March 8, 2018
Toronto, ON – In honour of International Women’s Day, the Ontario Bar Association is encouraging lawyers to get involved with women’s issues by offering free membership to its OBA’s Women Lawyers Forum.
The OBA’s Women Lawyers Forum is a specialty group of professionals who critically examine how the law affects women in society.
In recent times, the Women Lawyers Forum has created a highly successful “Pathways to Power” series designed to help women succeed in certain areas of the law. They contribute to policy submissions that affect women in the legal profession, run mentoring events, and collaborate with other leaders in the profession including the Law Society of Ontario, the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, and the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund to empower women in the profession.
“Women’s issues have never been more relevant to our profession – they impact our members, our clients, the way we practice, our workplaces, and our families,” said Lynne Vicars, OBA First Vice President. “As the largest voluntary organization of Ontario lawyers, we have an important role to play in advancing women’s issues within the profession.”
OBA Sections offer opportunities for lawyers to lend their expertise, network with like-minded professionals, and steer discussion on issues most relevant to their practice areas. By joining the Women’s Lawyers Forum Section, lawyers have a unique opportunity to consider the law as it affects women, participate in advocacy for women’s issues, promote and advance the fair treatment of women in the profession, honour the diversity of the profession and work with allies from a variety of backgrounds to better serve the profession.
The Women Lawyers Forum is a group of diverse feminists always looking to grow its membership" said Ashley Waye, Chair of the Women Lawyers Forum. “It is a way to form bonds, better understand feminist perspectives, think critically about how the law affects women in society, and find ways to better serve the profession.”
Joining the OBA’s Women Lawyers Forum is one of the best ways busy lawyers can stay apprised of women’s issues. Members of the Women Lawyers Forum receive specially curated articles, free access to select programs and materials, advocacy opportunities, and access to a strong peer network.
“I don’t think anyone can deny the seismic shift happening for women today, and I’m really proud of the fact that the Women Lawyers Forum has been leading conversations about gender parity and equality in the profession for so many years,” said OBA President Quinn Ross. “On International Women’s Day, I challenge all OBA members to get involved in women’s issues and join the OBA’s Women Lawyers Forum.”
Membership to the OBA’s Women Lawyers Forum is free until March 31, 2018.
OBA members can join the Women Lawyers Forum by visiting www.oba.org/wlf.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Amy Clark, Media Relations and Communications Manager
Ontario Bar Association
416-869-1047, x. 364; aclark@oba.org