Advancing Equity in Legal Education: FACL BC’s Intervention in Irvine v. UBC

As pro bono counsel for the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers BC (FACL BC), I am honoured to represent the organization in its application to intervene in the judicial review proceeding Irvine et al. v. University of British Columbia, currently before the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

The petition in this matter alleges that UBC has acted contrary to section 66 of the University Act, which requires universities to remain “non-political in principle.” Among other issues, the petition challenges UBC’s equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) requirements in faculty hiring. FACL BC’s intervention is limited to this third issue.

Our position is that EDI-related hiring practices at UBC’s Peter A. Allard School of Law have a profound and lasting impact on the legal profession. Law schools are not merely academic institutions—they are the primary pipeline to the Bench and Bar. The composition of faculty, the perspectives they bring, and the mentorship they provide shape the environment in which future lawyers are trained. These factors influence who enters the profession and who ultimately advances into leadership roles within the judiciary and the broader legal community.

FACL BC’s mandate is to advance equity and foster a diverse legal profession in British Columbia. Our intervention seeks to assist the Court by providing a perspective informed by that mandate. 

I am honoured to work alongside FACL BC’s directors, volunteers, and advisors in advancing this important initiative. Further updates will follow as the application proceeds.