The success of the Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund (EDRF) program depends upon a diverse community of talented, dedicated and environmentally-conscious members of the BC law bar and the scientific and technical expert community. We are grateful for the ongoing generosity of the lawyers on our roster, who facilitate access to justice for people facing environmental harms. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the practice of environmental law, we welcome you to bring your passion for environmental protection and justice to this community!
Benefits of joining the EDRF Lawyer roster
The EDRF provides opportunities for lawyers to work on unique and sometimes high-profile cases, developing innovative legal strategies that can result in positive change for the environment and communities. Each year, EDRF lawyers make vital contributions to improve access to justice in BC, applying their legal skills and experience to some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The EDRF frequently funds cases working in the following areas:
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Newer lawyers or those looking to grow their practice can be connected with potential clients through referrals from the Access to Justice team at West Coast. There are many experienced lawyers on our roster who are happy to work with you to offer guidance and mentorship when needed. The EDRF also provides funding for fees of articling students where supervised by a lawyer.
For more detailed information on the role of an EDRF lawyer, please see the FAQ at the bottom of this page. You can also view and download the EDRF Lawyer Information Sheet.
What do EDRF Lawyers say about the program?
Lisa Fong: “The EDRF allows me to conduct environmental legal work for Indigenous clients that they might not otherwise be able to do, and to support their vision of environmental protection. The EDRF uplifts my clients in that they feel the support of the organization standing by them. First Nations partnering with and relying on environmental non-profit groups is still a relatively recent development. The EDRF program not only supports specific collaborations between First Nations and environmental groups but fosters continuing relationships and a community of people with shared values and goals concerning the environment.”
Patrick Canning: “The EDRF is great for the environment in BC, and for the practice of law. I am proud to be part of it, and it has helped me to realise some of my biggest dreams. Corporate lawyer friends, despite the big paycheques, often seem to envy what I do. The EDRF has allowed me to live with a sense of meaning and purpose. That’s what I want others to see, and that’s why I have participated in the program… I could not fight for the Earth without the EDRF.”
Lilina Lysenko: “Through my work with the EDRF, I have had the opportunity to co-operate with other environmental lawyers around the province, to learn from amazing experienced lawyers, and to be able to collaborate with enthusiastic aspiring lawyers. I have been very fortunate to be connected with environmental activists, and to be able to work on files that will shape environmental law as a whole. My work with the EDRF has allowed me to travel throughout the province, and speak with community members about environmental issues that have changed their lives.”
Current EDRF Lawyers
We are grateful for the ongoing support from the lawyers who have worked with EDRF recipients in the past year:
Angela McCue - Anne Muter - Anthony Ho - Benjamin Isitt - Carla Conkin - Chris Tollefson - David W. Wu - Eric Pedersen - Erica Stahl - Ian Moore - Jason Gratl - Jonathan Chatten - Joshua Lam - Kevin W. Smith - Lisa Fong - Matthew Boulton - Matthew Nefstead - Matthew Voell - Michael Ng - Michael Welsh - Morgan Blakley - Myron Barr - Noah Ross - Patrick Canning - Rachel Ariss - Rhys Volkenant - Richard Pearce - Ruben Tillman - Ryan McCracken - Sean Hern - Tarlan Razzaghi
Frequently asked questions about our Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund
Referrals
West Coast maintains a roster of lawyers who are interested in taking on public interest environmental law cases. We aim to connect these lawyers with potential clients who contact us looking for legal help in an area of law that they practice in. Files referred from West Coast may go on to receive EDRF funding to support clients in receiving legal services.
If you are working with a client on a matter you believe is eligible for EDRF funding, please get in touch with the Program Manager using the contact information at the bottom of this page. Anyone in BC is welcome to apply to the EDRF, and the Program Manager can assist new applicants with the process and application form.
Supporting Documents for Applicants
Those applying for a grant from the EDRF are required to include with their application a letter from their lawyer or expert. When the work described in the grant is completed, a reporting letter is required from the recipient’s lawyer to close the file. The letter should include summary details on actions taken and achievements made.
Lawyer/Expert and Client Relationships
Clients who receive EDRF funding are contracting with their lawyer and/or expert directly. The EDRF and West Coast Environmental Law have no direct contractual relationship with lawyers and experts. A client’s EDRF grant is held for them by WCEL and will be paid directly to the lawyer or expert.
EDRF Rates: What you need to know
EDRF funds can be used to pay for lawyers’ fees, the fees of scientific, Indigenous or other experts, and/or the fees of mediators or other specialists in alternative dispute resolution. Hourly fees will be paid up to the median Legal Aid BC tariff rate for the fiscal year that a grant is made in, up to the total grant amount awarded. Beginning May 1, 2025, the EDRF will pay these fees at the rate of $135.46 per hour plus taxes.
EDRF grant recipients are expected to pay any difference between the lawyer’s rate and the maximum EDRF rate of $135.46. For example, if your negotiated rate is $250/hr, the EDRF contributes $135.46 per hour billed and the client pays $115.54 per hour billed. It is expected that grant recipients will contribute to legal or expert fees as much as they are able.
Note that EDRF funding can also be used to cover fees of articling students up to the contemporary Legal Aid BC hourly rate. As of May 1, 2025, this rate is $96.76 per hour. Funds can also be used for reasonable disbursements incurred by a lawyer or expert such as filing fees, copying, postage, or travel, where included in the grant budget. Grant funds will be paid directly to you from WCEL in most cases.
West Coast does not place a cap on the rates that EDRF lawyers may charge your clients. It is expected that lawyers and clients will negotiate the rate of pay for the work between themselves.
Pro bono Contributions
As cases taken on by the EDRF are public interest cases, we generally expect that lawyers will contribute to access to justice by providing pro bono hours for the case. For lawyers who prefer to discount their rates, this option is also available, and a lawyer who charges at or below the EDRF rate is not expected to provide pro bono hours as well. For more information, see the EDRF Lawyer Information Sheet.
If you are a lawyer or expert interested in joining the EDRF roster, please contact:
Alida Morris, Access to Justice Program Manager
Email: amorris@wcel.org | Phone: (604) 684-7378 ext. 240Referrals for applications to the EDRF can be directed to:
Email: legalaid@wcel.org | Phone: (604) 684-7378 | Toll free in BC: 1 (800) 330-9235 x 229For more information on the EDRF, please visit Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund.
Top photo: My Sea to Sky, Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, and Justice for Girls with their legal teams, including EDRF lawyers Patrick Canning and Richard Pearce, at Federal Court in Vancouver / My Sea to Sky