Introducing our Pro Bono Law Student Volunteer: Tanya Thakur
February 2, 2018
BY Benedicte
My name is Tanya Thakur. I am currently a third-year law student at UBC. I am excited to assist the BC Adult Abuse and Neglect Prevention Collaborative (the Collaborative) as part of my Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) placement. My role is to update the Canadian Centre for Elder Law’s Elder and Guardianship Mediation Report (2012). Over the next two months, I will be researching free or low cost mediation services available to elders and adults who have experienced abuse and neglect in BC.
I am interested in this project because I want to use my legal education to help vulnerable people. I am especially interested in the possibilities for alternative dispute resolution where there is an asymmetric power dynamic. Prior to this PBSC placement, I was a full-term clinician at Rise Women’s Legal Centre. At Rise, I gained valuable exposure to the use of mediation in family law where there is family violence. I hope to build on that knowledge through this placement. I have also done another placement with PBSC where I researched sexual offence law for West Coast LEAF.
The Collaborative brings together diverse professionals whose practice involves reducing, preventing, and responding to abuse, neglect, and self-neglect of adults. Historically the Collaborative has included staff with the provincial health authorities, Providence Health Care, Community Living BC, Seniors First BC, BC Association of Community Response Networks, and the RCMP, with support provided by the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee. CCEL’s Laura Tamblyn Watts was a founding member, and Krista James has participated in the Collaborative for over ten years.
The Collaborative was created in the early 1990’s, when a consultation group was formed to strategize on how Part 3 of the Adult Guardianship Act should be implemented. Since that time, the group has continued to meet to support knowledge sharing and enhanced practice across the province. Part 3 of the Act encompasses “support and assistance for abused and neglected adults,” and many members of the Collaborative are engaged in supporting implementation of Part 3 of the Act as part of their work.
I want to reach out to the anyone who may have some information related to mediation services for elders in BC. Please email me at [email protected] with any information you may have.
