The Law Centre Turns 40 JULIE SLOAN, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
T
his year marks the 40th anniversary of the Uni-
tre clinical program and together moved to 510 Fort
when applying for articles because they know how
versity of Victoria’s Law Centre, which we cele-
Street until 1980. At that point the office moved to 1221
to prepare for trials and hearings. They know how to
brated at the Law Centre on June 9th. As we look
Broad Street where it remained, for the most part, for
look at legal problems from a client’s point of view. And
back to its beginnings and through its evolution one
the next 20 years. Once the program was established,
they’re exposed to a breadth of different types of cases.
thing remains clear: the Law Centre offers a critical
Neil stepped down and in 1978 Professor Keith Jobson
The Law Centre’s caseload breaks down to 30% crimi-
service to a vulnerable segment of society, and at its
volunteered to step in as the director. In the beginning,
nal law, 30% family law, 10% human rights, and 5% rep-
heart is a robust student clinical program – arguably
students started their clinical term on day one with a
resentation agreements and wills.
the best in the country.
pile of files on their desks and had to figure out what to
The Law Centre serves between 1,800 and 2,000 low income clients per year and is the longest running common-law clinical program in Canada. What started from humble beginnings in 1977 has served over 80,000 clients in the Greater Victoria area and has become a pillar of student education at UVic Law, thanks in large part to the unwavering direction of Glenn Gallins, QC. When the University of Victoria’s law school first opened, the school’s initial objective was to have a public law orientation and a focus on contributing to the community. Creating the Law Centre was part of that vision. Murray Fraser, founding dean of the law school, was the driving force behind the creation of the Law Centre. Professor Neil Gold worked with Murray to get the program up and running in 1977. The idea of clinical programs, which started in the US in the early 1970s was still very new. That very first clinical term was in the spring of 1977. The clinic was located in Bastion Square in the Law Chambers Building. In early 1978, the Legal Aid Society office in Victoria joined the Law Cen-
16 SPRING 2017
do with them. In 1978, Glenn Gallins was hired to help
Glenn left Victoria in 1982 to study for his LLM in public
create a more structured program for students.
international law at the London School of Economics, and returned as director of the clinic until 1985. Be-
Glenn has a favourite story to illustrate what it was
tween 1985 and 1992, John Orr was the clinical director,
like in those early days. In the spring of 1978, a student
however Glenn remained at the Law Centre mentor-
named Tony Palmer (who subsequently became a pro-
ing students and managing his own caseload until 1992
vincial court judge and is now retired) showed up for
when he rejoined as a member of the faculty and the
his first day at the Law Centre and on his desk was a
director of the Law Centre. He has taught every clinical
pile of about 30 files. At 4 o’clock that same afternoon
law term since then.
he went into Glenn’s office and said “you know, it looks to me like maybe we have a trial tomorrow.” And he was
Glenn has mentored over 1,500 students and has been
right - it was a small claims trial. And it showed a glar-
recognized for his teaching and community contribu-
ing need to prepare students for the work they would
tions many, many times over the years. He has been
be doing.
awarded the University of Victoria Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Law Faculty’s Terry J.
What has really made the Law Centre’s clinical pro-
Wuester Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Univer-
gram stand out is the orientation – the boot camp –
sity of Victoria Community Leadership Award which
which prepares students for work in the clinic. The
acknowledged his exemplary leadership in linking the
first orientation, in 1980, was one week in length and
University of Victoria and the community for the great-
dealt solely with trial preparation. Over the years Glenn
er public benefit, and the Victoria Bar Association’s Pa-
created a rigorous, five-week orientation that teach-
mela Murray Award which recognized his high profes-
es lawyering skills including interviewing, counselling,
sional standards and substantial contributions to the
negotiation, mediation, trial preparation, and drafting.
well-being of the local bar. And in 2013, Professor
These skills give law clinic students a huge advantage
