Thompson Rivers University’s law faculty received a $1.4 million legacy gift honoring the late Hope Hyslop, a former Supreme Court of British Columbia judge and advocate for access to justice.
Funds to expand legal clinic and support students
The donation establishes the Hope Hyslop Legacy Community Legal Clinic Fund to grow the university’s existing legal clinic. It provides free legal services in family law and human rights to residents of British Columbia’s interior, focusing on underserved and marginalized groups.
The fund will add staff, improve supervision, and give law students more hands-on experience. Hyslop, who died in December 2025, had founded Kamloops’ first legal aid clinic and later volunteered as a supervising lawyer at the TRU Community Legal Clinic.
A portion of the gift also creates the Hope Hyslop Legacy Law Retention Awards, offering $10,000 annually to four third-year law students. The awards support those specializing in family law and planning to practice in Northern B.C., the Thompson-Okanagan, the Cariboo, or the Kootenays—areas where legal expertise remains scarce.
Daleen Millard, dean of TRU’s law faculty, said the awards reflect a commitment to serving communities with limited legal representation. “Justice Hyslop understood those needs well,” Millard said. “She spent decades seeing how access to skilled legal help can transform lives, especially in family law where the impact is deeply personal.”
Earlier this year, TRU awarded Hyslop a posthumous doctor of law for her contributions to the legal profession and the community.
Related: Katz says courts too soft on bad faith
A career built on breaking barriers
Hyslop was one of only three women to graduate from the University of British Columbia’s law school in 1966. At the time, she was the only female lawyer in Kamloops. After being called to the bar in 1967, she worked in private practice as a family law specialist before opening her own firm.
In 2003, she became a judge, serving on the Supreme Court of British Columbia from 2009 until retiring in 2017. After leaving the bench, she joined TRU’s law faculty, where she mentored students and aspiring judges until 2023.
TRU president and vice-chancellor Dr. Airini called the gift a fitting tribute. “We honor Justice Hyslop’s memory with gratitude,” she said. “Her work will continue to benefit TRU law students and everyone who relies on the clinic.”
The legal profession often faces criticism for its barriers and uneven service distribution. Rural and remote communities still struggle to attract lawyers, but the new awards could help by making it easier for graduates to stay in areas where they are most needed.
The clinic’s expansion lets students work with real clients early in their training—an approach Hyslop strongly supported. Her career, defined by both achievement and service, now influences future lawyers in ways that reach beyond the classroom.
Her efforts also highlight ongoing concerns about insurer accountability in legal disputes, where systemic issues can leave clients without proper representation.
