116 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 79 PART 1 JANUARY 2021
Despite urban legends about government counsel having the last nine-tofive
legal positions, government bodies, like many clients, can require
advice 24/7. In those days, Sandra became the grand wizard of the Black-
Berry keyboard. Her fingers were free to fly over the keyboard with great
speed and accuracy, absent the unintended consequences of spell check
and word fill. The need for her fingers to fly arose more often as her advice
became more and more valued.
A very busy practice may have been enough for many, but not for Sandra,
who became an early regular member, and then an executive member,
of the Legal Services Branch Lawyers Association (“LSBLA”), now known as
the BC Government Lawyers Association. It was not a social club but an
organization that deals with wages, conditions of work and disputes with
the employer. Sandra became president of the LSBLA and was re-elected for
several years. She was balanced, informed and fair in her dealings with
lawyers and the Branch Management Committee. She advanced many initiatives
to strengthen and improve the organization.
Sandra also took a continuing and active role in the Canadian Association
of Crown Counsel (“CACC”). She attended conferences and formed valuable
relationships with civil and criminal government counsel across Canada.
Sandra’s lengthy involvement with this organization and the LSBLA
enhanced the broad, collegial relationship she had with lawyers in the LSBMAG.
Her door, ears and mind were always open to those with problems
and issues.
Sandra has been a strong advocate of legal education for counsel and her
clients. She became involved with the Branch Administrative Law Training
Committee (for which there is, unusually, no acronym). The committee
received invaluable support from the British Columbia Council of Administrative
Tribunals (“BCCAT”). She became a certified trainer for BCCAT and
encouraged other counsel to do the same so they could instruct their clients
on the fundamentals of administrative law. She planned and delivered customized
training to her clients with the assistance of colleagues in the LSBMAG.
She also trained many other government decision makers in those
fundamentals. The training was always well received and valued.
The value she places on ongoing legal education caused her to be named
as the Attorney General representative on the board of directors of the Continuing
Legal Education Society of British Columbia. She was, not surprisingly,
a member of the Finance Committee of that board and subsequently
its treasurer. She also found time to be an active member of the Commonwealth
Lawyers Association. She attended conferences and presented on
topics in her areas of expertise.