Kaarina Bishop
Vancouver,BC
Summary
As a lawyer and accredited mediator with expertise in tribunal case assessment, including extensive experience assessing tribunal decisions, I specialize in providing clear, sensitive, and timely legal support to individuals in distress. Skilled in legal education, coaching, and drafting, I am committed to advancing equitable outcomes and meaningful access to justice, particularly for equity-seeking groups. My formal training in applied ethics, justice, and critical thinking informs my ability to generate measured and thoughtful decisions, while my mediator training enables me to facilitate balanced and fair outcomes. With a trauma-informed and culturally competent approach, I bring a deep understanding of social justice issues to my work.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Staff Lawyer + Program Manager
Access Pro Bono Society of BC
06.2021 - Current
- Program Management: Manage the Residential Tenancy Program and the Virtual Family Mediation Program, delivering critical legal support to low-income and marginalized clients at an organization that handles 50,000 client inquiries for legal services annually
- Case Evaluation: Assess the merits of legal matters, including tribunal-bound cases and judicial reviews, to determine eligibility for pro bono services
- Judicial Review Expertise: Regularly assess and advise on judicial review matters, ensuring clients understand their prospects and options
- Volunteer Support: Provide guidance and support to volunteer lawyers handling tribunal cases or pursuing judicial review of tribunal decisions
- Supervision: Oversee and mentor law student volunteers who represent clients in hearings before the Residential Tenancy Branch
- Legal Advice: Deliver procedural and substantive legal advice to self-represented litigants to help them prepare for tribunal appearances
- Access to Justice: Facilitate pro bono legal services by connecting eligible clients with volunteers and addressing systemic barriers to justice
Supervising Lawyer
Everyone Legal Clinic
05.2023 - Current
- Supervision and Mentorship: Oversee and mentor articling clinicians providing representation and legal services to clients appearing before the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB)
- Training and Guidance: Provide training and resources to incoming clinicians with respect to best practices in advocacy before tribunals
- Program Innovation: Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance program design and efficiency, addressing emerging challenges and client needs in this novel legal clinic
Community Lawyer
Everyone Legal Clinic
05.2024 - Current
- Legal Services for Moderate-Income Clients: Provide low bono legal advice, coaching, and representation services to individuals who do not qualify for pro bono assistance but cannot afford full-price legal services
- Tribunal Advocacy: Assist clients with appearances before the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB), including case preparation and advocacy
- Judicial Review Expertise: Guide clients seeking judicial review of tribunal decisions, offering tailored support to navigate complex legal processes
- Access to Justice: Bridge the gap for the 'missing middle,' ensuring equitable access to legal support for underserved individuals
Education
J.D. -
Peter Allard School of Law
Vancouver04-2021
Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC08-2018
Diploma of Technology - Biotechnology
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Burnaby06-2000
Skills
- clear, concise legal drafting
- legal analysis
- case assessments of tribunal matters
- mediation
- formal training in ethics and critical thinking
- public legal education
Languages
Certification
Law Society of BC accredited family law mediator
Timeline
Community Lawyer
Everyone Legal Clinic
05.2024 - Current
Supervising Lawyer
Everyone Legal Clinic
05.2023 - Current
Staff Lawyer + Program Manager
Access Pro Bono Society of BC
06.2021 - Current
Law Society of BC accredited family law mediator
J.D. -
Peter Allard School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy
University of British Columbia
Diploma of Technology - Biotechnology
British Columbia Institute of Technology
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