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Career Accelerator Program

Career Accelerator

MANTE MOLEPO LEADing OBA CAREER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

Mante Molepo has been named the 2022-23 Ontario Bar Association Innovator in Residence and is leading the association’s new career accelerator for Indigenous and racialized lawyers in emerging areas of law. 

Each year, an Innovator in Residence is appointed to work with the OBA’s Past President to identify, develop and advance solutions that will help lawyers better serve their clients and the profession, all while improving access to justice. Previous innovators have been Peter Aprile of Counter Tax Lawyers, Ryerson’s Legal Innovation Zone, and last year’s innovator – Friedrich Blase. Through programs like this initiative, the OBA has become a trusted source for advancing innovation in the legal profession.  

The OBA’s career accelerator program builds upon this foundation. It is designed to give early- and mid-career Indigenous and racialized lawyers the skills and training they need to advance their participation in four emerging areas of law: artificial intelligence, ESG, fintech and privacy. Over a span of eight weeks – beginning in the summer of 2023 – accelerators will participate in substantive professional development in the four areas.  

 

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What is it?

A Career Accelerator program for Indigenous and racialized lawyers in the early stage and mid-stage of their careers.

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Who can apply?

The Career Accelerator program is for lawyers:

  • Who self-identify as Indigenous and/or racialized.
  • Are in their early career (1-6 years) or mid-career (7-15 years) post call.
  • Who are licensed to practice law in Ontario.
  • Who want to explore or expand their practice in one of the four emerging areas of law: Artificial Intelligence, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Fintech, and Privacy.
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When does the program take place?
  • The Accelerator Program will run for eight weeks both in person and online.
    • In-person: June 8th to 11th 2023 at the OBA Conference Centre in Toronto.
    • Virtually: June 11th to August 3rd 2023, via Zoom.
  • Commencement will take place in-person and virtually the weekend of August 3, 2023 at the OBA Conference Centre in Toronto.
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When does the application period begin?
  • Applications open on February 13th, 2023.
  • The OBA will announce the program participants on April 21st, 2023.
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Why a Career Accelerator program?

Indigenous and racialized lawyers face barriers and challenges within the legal profession, including lack of entry, promotion, retention, and lack of lateral advancements. The Career Accelerator program is designed to support Indigenous and racialized lawyers in their early career to mid-career in advancing their knowledge, experience, and connections to lawyers in the four areas of practice.

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How can you support this program?
  • Share this program with your networks.
  • Register to become a faculty member, speaker, expert, mentor or sponsor.
  • Share OBA social media posts and emails about the Career Accelerator program.
  • Sponsor the program or share with firms who may be interested in sponsoring the program.
  • Subscribe to the Career Accelerator website to receive information about the program, including key dates.