Our capacity to increase access to justice for low-income British Columbians relies on the charitable efforts of more than a thousand volunteers each year. Behind the scenes of hundreds of volunteer lawyers serving clients in clinics, hearing rooms and courthouses throughout BC, hundreds of administrative volunteers work diligently to ensure that our clients receive the timely legal services they need. Our profiled volunteer for May is Kirby Smith.

Kirby recently returned to Vancouver after a stint as a crown prosecutor in Alberta. She is delighted to be back in her home province providing representation to individuals certified under the Mental Health Act as a volunteer with our Mental Health Program.

Prior to law school, Kirby worked for the RainCity Housing and Support Society where she assisted chronically homeless individuals facing mental illness, addictions and other life challenges. Kirby completed her law degree at McGill University and received her undergraduate honours degree in history and French from UBC.

In addition to volunteering with us, Kirby sits on the board of the Strathcona Health Society, which runs a local non-profit community dental clinic, and the Cheetah Conservation Fund Canada, an organisation dedicated to ensuring the survival of the cheetah and their habitat.