Thompson Rivers University’s law faculty receives $1.4 million in landmark Hope Hyslop legacy gift

• Thompson Rivers University's faculty of law has received a $1.4 million legacy gift honoring the late Hope Hyslop, a former Supreme Court of British Columbia judge.
• A portion of the gift will establish the Hope Hyslop Legacy Community Legal Clinic Fund to expand TRU's community legal clinic, focusing on family law and human rights in BC's interior.
• The fund aims to increase capacity, improve supervision, bolster student participation, and enhance legal service delivery to underserved communities.
• Another part of the donation will create the Hope Hyslop Legacy Law Retention Awards, providing $10,000 annually to four third-year students committed to practicing family law in specific high-demand regions of BC.
• The gift honors Hyslop's dedication to access to justice, including her role in launching Kamloops' first legal aid clinic and her mentorship at TRU.

This strategic investment in community legal services will not only benefit clinic clients but also cultivate a more experienced and socially conscious cohort of legal professionals.

Thompson Rivers University's faculty of law has received a significant $1.4 million legacy gift, a substantial donation honoring the late Hope Hyslop. Hyslop, a distinguished figure in British Columbia's legal community, served as a former Supreme Court of British Columbia judge and held the position of judge-in-residence at TRU. This TRU law Hope Hyslop legacy gift is poised to make a lasting impact on both legal education and community services across the province's interior.

The comprehensive gift is structured to support two key initiatives. A portion of the funds will be dedicated to establishing the Hope Hyslop Legacy Community Legal Clinic Fund, designed to enhance the university's existing community legal clinic. Concurrently, another segment of the donation will create the Hope Hyslop Legacy Law Retention Awards, providing crucial financial assistance to law students committed to practicing in high-need areas.

This Thompson Rivers University law donation represents a pivotal investment in the future of legal services and talent development. It underscores a commitment to expanding access to justice while simultaneously nurturing the next generation of lawyers, particularly those inclined to serve communities where legal expertise is often scarce. The dual focus on direct service provision and student support reflects a holistic approach to addressing regional legal needs.

The newly established Hope Hyslop Legacy Community Legal Clinic Fund is specifically earmarked for the expansion of TRU's community legal clinic. This clinic plays a vital role in assisting individuals across British Columbia's interior with critical family law and human rights matters. The fund's primary objective is to significantly increase the clinic's operational capacity and headcount, thereby improving supervision for student participants and bolstering overall service delivery to underserved and marginalized communities.

Beyond enhancing direct legal aid, the fund is designed to enrich the educational experience for law students by providing them with invaluable practical experience. This initiative directly aligns with Hope Hyslop's profound dedication to access to justice British Columbia funding, a commitment she demonstrated by launching Kamloops' first legal aid clinic and serving as a volunteer supervising lawyer at the Community Legal Clinic. The expansion promises to create more pro bono opportunities and strengthen referral networks for lawyers in the region, fostering a more robust legal support system.

By growing the clinic's resources, the TRU law Hope Hyslop legacy gift will enable more students to engage directly with real-world legal challenges, preparing them for careers where skilled legal representation can profoundly change lives. This strategic investment in community legal services will not only benefit clinic clients but also cultivate a more experienced and socially conscious cohort of legal professionals.

Complementing the clinic expansion, the Hope Hyslop Legacy Law Retention Awards are designed to strategically develop future legal talent for underserved regions of British Columbia. These British Columbia family law student awards will provide financial backing to students who demonstrate a strong academic focus on family law and express clear intentions to practice in specific high-demand areas, including Northern B.C., Thompson-Okanagan, the Cariboo, and the Kootenays.

Each year, four returning third-year students will be selected to receive $10,000 awards. This targeted financial support aims to incentivize emerging lawyers to pursue careers in family law, a field where legal expertise is consistently in high demand and the stakes are deeply personal for clients. Daleen Millard, dean of TRU’s law faculty, emphasized that these awards are more than just financial aid; they are a statement of purpose, encouraging future lawyers to serve communities where their skills are most needed.

Justice Hyslop, through her extensive practice, intimately understood the critical need for skilled legal representation in family law. These awards ensure that her vision of accessible and dedicated legal support is carried forward by future generations of lawyers, potentially influencing the pipeline of new lawyers in these crucial areas and strengthening local legal infrastructures.

Hope Hyslop's distinguished career was marked by numerous achievements and a steadfast commitment to justice. She was among only three women to graduate from the University of British Columbia Law School in 1966 and, for a period, was the sole female lawyer practicing in Kamloops. Called to the bar in 1967, she initially specialized in family law with various firms before establishing her own practice. Her judicial career began with her appointment to the bench in 2003, followed by her elevation to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2009.

After retiring from the court in 2017, Hyslop continued her dedication to the legal community by joining the TRU faculty of law, where she served until 2023. During her tenure, she played a crucial role in mentoring young lawyers and aspiring judges, leaving an indelible mark on their professional development. In June, she was posthumously awarded a doctor of law, a testament to her profound contributions. Hope Hyslop passed away on December 7, 2025.

Dr. Airini, TRU’s president and vice-chancellor, reflected on Hyslop's enduring impact, stating that her legacy gift will significantly benefit TRU law students, the users of the TRU Community Legal Clinic, and the broader community. This TRU law Hope Hyslop legacy gift ensures that her lifelong commitment to access to justice and legal education will continue to shape the legal landscape of British Columbia for years to come.

This development signals an expansion of community legal services in British Columbia's interior, particularly in family law and human rights, which may impact referral networks for lawyers and increase the availability of pro bono opportunities. It also highlights a strategic investment in developing future legal talent for underserved regions of BC, potentially influencing the pipeline of new lawyers in those areas.

Source: Original reporting via Canadian Legal Newswire