smaller firm and clerked at the BC Court of Appeal – into academia, because he wanted to find a way to work toward systemic change and improvement in access to justice. In 2018 Andrew attended our 5th anniversary Dialogue Event, and it was there that we began to discuss the potential for a NSRLP chapter at Thompson Rivers. NSRLP is thrilled to now have Andrew as a colleague, and a member of our Advisory Board. In this conversation, Julie and Andrew discuss his move out of practice into teaching, and his hopes and plans for NSRLP West. We also hear thoughts on NSRLP West from friends and supporters of the organization Sarah Ewart (2nd year TRU law student and the first NSRLP West Research Assistant), Lynda Hydamaka (former SRL, Registered Massage Therapist, and Registered Therapeutic Counsellor), and Jared Hydamaka (university student, aspiring law student, and a Youth Leader in the BC Family Innovations Lab Youth Voices Initiative). In other news: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage all of our listeners stay safe, wash hands, and self-isolate or self-quarantine as appropriate – many courts are suspending business as usual, so if you are in the midst of a case make sure you’re up-to-date on what is happening in your jurisdiction; a new report co-authored by 5 law professors from 3 Ontario universities, and endorsed by another 25 law professors from across Ontario, looks at the proposed changes to legal aid in Ontario, and examines the impacts on legal clinics and low-income individuals; finally for some self-isolation reading, check out the latest content from NSRLP. For related links and more on this episode visit our website: https://representingyourselfcanada.com/nsrlp-goes-west/ Jumping Off the Ivory Tower is produced and hosted by Julie Macfarlane and Dayna Cornwall; production and editing by Sikandar Saleem; Other News produced and hosted by Ali Tejani; promotion by Moya McAlister and Ali Tejani.