A special achievement marred by a stereotypical statuette sparks a candid conversation between two leading human rights lawyers – one a non-binary, trans person and the other a first-generation immigrant South Asian woman – about the rigid expectations and barriers related to gender identity that persist in the legal profession, and what we can do to create space for diverse people while better serving the trans community.

With the arrival of September, and the energy, excitement and, occasionally, anxiety that back-to-the-books season brings (and inspired in part by Meg Ryan’s exclamation in You’ve Got Mail, “Don’t you love New York in the fall? — it makes me wanna buy school supplies”), we asked members what they love — or look forward to — most about the law in the fall.

With two new positions on each of our 40 section executives, the OBA is making new strides in advancing diversity and inclusion across the association.

We asked members to tell us about a time they got to meet one of their heroes or about one they would most like to meet. Responses show the many forms role models take and the myriad ways a chance encounter can make a day or even change a career.

The Court, which has the final word on many issues affecting Canadians from all walks of life, should mirror the diversity of this country. Why? Because we know that a diverse bench only enhances the public’s confidence in our legal system, and diversity enhances the quality of decision-making on the bench.

Allow me to reintroduce you to Samantha Peters (she/her/they/them) – no stranger to the spotlight. Samantha, who proudly identifies as a Black queer femme, was called to the bars of Alberta and Ontario in 2020. In that short time, she has made a palpable impact on the legal profession because of her innovative and rebellious approach to the practice of law and the seemingly fearless way in which she navigates the margins that contemporary Canadian society imposes on her intersecting identities.

We can apply principles of gathering with purpose and collective brainstorming, and a philosophy of “I am because we are,” to continue to raise awareness and call for action, break barriers and celebrate Black excellence, and lift as we climb and light the way for others every day.

The Honourable Mary Jo Nolan has devoted her decades-long career to advocating for access to justice for society’s most vulnerable, achieving many firsts along the way: first female case management master in Ontario, first female judge appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Essex County, and now, first recipient of the OBA Award of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Southwest Region.

After attending the idea-packed RODA Annual Diversity Conference in Partnership with the OBA, Celeste M. Young considers how the intersection of conscious allyship and advocacy can be the catalyst for action and how lawyers can come together to advance important change.

The forthright new memoir from renowned criminal defence attorney Marie Henein formed the basis of a fascinating OBA Community Book Club event. Attending virtually and answering questions on everything from public perception of law to double-standards that plague powerful women, Henein lived up to her reputation for candour and acuity.