What's New
Women Lawyers Forum
The CBA Women Lawyers Forum was created to address the need for short and long term programs, plans and systems to promote and enhance the stature and influence of women in the legal profession.
Each year since its inception, the WLF has hosted a CLE in conjunction with the CBA’s Canadian Legal Conference, held an outreach reception in various provinces across Canada, and published at least one edition of the WLF newsletter, The Common Room. The latest edition is available online.
Last year, the WLF created an award aimed at recognizing women who have achieved professional excellence in their field and influenced other women to pursue legal careers, supported other women in career advancement or opened doors for women lawyers in a variety of job settings that historically were closed to them. The second annual Cecilia I Johnstone Award was presented last month to Judge Susan Devine of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The WLF has a number of new initiatives in the works for 2009-2010 but would like to hear from you with suggestions and ideas on what the WLF can do to support you. Ideas and suggestions can be sent to the WLF Executive c/o Jennifer Lalonde at the CBA National Office.
2010 Women in Law Leadership (WILL) Academy
Presented by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession and the ABA Young Lawyers Division
April 29-30 - Philadelphia, PA
More details are available at: http://www.abanet.org/women/will.html
So you want to become more involved in the CBA...
Active involvement in the CBA and its various Committees is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a lawyer in Canada.
By putting yourself at the forefront of the CBA's advocacy initiatives and other important work, you'll open the door to invaluable networking opportunities while honing your leadership, teamwork and communications skills.
Click here to find information on the benefits of becoming a CBA leader, qualifications and time commitments for the CBA's various Committees, obligations of Committee members, and how to get involved.
Newsletters
The Common Room (December 2009)
The Section is currently looking for articles for its next newsletter. If you would like to contribute to the next edition, please contact CBA Newsletters.
View previous newsletters
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Meetings
Women Lawyers Forum Executive Committee Meeting, December 5 and 6, 2009 (Montreal)
Mandate
The Women Lawyers Forum is aimed at promoting the stature and influence of women in the profession, as well as developing assistance programs, networking opportunities and mentoring programs.
The objective of the Women Lawyers Forum is to provide:
Personal and Professional Development
- develop mechanisms to assist women in the legal profession to enhance their professional opportunities; and
- develop business and professional confidence for women in the practice of law, including private practice, public service, and in-house counsel, and in community leadership.
Networking, Mentoring and Liaising Opportunities
- provide a forum for networking, education, mentoring and information-sharing for women in the legal profession;
- co-ordinate a mentoring system and other resources for mentoring of women in the legal profession; and
- liaise and share resources with other legal jurisdictions, women in the judiciary, other professions, and organizations of professional women; and
- work and liaise with other Canadian Bar Association Conferences, Sections and Committees, particularly the Standing Committee on Equity, on matters of mutual concern.
Resources
- develop communications tools to assist women lawyers in identifying and making contact with available resources.
Leadership
- to encourage and support CBA Branches to form similar Forums in each of their respective jurisdictions, with the goal of sharing information and promoting their programs.
Origin
The Women Lawyers Forum was established at the 2005 Mid-Winter Meeting of Council, as part of the CBA's ongoing mandate to enhance the professional interests of its members.
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