Our People

Catherine holds a JD from UBC, and a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania. After completing her articles with a provincial agency, she was called to the BC bar in 2019. Catherine practiced civil litigation and worked as a legal advocate before joining APB. She has volunteered with a variety of community organizations in Vancouver, and she believes strongly in the importance of access to justice.

Christine has a BComm in Finance from Concordia University, and worked with the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch for over ten years before joining the APB team. She is dedicated to helping British Columbians find the right legal service provider to meet their legal needs.

Erin has been working in BC's legal sector since 2011. She spent eight years as the Education Director at the Trial Lawyers Association of BC, and has managed meetings, events and special projects for the greater part of her professional career. She has certificates in project management and change management from UBC Sauder School of Business. In 2021, she earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. Erin is currently project manager of the Everyone Legal Clinic and the Online Lawyer Referral Service.

Frank worked for 40 years in telecommunications before retiring from the engineering department of Telus in 2006. After retiring, he volunteered for a short while as a clinic assistant for Access Justice before becoming its Clinic Coordinator. Frank helped to create APB's Mental Health Program. He has a law degree (LLB) from the University of London, UK.

Heather was called to the BC bar in 2011. She holds an LLB from the University of Victoria, and a BA in International Development Studies from Dalhousie University. Before joining APB, Heather practiced civil litigation in Vancouver, and was a visiting lawyer at the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic in Georgetown, Guyana. She's also worked as a legal analyst with the Ending Violence Association of BC and as a program director for the Law Foundation of BC. Heather oversees APB’s Roster Program and Court of Appeal Program.

Jamie is APB’s Founding Executive Director. He's a practising civil litigator and a former Executive Director of the UBC Law Students’ Legal Advice Program and Pro Bono Law of BC. He volunteers as a law instructor for people overcoming homelessness and addiction, and regularly provides pro bono legal services in his East Vancouver community. He's also a Life Bencher of the Law Society of BC. In 2019, Jamie conducted an external review of legal aid service delivery in BC for the province's Attorney General.

Jimmy joined Access Justice in 2003 and served as its System Architect, Project Manager, and Acting Executive Director prior to its merger with Pro Bono Law of BC. He's a columnist of the City Post of Singtao News and a regular media commentator on issues of public legal education and information. Jimmy has a B.Sc. degree in Computer Engineering and a M.Ed. in Law, Justice and Ethics. He's also a Research Assistant of The Centre for Education, Law and Society in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University, and a CELS educational advisor to the Chinese community.

Inspired by her passion for access to justice, Kaarina earned her JD from UBC's Allard School of Law in 2021. She was called to the BC Bar in June 2022. She also obtained a BA in philosophy from UBC and is a graduate of BCIT’s biotechnology program. Prior to joining APB, she served as a student clinician at Rise Women’s Legal Centre, and interned at Battered Women’s Support Services.

Magal was called to the BC bar in 2008, and practiced family law in Vancouver until mid-2020, when she returned to UBC to attend Allard Law's LLM program. After graduating in 2022, she joined APB to manage the Virtual Family Mediation Program, and to serve as an Everyone Legal Clinic supervising lawyer. Over the years, Magal has volunteered at various community and legal organizations, including Rise Women's Legal Centre, APB and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC. 

Megan is an experienced lawyer with expertise in litigation, employment and public interest law. She spent eight years in private practice before moving to the non-profit sector– most recently as Senior Litigation Counsel at the BC Civil Liberties Association for over two and a half years. Megan has appeared as counsel at various levels of court, before administrative boards and tribunals, and at a high-profile public inquiry. She is a passionate advocate who approaches her work with kindness and empathy.
 

Neesha was called to the Ontario Bar in 2015. She holds a BCL/LLB from the McGill University Faculty of Law, and a BA in Social Studies from Harvard College. Before joining APB, Neesha worked as the Executive Director of the Yellowknife Women's Society - a charitable organization that provides housing and childcare services in Yellowknife - and as a family and child protection lawyer for the Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories. Neesha started her legal career at a fast-paced family litigation firm in Toronto.

Patricia holds a JD from the University of Victoria, and a BA in Criminology along with certificates in Legal Studies, French and Spanish from Simon Fraser University. Before joining APB, she completed her articles with a boutique municipal law firm, and she was called to the BC bar in 2022. Patricia believes equitable access to justice is an important issue for all British Columbians, and she has volunteered with several organizations to further that objective. She is happy to be a member of the LRS team connecting members of the BC public with private lawyers.

Vivian obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from SFU with a Major in Accounting. She was the Finance Administrator for Access Justice, and an instrumental contributor in its merger with Pro Bono Law of BC. She loves cinema and travel, and she's pursuing her designation as a Certified General Accountant.

Ying was the Lawyer Referral Service Intake Operator and Dial-A-Law Coordinator with the Canadian Bar Association's BC Branch for thirteen years prior to the LRS transitioning to APB. She has a background in Arts and English. Her main responsibilities include receiving public enquiries for legal help, referring people to the appropriate APB volunteer lawyer or service, and maintaining volunteer lawyer registrations.