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Our People

We're an inclusive community-minded non-profit organization whose strengths are rooted in the dedication and passion of our diverse staff and directors.

Our Staff

Our staff is a diverse and vibrant mix of hard-working individuals with legal and non-legal backgrounds whose daily mission is to serve individuals and non-profit organizations seeking critical legal help.

 

Our Board of Directors

Our volunteer Board of Directors consists of several judges, lawyers, community leaders and other professionals from across the province who share a dedication to the pursuit of equal access to justice for all British Columbians.

 

Christine Z (she/her)
Lawyer Referral Coordinator

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 Monahan (she/her)
Director of Projects & Operations

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.

Heather Wojcik (she/her)
Associate Executive Director & Staff Lawyer

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 Maclaren KC (he/him)
Executive Director & Staff Lawyer

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 Yan (he/him)
Program Manager

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.

Kaarina Bishop (she/her)
Program Manager & Staff Lawyer

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.

Patricia S (she/her)
Lawyer Referral Coordinator

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 our client intake team connecting members of the BC public with legal service providers.

Vivian Song (she/her)
Director of Finance

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 C (she/her)
Lawyer Referral Coordinator

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.